Page 27 of Here In Your Arms

“It just started like two weeks ago. Something to try to bring in the crowd during the week. Seems to be working. My feet are killing me. And my ears.”

I tip my head back and laugh. “Maybe you just need a new singer.”

The person I heard singing when I walked in has gone up two more times between others already. Eyes lingering on the makeshift stage, I come to a decision to serenade Rory. Normally I am not a singing in public person, but I do enjoy making her happy and I know how to make her laugh with this.

“Can you hold my spot?” I ask her.

She frowns a little. “Sure, I’ll put up a little sign that says ‘Wes’ spot’ so everyone knows.”

“Really?”

“No!” She laughs. “But I will ask anyone who tries to sit to leave since it’s occupied.”

“Deal!”

I take one more sip of my beer and get up from my spot. The crowd isn’t out of control, but the place isn’t empty either, so getting up to the DJ takes a minute. I tell him what I want, and he says there are three people in front of me. I nod and walk back to my spot. I can’t wait. She sees me sit back down and gives me a quick smile before turning back to the ticket machine that’s spitting out orders. She mixes and pours through the next two songs and brings me a refill since mine is almost gone at this point. Nerves have settled in, and I’m reminded why my singing and playing is reserved for home.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her as she sets the new drink down.

“Break the seal already?” she quips.

“Something like that,” I reply with a wink.

Without waiting for an answer, I walk up to the karaoke machine, ready for my turn. Soon enough, he announces my name and I step up to the microphone. Looking toward the bar, I see her staring at me with an amused yet puzzled expression. As the intro music starts up, I lean into the mic.

“This one is for Green Eyes,” I tell the pub.

Her eyes widen a little and her mouth drops open slightly. She looks horrified, but also incredibly invested. This is either going to be a car wreck or one of the best choices of my life.

“Turn around… Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you’re never comin’ ‘round….”

I pitch my voice so it’s low and sultry, but I exaggerate my movements to be ridiculous as I sing. Looking up, I see her with a hand over her mouth, her eyes crinkled in what I hope is amusement. My excitement ramps up. She’s definitely enjoying this and I up the dramatics as the chorus comes around.

“I need you now, tonight! I need you more than ever!”

My arms fling out wide, the mic stand holding steady for me. I point one finger out toward the crowd, but I’ve aimed it directly at her and she knows. Bringing my arms down and holding fists over my chest to convey cheesy 80s style pain, I continue.

“If you would only hold me tight!”

She’s laughing now and I add in some spins, keeping my movements exaggerated and moving with the beat. At the end, I place one hand on the microphone in its stand and hold one hand up high, palm facing out before slowly dragging it down.

“There’s nothin’ I can do, total eclipse of the hearrrrt…”

Hopefully, I didn’t get her in trouble because I don’t think she did anything other than watch me that entire song. I take a dramatic bow to the crowd and head back to the bar. A few people tell me they enjoyed the performance, and one person starts heckling to ask who “green eyes” is. I ignore them as I take my seat and pick up my beer. She looks at me, hands on her hips, a stern but amused expression on her face.

“Yes?” I ask.

“What the fuck was that?” she asks, clearly trying not to laugh.

I play dumb. “What?”

“That song! What in the world?”

“Do you not know Bonnie Tyler?”

“Of course I… That’s not what I’m talking about! Why did you sing that to me?”

“Who said it was for you?” I quip, my eyebrow raised.

---