Page 90 of The Jellybean Dilemma

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Greg asked, concern written all over his face.

I squared my shoulders as I stood outside The High Five and raised my chin. “It’s the only way we could all get together one more time before we move.” Between Gina and Derek, it had been a bear getting all our schedules aligned.

But the last time I’d been here was when Kevin…

I shoved the thoughts aside. This was just a normal bar, nothing sinister about it, I reminded myself. Kevin couldn’t hurt me since he was locked away in prison. I needed to face this.

Taking a deep breath, I laced my fingers through Greg’s. “Let’s go.”

Together we walked inside the bar. I winced as soon as I stepped fully in, a horrendous voice assaulting my ears. No one had mentioned it was karaoke night.

The bouncer greeted us over the caterwauling, and Gina waved on her way to deliver a beer. The tension that coiled inside me eased when I saw for sure there was no Kevin. His ghost was erased by the awful singer and the enthusiastic crowd. The place had a whole different energy to it tonight. And I was oh so grateful.

As long as I avoided the bathroom, I should be fine.

“I’ve got them, Burt,” Gina called, hurrying back to us. “Hey guys!” The singer tried and failed to hit an extremely high note making us all wince. “Sorry about the ‘karaoke’.” She used her fingers to make quotes around the word. “It’s not usually quite this bad.”

I kept my smile on my face, though it was an effort. “Hopefully she only signed up for one song.”

We all laughed painfully, then Gina nodded toward the tables. “Liam already has a place back here.”

Greg and I hurried after her as she led us to one of the tables in the middle of the bar. Liam grinned when he saw us, and I waved in response. Menus and silverware were all laid out, so we just claimed a spot. My phone chimed, and I pulled it out of my purse.

“Oh,” I frowned. “Derek got held up at work, so they’ll be twenty minutes late. He said to go ahead and order if we’re hungry.”

Gina frowned. “Josh is running late as usual, so no need to wait for him.”

Liam didn’t need to be told twice. “I’ll take an order of wings with—”

“Ranch,” Gina said along with him, smirking. “You’d bathe in the stuff if you could.”

“How do you know I don’t?” he quipped back.

I raised my eyebrows at Greg, disbelief coursing through me. They were teasing each other, in a fairly civil manner. Was the world ending? When Gina left, I leaned over to Liam. “What’s going on?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you didn’t bite Gina’s head off and you just teased her back. Are you feeling okay?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m in a good mood, all right?” He took a sip of his beer, but his cheeks seemed flushed. And not from the alcohol.

I folded my arms, leaning back in my chair. “If you’re in such a good mood, why don’t you go sing for us?”

Growing up with Liam and Piper had been an amazing experience. Piper had gone on to fame because of her voice, but I’d always thought Liam could have done the same. I hadn’t heard him sing in forever.

He shoved away from the table. “I think I will,” he smirked before striding toward the karaoke table.

Greg draped his arm over the back of my chair. “This should be interesting.”

As Liam took the stage, I glanced at Gina, wondering if she’d heard him sing before. She was busy washing glasses, preoccupied at the sink. The twanging opening notes of Garth Brooks’ Two Pina Coladas echoed through the place, then Liam’s strong, velvety voice filled the room. Diners quieted, the clink of silverware faded and people paid attention.

Including Gina.

She glanced up, then did a double take with her jaw hanging down. She straightened as she watched him, absently setting the glass down as soap dripped down her arm. As if she couldn’t tear her eyes away. I nudged Greg, and he grinned when he saw Gina.

“Maybe Avery’s dreams will come true after all.” He chuckled.

Avery always waxed on about how perfect it would be if she could get Gina and Liam together. But I’d never thought it possible.

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