Page 86 of Paging Dr. Summers

Brooke blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

My family’s eyes were glued to the scene as if watching a movie and waiting for the resolution.

Finally, Brooke stood taller and grinned with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “Let’s do this. But you, little sister, will have to sing with me.”

Lola, while appearing relieved that Maxwell’s gesture had been accepted, also looked a bit petrified. “Singing is not my forte.”

“It’s true,” Alejandro laughed.

Lola shot him a piercing stare.

He held up his hands. “Babe, I’m just telling the truth.”

Brooke left my side and grabbed Lola’s hand. “Don’t worry—this is a rock ballad, so just channel your fiery side and inner Chrissie Hynde and shout it out. I promise you’ll be fine. Besides, my mom would love us singing this together.”

“All right,” Lola said bravely, handing me her phone. “I’ve already pulled up the song.”

I handed Brooke the mic and kissed her cheek, then connected Lola’s phone to the karaoke machine. Within seconds, a thunderous drum solo to rival any of Dave Grohl’s reverberated against the walls. Roxanne Crawford truly was a legend.

I jogged over and sat next to my mom so I could get a front-row seat to Brooke’s performance. Mom smiled and nudged me.

“I missed you, son,” she whispered. “It’s nice to have you back.”

It was nice to be back.

Brooke looked up at the ceiling. “This one’s for you, Mom.” She held the mic between her and Lola. Together, they started to sing. Brooke, no holds barred, belted it out, while Lola started out timidly.

Your touch is the rhythm, your kiss plays along,

I’d follow your melody, lost in the song.

Every chord you strike fills the air with desire,

Rebel heartbeats set the whole world on fire.

Those first lines made me wonder if Roxanne had written this song for Maxwell. Had she felt as if her heart was rebelling, loving such a man?

By the second verse, Lola got a little braver and followed her sister’s lead. Brooke put her heart and soul into it, and damn if it didn’t do me in. She had quite the stage presence. Her uninhibited nature was pure intoxication. And those cutoffs. I hoped she never decided to remove them from her wardrobe.

We’re dancing through the chaos, chasing the sound,

A love so unstoppable, it knows no bounds.

Feel the pulse—it’s timeless, it’s true,

Rebel heartbeats, always beating for you.

When the chorus hit, the song’s melody turned sultrier and the beat of the drums more deliberate. Brooke’s gaze grabbed ahold of me, luring me in, making me feel every word and want her even more. Like I said: Damn.

Rebel heartbeats, pounding like drums,

Love like thunder—it crashes, it comes.

Through the storms and the silence, your voice remains,

Rebel heartbeats always call out your name.

Falling in love with Brooke did feel like thunder, but also a calm in the storm.

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