Page 34 of One Night to Fall
24
JESSE
My heart is liable to beat right out of my chest as the chords of “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran start to play. I don’t hate karaoke because I’m bad at singing. I hate it because I hate being in front of a crowd, and being on stage is a certain kind of hell I avoid at all costs.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and it’s taking everything in me not to pass out up here. The only thing keeping me upright is the way Adrian is looking at me right now, his date turning toward the stage to see what has him captivated.
Take a good look, motherfucker.
Because I finally know what I want, and I’m not going down without a fight.
The song plays on and the words come easy, my heart bleeding for him and my soul bared to the man in the most public way imaginable.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because I’d been damn near out of my mind last night when I couldn’t find him. I’ve been all over town today hoping that I hadn’t missed my chance.
That Adrian hadn’t been swept off his feet before I could tell him how I feel.
A lifetime had passed since I walked out of his apartment, the things that I’d held on to falling away to reveal something new and vulnerable in me.
Something beautiful.
I’d been stubborn and immature, the realization embarrassing when the gravity of what I’d be losing finally hit me.
He could still walk away.
And I’ll have no one to blame but myself.
The crowd cheers and the DJ pries the microphone from my hand, but all I can see is Adrian and his date getting up from the table.
And if karaoke is bad, this is worse.
Becausehe’s leaving.
25
ADRIAN
In all my years on this planet, I’ve never had anyone so publicly declare their intentions to me.
For me.
“Good luck to both of you.” Kyle’s voice is a whisper, his smile kind as he squeezes my hand and weaves his way through the bar. When did he get up?
When didIget up? Hadn’t I just been sitting in the booth?
Guilt sloshes over me at the way I’d been so spellbound by Jesse on stage—that I’d been out with someone else and unable to take my eyes off the man who walked out of my apartment last night without a second thought.
As he exits the stage, I watch Jesse’s gaze follow Kyle toward the door while I stand frozen next to our booth and our half-finished beers. He waits a beat and then another, like he’s making sure Kyle is well and truly gone before his eyes snap to mine.
Wow.
Like the ocean parting, Jesse moves effortlessly through the crowd, a confidence in his stride that has my knees a little weak.
I don’t dare go to him. I don’t even try because I need this.
I need Jesse to show me that tonight wasn’t just a stunt to get things to go back the way they were.
