Page 72 of Dare Me

I recognize the first few chords of the song immediately as “Dive” by Ed Sheeran. When this album came out, Stella refused to play anything else at the Den for a month. I laugh, remembering her justification.

“He’s a ginger and this is an Irish pub. I don’t see the problem.”

I start mouthing the first lyrics a few seconds early as I keep scanning the club for her.2 My head whips up when instead of Ed Sheeran’s distinctive voice, it’s a woman singing. My heart leaps into my throat as I spot Stella swaying a little nervously behind the mic stand.

Her eyes find mine, and a small smile teases on her lips. She grabs the mic with both hands now and stands up tall. My chest swells as a huge grin spreads on my face.

Almost everyone has turned in their seats to watch her impromptu karaoke and every time she looks around, her voice grows softer. But when she finds me again, it builds back up, like she’s shining just for me.

I bop along to the song and freeze when I realize she’s changed the lyrics to the chorus.

“So please be my baby,

Promise I mean it,

I need you like you need me,

I hope you believe it,

I swear to tell the truth,

I want to dive right into you.”

My smile grows brittle as tears prick my eyes. I can feel the hole in my heart closing as she proves to me this is real.

Slowly, she grows more confident, and by the end, her voice is soulful and strong. She sings her altered lyrics a final time, and I feel something snap and bloom in my chest.

Applause breaks out as she finishes. She smiles meekly, yet giddy, like she can’t believe she just did that. Before hurrying off the stage, she says a quick and quiet thank you into the mic. I run over to the stairs and catch her as she jumps off the bottom one.

She squeals as I spin her around, nuzzling my nose into her neck and beaming from ear to ear. Setting her onto her feet, I clutch her face with both hands before crushing our lips together. I forget to breathe, utterly consumed in the kiss, in her, in this moment.

I pull back but wrap one of my arms tightly around her waist. Still cradling her cheek, I tilt her face up to stare into her gorgeous eyes. There’s so much I want to say, but all I manage is, “Stella Mae . . .”

“Last time we were here, when you sang,” she explains. “It was such a beautiful, sunny day, and I remember thinking that I couldn’t imagine another sunny day without you in it.”

I tilt my head, not fully understanding her but still deeply touched. She takes my hand from her cheek and holds it to her chest, above her heart. “That’s how real this is, Loch. My life without you would be a life without the sun.”

The hollowness from last night is filled in with a rushing flood of emotions. In fact, my ribs feel like they might break from trying to contain it. Her heart beats under my palm and I promise, “I’ll be the sun to your star any day, pretty girl.”

She brings my hand to her lips and kisses my knuckles. A playful smile lights up her face. “No one makes me shine like you, Lochy baby.”

1. Play “Unknown (To You)” by Jacob Banks

2. Play “Dive” by Ed Sheeran

Chapter 29

On Shaky Ground

Stella

“Y’all want anything?” I ask the table as I stand up to get another drink. After my song, Lochlan and I decided to stay and hang out at the beach bar. About an hour ago, Juliette arrived, and I waved her down to join our table. She was with her friend Theo . . . a certain dark-haired man with a penchant for masks and fucking on stage.

Juliette raises her hand. “Oh, I’d love another piña colada, thank you.”

“Sure, anyone else?” I look at both the men and they shake their heads, going back to talking about sports or guns or some shit.

Halfway to the bar, I look back just for the heck of it and find Lochlan staring doggedly at my ass. He smirks when I catch him. I roll my eyes while giddiness warms me. I can’t help walking with a little extra sway of my ass after that. Now that I’ve finally admitted my feelings for Lochlan, I am swarmed with buzzing, happy emotions. I am able to experience the sugary sweet rush of having a crush now that I’ve stopped pretending it doesn’t exist.

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