Page 21 of Forget Me Not

“Tara,” I argue, digging my heels into the floor after she hauls me from my chair. “No!”

Eyes are on us, watching as the Queen of Karaoke tries to drag me away.

“You got this, Nova,” Katelyn cheers, but I swear I feel like throwing up every ounce of blueberry beer I’ve had. And that’s a lot.

“Come on. It will be fun. You never come up. We’re singing Gloria Gaynor.”

I claw for the table, downing the rest of my beer before I succumb to Tara and her iron lock grip around my wrist and allow myself to be dragged to my untimely demise.

Okay, maybe I’m dramatic, but I’m a much better karaoke fan than performer.

I’m not even sure I can carry a tune.

She hauls me onto the small stage at the front and even though only half the room is watching, it might as well be every person in the world. My cheeks are burning so brightly, I worry the makeup I put on for the night is melting off and taking the skin of my face with it.

The first piano strokes of I Will Survive start and luckily, Tara is right on top of it, taking the brunt of it. Seconds later, though, she pulls me in and practically shoves me toward the mic.

So, I do the only thing I can think of.

Run.

Okay, I lied. I don’t run, but I think about it. And thinking about running is what gets me through the four minutes of trying to remember lyrics, Tara grabbing me around the waist to force me to dance with her and the warmth radiating from my skin.

To my surprise, I have fun. I can hear Katelyn singing along, but then the rest of the room picks up and soon, we’re all singing along and my embarrassment melts away.

That is, until the song ends and I step off stage.

Because as soon as my feet hit the floor and Tara goes to get me a new beer, laughing maniacally that she got me, the introverted extrovert, to sing karaoke, my eyes lock on a pair staring me down across the room and my heart flutters to a stop.

Reid is here.

Reid is here and he’s watching me.

Oh my God, Reid is here and he just watched me make a fool of myself on stage.

That sudden urge to run? It’s back.

I can’t fucking escape her.

Nova.

I should have hopped on the ferry after this afternoon and gotten the fuck out of here, but then something pulled me right back in. Something I can’t fucking stand.

And it’s currently staring me down with a scowl.

“Ladies,” Manto greets, sliding up to the table after planting a kiss on who must be Tara’s lips. He told me all about his fiancée on the way over and while I’m not one for meaningless conversation, I like listening to people. Especially people that talk. Lets me stay quiet.

“Oh, not you, again.”

“Nova!” another woman scolds, shooting her a look while I’m forced to take the seat next to the object of my annoying, infuriating, newfound obsession. Nova disregards her, turning to me and fixing me with a scowl.

“I take it you missed me,” I drawl, taking the beer Manto hands me and taking a sip. Tastes like ass, but I drink it anyway.

“Like a toothache,” she grumbles, swallowing half a glass of what looks like chemical warfare. Her skin heats under my gaze and I don’t miss the way she licks her lips after she sets her glass back down. Unfortunately, neither does my cock. “I’m starting to think you like me more than you let on.”

Luckily, the rest of the table has dissolved back into their own conversations. It gives me time to play with my little bird without them hovering over us. From the looks of it, she’s had a few of those nasty blue drinks she’s got in front of her.

“Yeah?”

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