Page 17 of Fake Rocks
“Ha, yeah, the All Saints one.” Barney laughed. “She does it in rehearsals now though to test her vocals, never in public.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.Score one for Tris.“That’s right.” I glanced over at Saff again, noting her closed eyes. Her face was screwed up as she put her all into the ending, her voice soaring over Darren’s guitar.
As soon as she’d finished, the whole pub burst into a round of applause and wolf whistles. My chest was strangely tight, a sense of pride and enjoyment falling over me.
Saff took a bow, placed the microphone back into the stand and headed back towards our table.
“Well?” she asked. “What did you think?”
Her chocolate brown eyes widened in anticipation as she waited to hear my response.
I tilted my head. “Not bad, I guess. I’ve seen worse.”
“Oi!” She punched me playfully in the ribs.
“Tris still remembers the girl band cover, so that was definitely an improvement,” Barney chipped in.
Saff’s face scrunched up in confusion. “You knew about…I mean you remember that?” She quickly changed her words, breezing over her mistake.
“Of course I do.”
Her smile widened and her chocolate brown eyes stared into mine.
It was as if the room stood still and everyone else had evaporated and disappeared.
All I wanted to do was kiss her. Which would make perfect sense if we were the couple we’d told everyone we were.
But we weren’t.
“Who wants a drink?” Darren barrelled into the group, waving some money around. “I’m down for shots, if you are?”
Saff tore her gaze away from mine and I wondered if she was having the same thoughts. She turned her attention to Darren. “Tequila. Tris?”
I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’ll stick to pints. Gotta work in the morning.”
“Ah yeah, don’t want to be screwing up someone’s paint job.” Darren nodded in agreement. “I’ll get you another beer.”
“Cheers, Darren.”
The guys went to the bar, taking their new drummer with them, leaving Saff and I alone.
“Are you having a good night?” she asked, seeming genuinely concerned whether I was or not.
“As far as a Tuesday night goes, it’s one of the best I’ve had in a long time.”It was the absolute truth.
She quirked an eyebrow. “Really? That good?”
I couldn’t tell her what I really thought, because if I let the truth slip it wasn’t in line with the agreement we’d made. And honestly, I didn’t know what I thought about that.
“Seriously, Tris, you’re great,” slurred Saff, an hour later.
There had been several rounds of shots, I’d lost count how many. I’d stuck to beer, and even then made one pint last at least as long as four tequilas. Saff, Darren, Barney and Tommo had challenged the other band to some sort of drinking competition. I wasn’t sure who was winning, but it seemed Saff was the one who was taking the forfeits when one of the guys failed.
“I’m going outside for a smoke, you wanna come?” she asked.
“I don’t smoke.” She could barely stand up. Part of me wanted to jump up to help her.
“S’okay, mate, I’ll look after her.” Darren took her arm and the two of them stumbled outside to the smoking area.
