Page 44 of Royal Bosshole

I couldn't stop smiling. The coffee shop was packed. Everything was set up, and Jane had done an amazing job getting a stage, projector, microphone, everything. Stevie and I were off in the corner watching with amazement as everyone got their pumpkin-spice latte samples, filled the tables, and looked happy.

I was going to be the one to open the karaoke for the night, and my stomach was all tied up in knots. I was trying to remind myself that it didn't really have anything to do with James or the fact that I left work for the last time yesterday. That I had felt his eyes on me as I walked out, head held high. I'd never see him again.

No, it's okay. It’s for the best. I deserve someone who will tell me the truth and who won’t use me for his own gain. And what would I do with a prince?

“You look beautiful, too,” Stevie said. “Your song is going to be great. What are you going to choose?”

“It's a surprise,” I said. “And I don't want to start until April and Caleb get here.”

“Oh, they should—There they are, coming in the door.” Stevie waved them down. “You know, it's such a good idea that you got your liquor license as well for the evening. Keep people hanging around longer, and it'll keep people singing. Wine is liquid courage, my friend.”

“Is Stevie extolling the virtues of wine when it comes to karaoke?” April said as she approached.

“Of course, as always. Hi, Caleb. Welcome to the very first karaoke night of Charlotte's Coffee Shop.” I held out my arms like a magician showing my best trick.

His arm wrapped around April, and he smiled at me. “Thanks so much, this is awesome. I'm so glad I was here to be able to join, although you can't expect me to get up on stage. April told me my singing sounds like I'm a cat that's dying slowly by strangulation.”

“I never!” she cried, slapping him in the arm, and he laughed.

I laughed too, but I looked away at the cuteness overload. Even though two weeks had passed since the last time I spoke to James, it was all still too raw. I thought I had found someone who I could do that with. Where we could hold each other, tease one another. Get angry. Have sex. Where at the end of the day, we were still on each other’s teams. That was gone.

At least my song was almost fully recorded, and it was totally acoustic.

“Well, are you ready?” Steve said, pulling on my arm. “Time for you to go up there, make your speech, open the evening up. It's going to be awesome.”

April squeezed my other hand. “Yes, go on. Cannot wait to hear you!”

“Thanks, guys.”

I left the warm cocoon of their presence and pushed through the strange crowd. I recognized some of the people as regulars, and I even saw Cassie, Jane, and Sadie there too. I smiled and waved at them. My heart started beating so fast I could feel it in my throat as I stepped up onto the stage. I tried so hard to channel my grandma's inner power as I turned around.

This is for the coffee shop. You can do this.

It was a crowd, a big crowd, and normally I would have felt so nervous that I wouldn't be able to feel my knees. But after what had happened with James I just wasn't as afraid anymore. I'd already been so humiliated that I wasn't sure if it was even possible to be even more so. So, I tapped at the mic and stepped forward.

“Welcome, everybody. Thank you so much for coming.” The crowd quieted, and then I had everyone's undivided attention. “It means so much to me that people from the community would come to Charlotte’s and enjoy an evening together. My grandmother would have loved this. Please make sure to order what you’d like. We have coffee, snacks, and don’t forget the free samples of a pumpkin-spice latte, in case you didn't get one. And a little bit later, there'll be a wine bar.”

A few cheers went up from the crowd, and I laughed. “So, I'm going to start the karaoke, just to encourage everyone to begin. We have someone over by the DJ booth. You can sign up and choose your song and then we'll just keep flowing like that throughout the night. When it's your turn, you come up and, yeah, just have a great time.”

“I'll be singingThe Only Exceptionby Paramore.” People clapped and whooped, and I could hear Stevie and April from the crowd.

I nodded at the DJ, and the song began. Everyone fell silent as I sang the first few notes, and then I just went with it. I let the music flow through me, and for the first time, I sang like I did on my recordings when there was no one around. At long last, I felt free.

It was a beautiful moment, but the only thing I could think about as I sang was,I wish James was here to hear me.

* * *

JAMES

It was drizzling outside, and I just pulled my coat a little tighter and shoved my hands into the pockets. The coffee shop looked so warm and comforting as I leaned against the wall just outside, staring in. I was so happy for Lily. This was exactly what she had tried to talk to me about when she still worked at the company. This was exactly the feeling she’d tried to make Coffee on the Go understand. Coffee shops were meant to be homey and comforting, welcoming and warm.

Coffee on the Go was so cold and distant compared to this, and I almost laughed. It was just like me and Lily. I was the cold, domineering, distant one. I didn't remember what it was like to feel that warmth and comfort. I always wanted logic and efficiency and just to do my duty, whereas Lily was all fire, passion, warmth, and love. When she did something she loved, she looked so happy. And she looked happy then, standing on the stage, talking to everyone.

She is happier without me. I can't go in.

I'd gone to the coffee shop with Peter's words in my mind that I should tell her the truth, that I should share my feelings and finally get everything out on the table. Her looking happy and smiling and making the crowd laugh held me back. I couldn't yet again be the cause of her not smiling anymore.

I wasn't ready to leave yet either, so I hung back a bit. And then I heard the music start. It was faint, but I could hear it. And then when a few people came and entered the coffee shop and opened the door, I heard her voice, her beautiful voice. Even though I heard it only in snatches, it was still the best, most beautiful voice I’d ever heard.

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