Page 39 of Make Me Want it Too

She’s wearing a dark green one-piece thing with pants. I think she called it a jumpsuit. I don’t know. But I do know it’s her color. It looks stunning against her pale skin and complements her red hair perfectly.

How she could think I’d pick Margot or anyone else over her in any scenario is bonkers. She’s stunning. She’s everything. But more than that, she’s beautiful inside. She’s brilliant and kind and caring.

I hate that she doesn’t realize her worth. I want to tell her how fucking amazing she is—how gorgeous and smart and perfect, and how I’ve been crazy about her since the second I saw her—but this week isn’t about me or winning her.

So, instead, I give her hand a light squeeze to let her know I’m here for her and to remind her of our little code and say, “You look beautiful, Mace.”

She looks up and gives me a small smile.

Bex and Jake enter shortly after us to applause, and I’m able to whisk her away to our table with Noah and Livvy and Zayne and Dane. Spencer is at the table next to ours but I make sure she sits in the seat with her back to him so she doesn’t have to look at him. She also gets to be oblivious to how much he’s staring at the back of her head while we’re eating dinner.

I, on the other hand, might dig this fork into my thigh to keep from saying something dumb just to antagonize him.

Macy seems less stressed during dinner than she did last night. I think having the menu beforehand helped ease her mind a little. The two glasses of wine she’s had have gone to her cheeks, and god, she’s so pretty. With her cheeks all flushed I can barely keep my eyes off her.

The sun dips down below the trees outside the wall of French doors, and suddenly the room is dark. Staff clears the dinner plates as Bex and Jake walk up to the front of the room hand-in-hand.

A bright spotlight shines down on them from out of nowhere, and suddenly the guy in the corner who’s been playing classical jazz all evening turns on speakers and orbiting lights and hands them microphones.

Jake thanks everyone for being here tonight and then Bex yells over him, “It’s karaoke time, bitches!”

They start off the night with “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher. Jake’s a little flat but Bex more than makes up for it in personality.

“Who’s next?” Bex shouts, still a little out of breath.

I nudge Macy’s shoulder and lean in. “We should go! We could do ‘Islands in the Stream.’”

Macy crinkles her nose. “I don’t know the words to that one.”

“What? Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers? It’s a classic!”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think I could go up in front of everyone.”

“It’d be fun.” But I already know she’s not going to change her mind, and I won’t press her.

“Anyone? Oh, come on,” Bex sighs into the microphone.

Fuck it. “I’m in, girl.” I stand, pointing at Bex. “Let’s do it.”

Macy looks up at me, having gone pale, her big brown eyes growing into puddles. I give her shoulder a little squeeze and wink. “You just watch, love.”

She exhales and I walk up to the makeshift stage area to lackluster applause, at best. I tell the guy my song, and Bex gives me her microphone while mouthing, “Thank you.”

The first few beats of “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction play, and the energy in the room is already heightened. This is going to be good.

I sing the song. I know it by heart—we all had a One Direction phase in middle school, and I’ll fight anyone who tries to deny it.

I’m working the crowd, moving around the floor. I’m doing the main vocals, the backup vocals, the harmonies. Bex and Margot are standing and dancing. Zayne and Dane are also on their feet, singing along.

Macy is in her seat, watching, arms twisted in her lap.

The high note is coming up and when I hit it, Bex and Margot along with half the crowd yell and whoop. I know I’m not the best singer, but what I lack in talent I make up for in enthusiasm and confidence.

Then Harry’s solo comes up and I can’t help it, I sing it directly to Macy. I nail it. And at the end of the solo, right before the beat drops, the corners of her mouth curl up and her cheeks darken. I’d spend my life trying to make her smile. I can barely contain my grin.

And then the chorus comes back in and the whole room erupts singing it along with me.

By the end, I’m a little sweaty under the lights, and everyone claps and Bex whistles. Spencer seems to have disappeared. Good.

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