Page 127 of Love, Academically
“Cheers to that,” Maddy said, raising her glass for a clink.
“They’ve finished, thank God.” Jasmeet said, indicating the stage, which was no more like a tiny, raised platform which usually sported two tables.
“They were awful,” Lila agreed, “but that’s the fun of karaoke! It’s for everyone, it’s not meant to begood.”
“Thank you Shania and Tanya,” the compère said in that lilting way they all had. They must have all gone to the same compère school.
There was a tap on her shoulder.
“Hi, Lila.” Elin, in a silk shirt that must have cost more than her entire wardrobe (obviously, not including The Dress. Or maybe including that, who knew?) and the skinniest jeans possible, was in the pub. At karaoke night.
“Oh good Lord,” Lila said, standing. “What are you doing here?”
James appeared at her side with a drink.
“James, did they not have any Mediterranean tonic?” she asked, glancing briefly at the drink.
“Hi, Lila,” he said with a floppy grin. “No, sorry.”
Lila stifled a laugh as Elin sighed dramatically.
“I couldnotmiss this. Not for all the Spanish mergers in the world,” she said, sitting next to Jasmeet. Elin introduced herself around and Lila sank into her chair uncertainly. If Elin was here, there was a good chance that Rhys was here as well. Oh.
“Next up, withUp Where We Belong, is Rhys!”
She looked at Jasmeet, who had a grin plastered to her face, her eyes wild and bright. Lila’s mouth dropped open.Rhys? Singingkaraoke? The man who had said that his worst nightmare date would be karaoke was here? By choice?
Elin got her phone ready to record, as James put her drink in front of her.
Maddy squealed and clapped her hands together, then gripped her arm so tightly that it would probably leave marks.
“Look! Look!” she cried, pointing at the stage.
Lila flicked her eyes to where Maddy was pointing and oh good Lord in heaven.
What. The. Fuck.
The introduction music started and Rhys was shifting uncomfortably on stage. Uncomfortable, not only because he was doingkaraoke, but because of the absolutely disgustingly beautiful tie-dye unicorn onesie stretched tight across his broad chest and thighs. He had the hood up, the unicorn horn drooping floppily to one side, his face wary and pink.
There was laughter throughout the pub, and Rhys’s eyes flitted around uncertainly. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he rolled his lips together.
The piano music started and he breathed deeply through his nose. He was really going to do this. Rhys opened his mouth and a whisper of a voice came out. Then, falsetto, trying to get to the female part. Good lord, he was doing the Deborah Winger bit.
Pub goers cheered drunkenly, but Rhys ploughed on, his voice getting louder and more confident with the male part.
“Are you all right?” Jasmeet whispered in her ear.
“It’s Rhys.” Stating the obvious much?
“Yeah, he’s up there for you. He’s really trying, Lila.”
“You knew?” Of course she knew, Jasmeet had orchestrated the whole thing. “You knew.”
Jasmeet nodded. “Please don’t be mad. I believe him and I don’t want you to miss out on something beautiful because ofhow Jason treated you.” Jasmeet looked at her, her eyebrows drawn close with worry. “He loves you, Lila. He really does.”
Lila looked back at Rhys. He was fully leaning into the song now it had hit the chorus, his voice stronger and more confident. Completely out of tune and with a shaky hold on the timing, but stronger nevertheless. He’d certainly won over the pub because they were belting it out with him, drunken arms swaying in the air.
Elin handed her phone to James with instructions to zoom in and leaned across Jasmeet to her.
