Page 120 of Love Thy Neighbor

“Hey, dude. I know you’re probably excited to sing, but we’re taking a break and we have a waiting list we follow. You’ll need to wait your turn.”

He reaches for the microphone and I pull it back.

“Please. I just need it for a few minutes.”

“Sorry, no can do.”

“Please.I… Just please.”

He must see something in my eyes because he nods. “What do you need me to do?”

I whisper my plan into his ear, and he agrees.

“I’ll kill the music,” he says. “Good luck.”

The MC flips the music off and the crowd groans, complaining loudly, throwing daggers my way.

I don’t care about their attention.

I only want hers.

I flip the switch toonand the feedback screeches through the bar, drawing the eyes of just about every person in here.

“Shit. Fuck. Sorry.”

A few scattered laughs.

I hold the microphone down by my leg, taking a few steadying breaths.

“Shit or get off the pot, asshole!” someone yells.

I flip him off.

More laughs.

The entire bar is watching me raptly, wondering what I’m doing up here.

Make her listen.

I take one more deep breath, then lift the mic to my mouth.

“I’m an idiot.”

“We know!” another patron calls out.

I ignore them. “I’ve been lying to myself and everyone I know for a really long time.”

“Holy shit. Is he coming out to us?” another voice asks.

“Lord, I hope so,” a guy in the front answers, fanning himself.

“No dice. Sorry.”

I wink at him and he frowns. I chuckle, continuing.

“The lying started when I was fifteen and the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on moved in across the street. I was drawn to her instantly. One of thosehad-to-know-her kind of things, you know?” I tuck my hand into my pocket, trying to hide my shaking hands. “So that’s what I did. I got to know her. Forced her to be my friend is more like it. Why she took pity on the annoying-as-hell neighbor kid is beyond me, but she did.”

I grin, shaking my head at the memory.

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