Page 22 of Always Mine

“Bitch,” I mutter as she pushes me onto the platform.

“Love you, too.” She blows me a kiss, all while the room is still engulfed in laughter.Ugh, they suck!

Hunter passes me a mic and I reluctantly take it, doing a full sweep of the room, glaring at everyone as I speak into it. “I hate you all.”

They all laugh again, clearly not taking me seriously.Damn them.Cooper throws his arm around me, pulling me to his side. “Alright, Tim, you ready?”

Heck no! I’m anxious as hell. “Oh, now I have a choice?”

He purses his lips as he thinks it over before bursting my bubble. “Well, no, but if it makes you feel better…” He trails off, giving the signal to start the music. I push his arm away just as he winks at me and begins singing the first lyrics, not at all bothered by my antics.

Okay, so it’s not terrible. Well, they aren’t. I try, but still cringe when I sing the too-low parts. Puberty or not, my voice can’t dropthatlow. Almost four agonizing minutes later, the song comes to an end and I practically weep in gratitude.

Never, ever again.

“See, it wasn’t that bad.”

Really, Hunter?It takes everything in me to not chop him in the throat as he gives me a dopey grin.

A few people are still clapping, and I roll my eyes, giving him a little shove. “Never do that to me again.”

“Hey! I was just a casualty. That was all him.” He points past me, and then I feel the heavy weight of Cooper’s arm as it settles over my shoulder.

“You’re throwing me under the bus thirty seconds after we sing a song about friendship. You have no shame.”

They bicker back and forth, but I tune them out, realizing there’s a few girls waiting for their turn. “Stop arguing. We need to move. There’s people waiting.” Reaching up, I place my hand over Cooper’s where it’s resting on my shoulder, then grab ahold of Hunter, maneuvering them both off the platform.

“Don’t act like you didn't have fun,” Cooper throws out, and I use my hold on him to pinch the skin on his hand.

“Ouch,” he groans, trying to tug free but I don’t let him. If anything, it makes my hold tighter. If he wants to play with me, I can play right back.

“You deserve that.” Dropping Hunter’s arm, I turn so I’m facing Cooper better, bringing our bodies closer together, our foreheads pressing and bumping each other as I smile against his cheek. “I’m terrible at singing, and you know it.”

“You’re not that bad.” I feel his breath against my lips, a drunk haze of pure amusement in his eyes as he laughs.

“That word choice is terrible. You may as well say I’m not that good. It’s basically the same thing,” I say, pushing away from him, only for him to latch onto my shoulders and pull my back against his chest.

Hunter busts out laughing and I shoot him a glare, hating how nonthreatening I am. Thumbing over his shoulder, he motions to the bar with a smile on his face. “I’m going to go…”

“Yeah, run off to my sister, maybe she’ll save you from my wrath.” I hear his soft chuckle as he walks away, and I pout, looking at Cooper over my shoulder. “Am I really not scary at all?”

“You’re terrifying, like a little plush teddy bear.” Then he spins me around and pinches my cheeks like he would a baby. “Ferocious.”

Damn him. I’m laughing despite myself, and then I rear back, jabbing him once in the side before going back to the bar.

Only when I turn, the smile is instantly knocked from my face as I take in the person standing near the far door. My body breaks out in a cold sweat and my stomach feels like it’s being ripped out.

Is it possible for your heart to fall out of your ass? Because mine is currently beating double-time on the bar floor.

Oh, no. No. No. No. He’s not real.

I reach up, swiping my eyes, knowing well and good that this is a mirage. No way am I seeing who I think I am. Please, fuck. I can’t see him here. Not now, or ever. Dropping my hand, I fight back every instinct telling me to vomit. Not here, not in front of everyone. Not in front ofhim.

I’m acutely aware of everyone’s eyes pinging between us and the eerie quiet that has suddenly taken over the room. This isn’t good. No, it’s past that. It’s the worst thing to ever happen.

I can feel his penetrating stare, but I refuse to make eye contact with him. It’ll wreck me if I do. Shatter whatever bit of self-preservation I’m managing to fake right now. I’m frozen, staring just past him, at the wall, and I almost drop to my knees when I feel the warmth of what has to be Cooper grabbing my forearm.

It doesn’t give me the comfort it usually does, though. If anything, it makes me want to sob. I can’t be here. I need to leave. Now.

---