Page 30 of A Royal Menace

“I do,” I say slowly, then shake my head. “I just don’t think I’m good enough to actually sing it.”

“Neither am I,” she says with a shrug. “But who cares? It’s fun to sing.”

I watch her as she takes another long draught from her glass, her eyes locked on mine and filled with challenge. Okay. I see how it is. She’s daring me to puss out.Not happening, Calliope.

“All right. Let’s do it.”

Her eyes widen as her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. She didn’t expect me to agree. Or maybe she’s interpreting that last bit I said as an innuendo. It wasn’t meant that way, but hey, if it throws Callie a bit off-kilter, I’ll let her believe it was.

“I’ll go put our names in,” she says finally, then chugs the rest of her drink before sliding off her stool.

This is going to be fun.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Callie

Liquid courage is a real thing.Seriously.

I like to sing in the shower as much as the next person. I’ve even come to this bar for karaoke night during previous conventions. With people I only see once every other year.

But tonight is different. Royal is here. I share a classroom wall with him. I see him in the hall. In the teacher’s lounge. At staff meetings. Five days a week.

And not only am I singing in front of him, I’m singingwithhim. A love ballad. A really difficult love ballad that I chose for us.

I don’t know if the vodka is giving me courage or brain damage at this point. I actually don’t care.

I need another drink.

I catch our waitress’s eye, and she signals that she’ll bring me another vodka soda right away. I can feel the burn of the last two buzzing in my veins, but I’m not ready to stop. I’ll just make sure to drink this one a bit more slowly than the last two.

Shannon and Barb get called up to the stage, and everyone at our table hoots and hollers for them as they pull microphones from their stands. They sing a popular pop song from a few years ago, and the bar goes wild despite their off-key singing. When they finish and come back to our table, everyone high-fives them as they blush and shake their heads.

I’m looking around for our waitress and that drink she promised me when I hear my name through the speakers. It’s time for me to sing with Daniel, the teacher who pulled my name in the random draw. I pick up my glass and rattle the ice, but there’s no booze left. I glance at Royal, who offers me his half-full bottle of beer.

“Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear. Beer before liquor, never been sicker,” I mumble under my breath.

I’m tempted, but I do have another vodka cocktail coming, and I don’t want to get sick later. I shake my head at Royal, and he shrugs before taking a sip from the bottle. I watch as his lips touch the opening, my stomach flip-flopping strangely.

“Callie, let’s go,” Daniel calls out on his way to the stage, and I snap out of the hypnosis I’d fallen under and slide off my stool.

Up on the small stage, the music begins, and Daniel comes in with his part. He’s mostly on-key, but his voice is just okay. It makes me feel a bit better. I was afraid he would be a strong singer, leaving me sounding like Scuttle from “The Little Mermaid.”

As Daniel nears the end of his verse and it’s time for me to come in with the chorus, I inhale deeply and bring the mic closer to my mouth. My face heats as I start to sing the words. Despite my earlier confidence when talking to Royal and the vodka burning through my system, I’m nervous. I’m staring at the monitor that displays the words even though I know them by heart. It’s a defense mechanism, a way of avoiding the reaction of the crowd.

A crowd that seems much quieter than before.

My eyes flick up from the screen without my permission, and it’s hard not to notice that most of the people present are watching me with somewhat stunned expressions. I find Royal still on his stool at our table, his eyes wide and his lips parted as he stares back at me. His expression shifts, morphing into a wide smile and warm eyes that leave me feeling more at ease.

When Daniel and I finish the song, we both laugh as the bar erupts in applause. He holds up a palm for a high-five, and I slap mine against it. He takes my microphone and places it back onto the stand for me as I gingerly step off the stage. I feel a bit lightheaded, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the buzz of the crowd shouting compliments as I walk back to the table.

My drink is waiting for me when I get there, so I pick it up and take a sip as I slide onto my stool. Royal leans in closer, his cologne making me even dizzier than before.

“That was amazing,” he says, his voice just loud enough for me to hear.

I mumble a thanks and take another drink, and Royal’s hand snakes out to touch my wrist. I freeze, staring at the contact for a couple of beats before lifting my eyes to his.

“Seriously, Callie,” he says once our gazes lock, “you have a beautiful voice.”

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