Page 45 of Devoted Enough

He grinned. “I do have that one. Is that the one you’re going to sing?”

When I went to turn and walk away, Rosie stopped me. “She has an amazing voice. And yes, that is the song she’s singing.”

“Cool. What’s your name?”

“It’s Haven Larson,” Candice answered for me as she said it with a massive grin.

Staring at my two ex-best friends, I growled. “I hope you know that after this, you’re both dead to me.”

Rosie blew me a kiss while Candice said, “Break a leg!”

They scampered away, and I turned to the DJ. “I guess I’m singing.”

He chuckled, then picked up the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first singer of the night. Ms? It is Ms., right?”

Laughing, I nodded.

“Look at that, guys, she’s single.”

A few whistles and some hollering went on for a few seconds before they calmed down.

“Ms. Haven Larson is going to be singing. Are you ready for it?”

The entire bar erupted into cheers, and I caught a glimpse of Rosie, Candice, Lizzy, and Josephine at the front of the stage. I should have stopped looking because leaning against a pillar with his arms folded over his broad chest was Nate. He was watching me, and when our eyes met, he smiled.

I looked down at my boots.

Why is he confusing me? He’s being all nice and smiling and offering up dances and buying me tires and giving me money for my business. What in the upside down is happening?

I forced myself to look up and out into the crowd. Well, one thing was for sure, this was happening, so I might as well just go with the flow.

The microphone was on a stand, so at least I didn’t have to move around. The music started, and I intended to look down at the girls, but instead, my eyes drifted directly at Nate and I started to sing.

When I got to the last sentence before the chorus, where she asked, “Do you have what it takes?” Nate’s brows rose.

I looked away and moved my gaze around the crowd. It didn’t take long before I loosened up and really got into the song. At the last chorus, I looked back to Nate.

When the song ended, the bar broke out into loud applause. I dared a peek at Nate, who had pushed off the pillar and was clapping. When our eyes met, he mouthed, “Wow, that was amazing.”

Laughing, I got off the stage and was immediately hugged by all four girls.

“Jesus, Haven, why aren’t you in Nashville singing?” Lizzy asked. “That was so good. You sounded just like her.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Lizzy, but I don’t think I’m that good.” As I stole a glance back in Nate’s direction, he’d started to walk toward me.

“You were terrific, baby!”

Shockingly, the sound of Ted’s voice from behind caused me to turn around. He picked me up and spun me.

“Ted? Wait—what are you doing here?”

“Who is Ted?” Josephine asked.

Lizzy looked him over like a hungry wolf. “Yes, who is Ted?”

Ted smiled at my friends. “Um, this is my friend, Ted. Ted, these are my friends, Lizzy, Josephine, Candice, and Rosie.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ladies.”

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