Page 177 of Almost Ours
“Oh no,” I muttered under my breath, already knowing where this was going.
“Let’s go, Harp, we’re up next!” Shane announced to the room, pointing at her.
“What? No. No way.” Harper’s eyes widened, shaking her head emphatically.
“Too late, sweetheart.” Shane grinned, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. “I signed us up ten minutes ago. It’s happening.”
“Shane!” She protested, laughing as she reluctantly followed him toward the stage.
Kyle leaned over to me with a smirk. “This is going to be good. I bet you ten bucks Harper carries the whole performance.”
“Not taking that bet,” I said, grinning despite myself. My eyes were glued to her as she climbed onto the stage, still laughing but visibly nervous.
The music started–I Got You Babeby Sonny and Cher–and Shane grabbed the mic, crooning the opening lines with over-the-top bravado. Harper looked at him like he was absolutely insane, shaking her head, but then the corner of her mouth lifted, and she took her cue.
At first, her voice was soft, a little hesitant. Then she loosened up, letting herself get into it. By the chorus, she was laughing and belting it out with Shane, who was shamelessly hamming it up.
And damn, she was radiant.
Cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling under the stage lights, the tension from earlier completely gone. She was happy–in this moment, at least–and it made something tighten in my chest.
Around us, people clapped along, some even singing with them. Shane, never one to pass up an opportunity for theatrics, twirled Harper under his arm at the next break in lyrics, making her laugh harder.
“Man, you’re not even pretending to look at anyone else in this room,” Kyle said, leaning back in his chair.
“What?” I snapped my head toward him. “I’m watching the show, like everyone else.”
“Sure you are,” he replied, a knowing grin on his face.
Nina smirked from the other side. “You’ve got it bad, dude.”
“Will you two shut up?” I muttered, but my eyes had already drifted back to her.
She was still laughing, shaking her head at Shane’s antics, as her gaze flickered toward the crowd, landing on me. Just for a second.
The crowd erupted in applause. Shane took an exaggerated bow while Harper laughed, covering her face as they walked back to the table.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my new singing partner,” Shane announced, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“Never again,” Harper said, swatting him away.
“You loved it,” Shane teased.
Harper rolled her eyes and turned to Kyle. “You owe me ten bucks for this. I carried the whole thing.”
“Fair,” Kyle said, reaching into his pocket for imaginary cash. “You were the star, no question.”
The five of us dissolved into laughter–the kind that only happens when you’re a few drinks deep and surrounded by the right people. The kind that feels effortless, that wraps around you like warmth against the chill of the night.
Eventually, we called it a night and made our way to the parking lot. The buzz of the evening still clung to the air, laughter trailing. I unlocked the truck and glanced at Harper as she slid into the backseat, her dress rustling as she adjusted herself. Her smile lingered in my mind like a melody, impossible to forget.
As I started the engine, I decided to drop her off first.
Otherwise, I’d keep her in the truck with me as long as possible, and that was dangerous territory. If we were alone too long, I’d say something stupid or–worse–make a move, and tonight had been too good to ruin with my own lack of self-control.
The drive back was quiet, the truck humming softly as the lights blurred past. Harper leaned against the window, her head resting lightly against the glass, her breath fogging up a smallpatch of it. She looked peaceful like this, and for a second, I let myself pretend we weren’t here, in this in between place. That I wasn’t leaving. That she wasn’t still holding me at arm’s length.
She shifted slightly, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress, and for a brief moment, I wondered if she was thinking about me too.
