Page 61 of Love Rewritten

The short wooden bar sits busy at the front. Two bartenders wander effortlessly around each other to find whatever alcohol they need for the drinks they’re making. Everything is very cramped. I hadn’t remembered that about this place. Scanning the room, we find Meredith and Rose sitting at a long rectangular table that hugs the wall near the stage. Two seats sit empty. Meredith waves us over while Rose searches for another free chair.

Meredith gives each of us a hug before we take our seats. Dallas and I sit next to each other on one side, Logan on the end in the spare chair, and Rose and Meredith opposite me and Dallas. The place is packed. The crowd seems to be either college-age or fifty and over. There are not many people between those two age groups.

“So, what are you singing tonight?” I ask no one in particular.

“You mean what arewesinging tonight?” Meredith chimes in. She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“No. I agreed to come hang out. Not to sing.”

“Oh, you’re singing whether you like it or not. I’ll get you up there.”

I look at Rose, who just shrugs. Dallas and Logan wouldn’t be any help. They would also likely egg me on to sing. I roll my eyes as a waitress comes over and takes our drink orders before disappearing again. I’m going to need some liquid courage if they want to get me up there tonight. We watch an older lady sing “Jolene” by Dolly Parton impressively well until our drinks arrive: Logan with a Jack and Coke, me with a vodka lemonade, and Dallas with a plain Coke.

“Who’s going first?” Logan asks.

Meredith grins widely. “Oh, I already signed up for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ I should be one of the next ones.”

Logan laughs. “You weren’t joking when you said that was your favorite song, huh?”

“I would never lie about our Lord and savior, Freddy Mercury.”

Rose pokes Meredith in the arm a few times. “I have to say, I’m excited to hear it. She’s been giddy to sing since we got here.”

“Trust, me, you won’t be disappointed.”

Rose leans her head on Meredith’s shoulder. “You could never disappoint me.”

I knew they liked each other, but I hadn’t realized just how much. Meredith only texted me once after the LAO ceremony to scold me for not introducing the two of them sooner. She’s always been quiet about her relationships, so I haven’t thought much about asking. But I might need to start after seeing them together like this.

One more person sings before Meredith’s name is called. She makes a show of getting everyone excited as she practically skips to the stage. One thing about Meredith, she loves the spotlight when it comes to anything artistic, singing included. She has a gorgeous voice, too, and she knows it.

The first note plays, and she starts clapping on stage, encouraging everyone to follow suit. It’s not long before the whole bar is clapping along to the music while she sings. She dances around, hitting all the high and low notes with ease. Half the bar sings along with her. Rose watches her with so much affection, quietly singing the song from her seat.

I’ve heard Meredith sing this song so many times now that I know her routine. She plays the air guitar and drums somehow at the same time during the music breaks, rotates her whole body when the different voices come through, and when the high notes hit, she lifts the mic like she’s on stage in front of thousands of people. To her, this song is an art form.

As the last few notes echo through the bar, claps and cheers and whistles resonate from everywhere. She bows before placing the mic back in its stand and returning to the table wholly out of breath. Everyone laughs while she takes a long deep breath.

“That was something else,” Logan says, taking a swig of his half-empty glass. "Next time I need to hire an entire band for a party, I'll give you a call."

Meredith laughs. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” The next person starts singing a country song that I recognize but can’t place. “I hope you guys are ready to sing, too.”

We all eye her curiously before turning to one another confused. I cock my head. “What did you do?”

Meredith grins and folds her arms over her chest. “Exactly what you should have expected me to do. Don’t worry. I put us all on the list for later. I figured you’d want some alcohol in your system before you got on stage. All of you.” She points a finger at each of us.

“What song?” Logan asks, just as I’m about to ask the same question.

“It’s a surprise.”

“And what if I don’t know it?” I ask.

“You do. The rest of you I’m sure also know it, but you’ll just have to do your best if you don’t.”

“Evil. You are evil,” Rose says, taking a long sip of whatever she’s drinking. Meredith shrugs and leans in to kiss her cheek, causing Rose to blush. She tries to hide it with another sip of her drink but doesn’t do a great job.

Dallas leans in and whispers into my ear, “I think she’s absolutely smitten with Meredith.”

I turn to look at him with an amused smile. “Smitten? Have you ever used that word in your life?”

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