Page 94 of All Along

Paisley’s lips purse. “No one mentioned Mermaid Karaoke.”

Chloe throws her arm over Paisley’s shoulders. “You can handle a bit of Mermaid Karaoke for one night. It’s to help Maya.”

Paisley pushes Chloe’s arm off of her. “Mermaids don’t exist and karaoke is an excuse for people who think they can sing to be on a stage.”

“I guess we’re lucky Maya can sing then, aren’t we?”

I bury my face in my hands. Why, oh why, did I ever join the choir in high school? Stupid Chloe and her stupid dares.

“Come on,” Nova urges. “You aren’t getting out of this. You can either embrace the suck or fight it, but it’s happening.”

“The suck?” Chloe scowls. “There’s nothing sucky about the five of us going out together. We don’t do it often enough anymore.”

“Probably because the four of you fell in love and no longer have time to play drunk mermaid midget golf,” Paisley points out.

“The question is – did Maya fall in love with Caleb?” Sophia asks.

Chloe snorts. “Is this a serious question? Maya’s been in love with Caleb since she tutored him in math in high school. Although, I don’t know how much tutoring happened sinceMaya spent the entire time in the library staring at Caleb with cartoon hearts in her eyes.”

“Fine.” I push to my feet. “I will go to Mermaid Karaoke if everyone will just shut up.”

Sophia bursts out laughing. “You’re cute. You think we’ll shut up.”

Nova laces her arm through mine. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

TheBootleggeris packed when we arrive. I scan the bar and groan. It’s full of women dressed up as mermaids and men trying to catch them. In other words, it’s my version of hell.

A man stops in front of us. “Hey, pretty lady, why aren’t you dressed up as a mermaid? I bet your tits look fantastic in a bra top.”

My cheeks warm and I drop my chin to stare at the floor.

Nova pulls on my arm. “She’s taken.”

“She’s not wearing a ring. And what man would let his woman come to the bar on Mermaid Karaoke night without him?”

Chloe flashes her left hand in his face. “My husband doesn’t let me do anything. I’m my own woman.”

The man groans. “Feminists,” he mutters before walking away.

“I knew this ring would come in handy.”

Sophia giggles. “You flash your ring at every man who comes within five feet of you.”

“It’s pretty. Everyone should have the chance to enjoy it sparkle.”

Sophia leads us to a booth in the corner with a reserved sign on it. She snatches the sign and stuffs it into her purse before sitting down. Paisley sits next to her, and Nova and I scoot into the seat across from them.

“Here.” Chloe sets five shots of moonshine down on the table.

“How did you manage to order those in two minutes?” Paisley asks.

Chloe shrugs as she hands out the shots. “Here’s to the—

“Someone stole my drinks!” A woman shouts behind Chloe.

“Quick. Drink up,” Chloe urges.

“Are you trying to get into a barfight?” Sophia asks.

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