Page 69 of Falling for Them
But then, of course he’s watching Ella.She’s a beautiful woman.I can’t take my eyes off of her, either.
I stand up when she returns to the dining room.She’s wearing a threadbare coat and carrying a giant purse.
She eyes me as she approaches.“You’re dressed a lot nicer than I am.”
I’m wearing a brown button-up and a pair of jeans.“Not really,” I say.
“I smell like beer.Maybe we should do this some other time.”
“Nope,” I say.I’ve got her now, and I’m afraid to let her go.“You promised me karaoke.I’ve been looking forward to hearing you sing again.”
If she notices the double entendre in my words, she ignores it.“Fine.Karaoke it is.”
As we walk out of the pub, I stand close to her, hoping to signal to that other guy that she’s taken and his energies will be better spent elsewhere.Is it domineering and low-key possessive of me to do this?High-key possessive?I can’t fucking care.Until Ella sends me out of her life completely, I belong to her, and I consider her mine.
The sidewalk is fairly crowded, because it’s only nine p.m.I use the excuse of the crowd to walk close to Ella.Her shoulders are hunched and her breath is visible when she exhales.This coat she’s wearing looks like it would be more suited to April or October, not the middle of winter…not even a mild California winter.
“Do friends put their arms around each other’s shoulders?”I ask.
She shoots me a glare.“Sometimes.”
“As your friend, then, I’m going to help keep you warm.”I wrap an arm around her and she huddles against me as we walk.I’m hit with vivid memories of holding her at Kingston’s penthouse, her body quaking with her release, sweet moans issuing from her throat.
Rick, standing in the doorway of the bar, nods when he sees me and holds out his palm for our cover charge.I hand over the fee for me and say, “She’s singing.”
Rick appraises her.“You, again, huh?What are we going to call you?”
“Cinderella,” she says.“And give Sebastian back his money—he’s singing, too.”
“Uh, no, I’m not,” I say.
“Uh, yes, you are.”
I start to shake my head, but I can see something in her eyes—if I deny her, is she going to bolt?I can’t chance it.
“Okay, whatever the lady wants,” I say.
Rick stumbles over his words as he passes back my cash.“I—if you’re sure, I mean, okay.Yeah.”
Ella and I walk inside.We’re immediately hit with a blast of sticky-sweet-scented heat, like everyone’s drinking lemon drops…or maybe showering in them.But the crowd inside is thankfully small.The chances of me being recognized are slim, as always.
“Sing first,” Rick says.“Sit and drink later.But you can have a shot for your nerves, if you like.”
I’m tempted.Not because I need something to help with performing, but because I haven’t performed in so long, this is going to be trippy.
But it’s a small request.Ella has no idea what she’s asking of me.I’m sure I could get her to stay by my side even if I don’t sing.Maybe I’m not trying hard enough to get out of this because I secretly want to do it?
I miss performing.I miss creating music, sharing it with the world.Maybe, in this hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar, I can get a taste of the life I lost.
“Nothing to drink for me,” I say.“Princess?How about you?”
“Just some water, before we sing.”Pausing, she puts a delicate hand on my arm.“Bash, if you don’t want to do this, I won’t make you.You can go give the guy your cover charge and call it good.”
“Nope, I’m in.Are we singing together?”I ask.
She nods.“I’d like that.”
“Okay.What are we singing?”
