Page 61 of Replay

Willow nods, and a small smirk spreads across her face.

“Oohh, the guys are going to eat you up!” Bellamy praises, grabbing onto Willow and walking her away from the front door. I laugh and grab her bag from just outside the entrance. I was so wrapped up in seeing her that we never actually made it into the apartment.

“Yeah, there will be none of that. Thank you very much,” I chastise, following behind them.

“Oh, you hush. Let us have some fun. Now, are you into athletes, or…” Darby questions as she sits on the couch on the other side of her.

Willow’s big smile lights up her face, clear blue eyes sparkling, and I take in the sight of her. She’s absolutely gorgeous. Her dyed black hair is in a fun, carefree, messy bun. Her tank top and cut-offs showcase an impressive scattering of tattoos all over.I can't help but smile. If she’s going to attend this school next year, Nate is going to have one hell of a time keeping his teammates away.

She fits in perfectly with my girls, and I can't wait for all of them to hear her sing at karaoke. Tonight’s going to be so much fun, not to mention a much-needed mental break.

“Wooooo!” I cheer as Willow finishes singing “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. She really is a great singer, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she crushed it. Our table floods her with praises as soon as she sits down next to me.

“Damn, girl, you have some pipes,” Bellamy says as she raises her glass in Willow’s direction, then takes a sip.

“Why, thank you,” Willow blushes. “Okay, who’s next?” She looks around our table that was just joined by half of the women’s basketball team. Directing her attention to me, she asks, “You ready for a solo?”

I bite my lip, turning to Bellamy.

“What about you, Bell?”

“I’m tapped out after that N’sync “Bye, Bye, Bye,” you guys dragged me up there to do.”

Willow slaps her hands against the table playfully. “Geez…anyone else?”

“I wrote my name down,” Maverick says from across the table. Cash scoffs, and Mav elbows his twin in the side. The boys decided to join us at the last minute. Since their housemates were taking it easy tonight, they figured they might as well have as much fun as possible before they’re in full-blown training season.

“Oh, and what did you decide to grace us with, Rick?” Bellamy teases Mav with the stupid nickname she gifted him.

“Psshh, you’ll have to wait and see,Amy,”he smirks a devilish grin.

“I think Shay is up soon,” Darby says playfully, slapping her teammate’s shoulders. Shay shrinks into her seat when all of our gazes flit in her direction.

“Oh, come on, it’s not bad. I promise. After the first one, you’ll be fine.” Bellamy’s encouraging words do nothing to help Shay’s mortification.

“Captain here lost a bet, and now she has to serenade us all,” Darby smirks.

“I’m sure your voice isn’t that bad. There’re far worse out there,”Willow says, just in time for the current singer to attempt a high note and fail miserably.

“She has a great voice. She just hates being put on the spot like this,” Maverick says, and all of us look to him, even Shay. “I’ve heard you sing before, Little Moore. Don’t act like I haven’t,” he teases.

Bellamy gives me a side-eye, and I know she’ll have some tea for me later.

Willow quirks her eyebrow and focuses back on Shay. “Aren’t you, like, the best basketball player at this school? You’d think you’d be used to being in the spotlight.”

“Ha, one would think. But our darling girl only likes to sing in the showers or when she thinks no one can hear her. I think she has an amazing voice, so I made her a bet…and she lost, and now we’re here.” Darby fills us in on why Shay looks like she could quite literally melt to the floor at any moment.

“Ugh, don’t remind me!” Shay whines and hides behind her hands.

“I feel like I need to know what this bet was for,” Bellamy laughs, and Darby winks at her.

Several acts come and go, before Shay’s name is called. I watch as the beautiful, tall blonde takes a steadying breath, downs the shot in front of her, then heads to the makeshift stage.

The screen loads behind Shay, and I see “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper pop up. Knowing this song is a duet, I look around to see if she has a partner to sing with. Before I know what’s happening, Maverick stands and rushes to the stage. The familiar strumming of the sad guitar fills the room, the spotlight illuminating Shay’s surprised face as Mav settles on the stool next to her. He takes his microphone just in time to sing his first note.

Our table stares in awe as the two of them serenade us all with their phenomenal vocals. No joke, they sound so good together, I even get goosebumps on my arms.

“Holy Hannah, the chemistry between the two of them is hot!” Willow says as they hit the crescendo.

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