Page 73 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“What’s that look for?”
“Just planning the song I’m gonna sing. It’ll blow your mind. Can’t wait to see what your family thinks.”
Excitement blooms in my chest followed by a jarring realization: I can’t remember the last time a guy I was with acted this eager to spend time with my family. The few times I brought a guy home to meet my family, they were always hesitant and nervous.
Theo and I aren’t even dating, and he’s so…happy to hang out with my brothers and cousins.
I try not to think too hard about it. Theo and I are just friends with benefits. Nothing more. He’s joining karaoke with my family because he’s free that night and he’ll be around anyway. It means nothing more than that.
Theo aims a smirk that’s both teasing and hot. “I’ve got a set of pipes on me. Wait till you hear me.”
Chapter25
Theo
Seven pairs of eyes fix on me as I sing the opening lyrics of “Welcome To The Jungle.” When I attempt the falsetto part, my voice cracks, just like I knew it would. I hold back a laugh and keep singing as every single member of Maya’s family, who are sitting in the living room of Ingrid’s cabin, winces at me.
When I try again to hit the falsetto, instead of my voice cracking, I make a sound that’s both piercing and grating. I sound like a dying animal.
Everyone covers their ears. This time I can’t help it. I burst out laughing and drop the karaoke microphone. The whole room joins me until we’re all laughing so hard and so loud, we can no longer hear the music track.
Tyler crawls over to the karaoke machine and pauses it, clutching his free hand over his stomach. “Holy shit, man. What the hell was that?”
When Gage stops laughing, he clears his throat. “Yeah, um…wow. I don’t really have any words.”
Becca elbows him even though she’s giggling too. She takes a breath and looks at me. “That was a really good try, Theo.”
I hold back a laugh. Becca’s so pure and sweet, I can’t help but smile at her and thank her sincerely.
“Becca’s being kind,” Maya says, letting out a final laugh before she wipes at her eyes. “Theo, that was horrific. I’m pretty sure you cracked Mr. Pudding’s fish bowl.”
“Seriously,” Declan says, his expression dazed. He sips his beer. “Oh my god, man. Someone go check on the fish.”
I laugh even harder. Millie, Maya’s other cousin who I just met tonight, pats me on the back. “You get the ‘A for effort’ award, Theo. Hands down, that was the most enthusiastic performance I’ve ever seen in the history of Karaoke Cousin Night. And there’s been a lot of bangers.”
She aims a smirk at Declan, who rolls his eyes despite the smile on his face. He runs a hand through his fiery red hair. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I always give sophisticated performances.”
“Sophisticated, huh? Is that the word we’re gonna go with?” Austin hooks his arm around his husband’s neck, pulling him closer. He ruffles Declan’s hair. Declan laughs and playfully shoves him.
“I don’t know if sophisticated is the word I’d use,” Millie says. “More like deranged. And deafening.”
Declan frowns like he’s hurt. Austin kisses his cheek.
Millie holds up a hand like she’s trying to prove a point. “I’m just saying that attempting to sing Whitney Houston’s rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You,’ is one of the toughest things you could do. That song is freaking hard to sing. Especially with your, um, range, Declan.”
Becca cups both hands over her mouth to stifle a laugh. Gage grins adoringly at his girlfriend before biting his lip, presumably to stop himself from laughing too.
“And yet that was your go-to karaoke song for years,” Maya says to Declan. “You sang it. Over and over and over. And over.” She groans behind the rim of her glass of wine. I can’t help it, I let out a laugh.
Declan crosses his arms like he’s put out but clearly joking along with his in-laws.
“You’ve got the projection of Whitney. Just not the pitch,” Austin tells him.
Declan shrugs. “Well, now I can say with confidence that I’m not the worst singer of the bunch.” He chuckles before pointing at me. “Thanks for that, Theo.”
I flash a thumbs-up. “Anytime.”
We all laugh as we sip our drinks. Tyler gets the karaoke machine started up again, and Austin hands the mic to Millie, who sings a Dua Lipa song.
