Page 46 of Rough Ride

“Baby, can’t you see I’m callin’?

A girl like you should wear a warnin’.

It’s dangerous, I’m fallin’.”

I blinked. It sounded like a slow country version ofToxicby Britney Spears.

“There’s no escape, I can’t wait.

I need a hit, baby give me it.

You’re dangerous, I’m lovin’ it.”

It was tough to see in the dark bar, especially with his face obscured from the spotlight by his cowboy hat. But as he sang that last line, his eyes locked onto mine from across the room. And I immediately recognized him.

No way.

“Eli?”

21

Sophie

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not only was Eli in the same bar as me, on the opposite side of town from where I normally saw him, but he was playing the guitar.

And he was playingBritney goddamn Spears.

I ran into the other room, where Liz was texting on her phone. She glanced up and said, “Where are the drinks?”

Wordlessly, I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the booth. She protested, but I led her into the next room and pointed at the stage.

“Huh. I thought that was Britney,” she said. “Never heard this kind of cover. I kind of like it. He has a good voice.”

“Yes,hedoes,” I said pointedly. “He sounds totally different from when we’ve both spoken to him.

She squinted. “Wait a minute. Is that the hunk that’s been hitting on you at Billy Bob’s? Johnny’s friend?”

“His frenemy, yes,” I confirmed. “Eli Hawkshaw.”

“He’s really good!” she said excitedly. “I wouldn’t have taken him for a guitar player.”

“Drinks are up, Sophie,” the bartender called to us.

I hurried over to the bar. “Winston. How’d you book this guy?”

“That’s the thing: I didn’t,” he answered. “He just walked up there and started playing.”

“And you let him?”

“This ain’t Billy Bob’s,” he said bluntly. “I usually have to pay musicians to play here. If he wants to do it for free, I’m sure as hell not going to stop him. At least not until the scheduled band plays in an hour. Besides, the crowd is into it.”

The crowdwasinto it, every head turned in his direction and nodding along to the music. But Eli’s gaze was permanently locked onto me as he sang.

“With a taste of your lips, I’m on a ride.

You’re toxic, I’m slippin’ under.

With a taste of a poison paradise.

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