Page 95 of Dark Embers

“Go! Go Johnny, go!” Ashlyn and Niko wailed at the top of their lungs, emboldening other young diners to enter the show.

I groaned, wishing I would just die right here.

“You know, on the plus side, that’s my favorite movie scene of all time,” Arya said, making me look up at her. “I think it’s very cool that you had the guts to do that in front of an audience, especially at thirteen when everyone sucks.”

“Really?” I asked, my pride admittedly coddled by her words.

“It is a very catchy song, too,” she said, then started snapping her fingers as she quietly sang along.

“Oh god, not you, too,” I groused.

“Come on, Tobias,” she said with a wry grin. “If you can’t beat ’em, may as well join ’em.”

Then she took my hand and tugged me as she climbed out of the booth. I didn’t know why I let her drag me out. I had no intention of going along with this fucked up karaoke party. But…it was Arya.

She began to swing her hips from side to side as her singing grew louder, keeping eye contact with me the entire time.

Ugh, fuck it.

I grabbed the ketchup bottle off the table and brought it to my lips like it was a microphone, throwing caution and my pasthumiliation to the wind as I belted out the next part of the song like I was born to do it.

“His mother told him ‘someday you will be a man

And you will be the leader of a big old band

Many people coming from miles around

To hear you play your music when the sun go down

Maybe someday your name will be in lights

Saying ‘Johnny B. Goode tonight’!”

The diner erupted in cheers and applause as we and a few other patrons finished the song while dancing like wild idiots.

When the song finally ended, we collapsed back into the booth, panting and laughing as we failed to catch our breath. Arya’s eyes found mine, and we held each other’s gaze for a long moment.

This girl really made me do ridiculous things.

And we were just friends.

Chapter 34

Arya

As we waited for the check to arrive, my legs bounced under the table. I was eager to get back to the Dome—and not just because of the new curfew.

I had really wanted to give friendship with Tobias a shot, but it was incredibly difficult with how charming he’d been all night. Even seeing his vulnerable side, imagining him putting himself out there as a young boy only to bomb epicly. That was crazy endearing.

He did have a great singing voice, though. And seriously, why did he have to look so damn good in that snug black shirt and jeans that flaunted—Nope, not looking there!

It definitely didn’t help that Ashlyn and Niko were radiating sexual tension like a contagious disease.

If I didn’t create some distance between Tobias and me soon, I knew I’d fall right back into his dicksand, and who knew how long it would take me to get out again?

Finally, the check arrived and the guys stuffed bills into the booklet, freeing up the four of us to leave.

When we stepped out onto the sidewalk, the sun’s sherbet orange glow barely clung to the edges of the scattered clouds above.

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