Page 35 of Chasing Elliott
I plastered a smile on my face and shrugged. “No problem. All drama aside, us girls haveto look out for each other.”
I sauntered back to where Cooper sat, a small smile on his face. Our food was already sitting on the tabletop, both of our meals untouched. I quickly fell into my chair and grabbed afry, plopping it into my mouth.
“I can’t believe you did that for her,” he said softly, resting his head in one of his hands. Ichuckled quietly to myself, just as surprised as he was. “God, you’re such a badass.”
“Why thank you. So, are we really doing karaoke? I didn’t take you as the singing type. Imean, I’ve heard you in the shower,” I teased as I took a bite of the chicken sandwich he had ordered for me.
“What is it you told me when we first met? There’s still a lot you have to learn about me, babe.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped as I picked up one of my fries and shook it in his direction. “Okay then, mister man-of-manylayers. What song are you going to sing?”
“Looks like you’re about to find out,” Cooper replied as he looked over my shoulder. Ispun around in my chair and saw his name light up the screen. Before I had the chance to say anything, he was already walking toward the stage.
He walked up the two steps and strolled across the stage like he owned it, reaching for themicrophone and pulling it off the mic stand. Cooper did a theatrical spin and put a hand on hiship which made a couple people around me laugh.
“Alright everyone, I’m Cooper Hearst and I’m here to show this lovely lady here that I’m more than just a sweet, funny, attentive, and hot baseball player.”
I rolled my eyes and bit my lip, shaking my head. The music started playing and Ibrought a hand up to cover my mouth, trying my best to stifle my laughter as he started singing. Suddenly, my phone vibrating in the side pocket of my leggings tore my attention away.
Kara: How’s your date going?
“She used to be a chancer, sparkle in the rain. Told me she needed a friend. If she’s going crazy, baby’s on the way. Seems like a day never ends.”
Cooper was dancing around on stage, twirling around in the spotlight. Everyone in thebar was cheering him on, most of the guys being the loudest. I started typing a reply as I heard him continue singing the song.
“Everybody needs some affection. Never shy, gotta try. Whenever you’re going.” Isuddenly saw a figure standing in front of me and before I had the opportunity to fully look up and see who it was, my phone was snatched from my hands.
I looked up at Cooper and saw him giving me a coy expression as he started walking backwards toward the stage, never breaking eye contact as he held out my phone as a challenge. I narrowed my eyes but obliged anyway, following him.
A few feet from the stage, I stood with my arms folded over my chest and a smile on my face until he reached for the extra microphone and held it out to me. I started to shake my head furiously, but Cooper knelt down and put a hand on my cheek to stop me. He leaned forward andlightly pressed a kiss to my forehead before forcing the microphone into my hand. I rolled my eyes as he reached for my free hand and yanked me onto the stage with him.
“Never give up on the good times, gotta believe in the love you find,” I started to sing as I placed the microphone back in the mic stand and looked out at the sea of people. “Never give up on the good times, living it up is a state of mind.”
Once the song came to an end, Cooper reached for my arm and pulled me into his chest. Smiling, I hid my face in his shoulder as the crowd erupted into a mix of laughter and applause. Pulling back, I rested my chin on his chest and beamed proudly.
“Thank you, for making me do this,” I said softly as I pulled back further. “I never would’ve done something like this on my own.”
Without saying a word, he bent down and captured my lips in his and I heard a couple people in the audience whistle. I pulled back with flushed cheeks as Cooper wrapped his hand in mine and walked us back toward our table.
“I’m glad I could get you up there with me,” Cooper told me with a smile as he finished off his drink. “Was sure you’d be too embarrassed to sing the Spice Girls with me.”
“How do you feel about the Backstreet Boys?” I questioned with a raised brow, leaning forward slightly. Cooper’s face lit up as he shoved a fry in his mouth and slid out of his chair once more.
“I know just the song,” he all but yelled as he set my phone on the table before he ran over to the booth where the DJ was posted with the sign-up sheet. I reached for my phone, wanting to finish my text to Kara.
I glanced up for a moment and caughtCooper’s eye. He beamed at me widely and waved in my direction before he turned back around and bent down to fill out the sheet. As he came walking back over, the smile never left his face which made mine grow bigger as I looked back down to type my response.
Elliott: Couldn’t be better.
I stared at Elliott in awe as she laughed, her wavy blonde hair bouncing over her shoulders while her head shook in amusement. I had just finished singingI Want It That Wayand she seemed to be having the time of her life. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.
“You’re something else,” Elliott laughed as she sipped on her drink and looked at mewith a twinkle in her eye.
“I’d love to hear that voice of yours better,” I said with a wink as I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table. “Why don’t you get up there and sing a song solo?”
“She’s too chicken shit,” a soft, feminine voice said from behind Elliott. I looked over her shoulder as she turned around and watched as Benjamin and Kara approached the table. “She’d never get up there by herself.”
“Want tobet?” Elliott challenged as she folded her arms over her chest, and even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew her eyes were narrowed on her best friend and those creases weredistinct on her forehead.
