Page 31 of Party Favors
“Good luck.” Amanda leaned in and discreetly kissed Wren’s cheek.
Wren’s face bloomed with the prettiest blush ever.
“What song are you gonna sing?” William asked, snapping them out of their moment. His eyes were lit up with mischief, and Amanda assumed he’d seen the kiss.
“‘The Final Countdown.’”
William snorted. “I’m sensing a theme. Isn’t it weird to sing New Year’s Eve songs on December thirtieth?”
Wren playfully gasped. “Course not. This is the last early bird karaoke of the year, William O’Dare! Get on board.”
Benji wrapped up his song, and the MC called Wren to the stage. She shout-sang the whole glam-band rock song, jumping from side to side on the small stage.
Amanda was a smitten kitten. She couldn’t stop smiling up at Wren. Couldn’t stop cheering.
Toward the end of the song, Amanda caught William staring. She sent him a questioning smile.
He shook his head slowly. “You’re good for her.”
Amanda blinked. “How so?” She had to shout over Wren’s rendition. Then she wondered if that was a stupid question. Maybe she should have asked, “In what way?”
“She’s happy when you’re around.”
“Isn’t she normally happy?” Wren seemed like the most happy-go-lucky girl in existence.
“It’s different.”
Amanda didn’t have time to question William about that because Wren’s song ended, and they all whistled and cheered for her as she bounced off the stage. Her eyes were bright and her short, dark hair untamed. Her eyeliner had smudged slightly, but it looked intentional and pretty.
Wren put an arm around William’s shoulders. He had to lean down for her to reach.
“You’re next,” Wren shouted in William’s ear. One of the old ladies had taken the stage to sing a Tenacious D song.
“Absolutely not,” William said.
“Please?” Benji begged, giving William very effective puppy-dog eyes.
“Once you sing, we can go hang out in a nice cozy cottage away from all these pesky people.” Wren gestured grandly to the almost empty bar.
William groaned and headed for the bar, where he promptly acquired a shot. After he threw it back, he took his butt over to the binder of songs. Wren followed him.
Within a few minutes, William got his chance to reluctantly trudge on stage. Amanda didn’t know what to expect, but when William opened his mouth, she was surprised.
He held the mic earnestly, gazed right at Benji, and started to sing a sweet, plodding ballad.
“What’s this song?” Amanda asked. William had the best voice among them. It was simple and sincere.
“It’s called ‘My Dear Acquaintance,’” Wren said. “I’ve never heard it, but he was adamant.”
Amanda found herself lost in the words of the song. The entreaty to have love, joy, and cheer in the new year, the way the lyrics were directed to “my dear acquaintance,” like William was singing just for Benji. Amanda turned to Wren and let the music wash over her. Wren watched her right back.
There were so many things Amanda was reading in Wren’s eyes, but that might have been the alcohol. She was probably imagining things.
They were posted up at the end of the bar, Wren’s back in the corner and Amanda in front of her. No one seemed to be paying them any mind, everyone too intent on William and his heartbreaker voice.
Amanda wanted to kiss her. She was sure Wren could read it on her face because she took a deep breath and glanced around intently like she was checking for spies.
Amanda geared up to duck in and lay one on her. Wren’s mouth tipped up in an ornery grin. Then, quick as a blink, she lifted her shirt and flashed Amanda.
