Page 69 of Off The Rush
“Of course,” I say without hesitation, feeling a warm rush of affection for her. I’ve always admired her passion for music and her determination to pursue her dreams, even when it means putting herself out there in front of others. “But only if you sing solo first.”
“Same here,” Alec chimes in, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. “We need to hear your angelic voice before we can even think about joining you up there.” I know he’s teasing her, but there’s genuine warmth behind his words, and I’m reminded once again why we all get along so well.
JD nods in agreement, his dark hair falling across his forehead as he grins at Emma. “Yeah, show us how it’s done, superstar.”
“Alright, fine,” she says, feigning exasperation but unable to hide the smile that tugs at the corners of her mouth. “But you’re all singing too, remember? No backing out.”
“Deal,” we all agree, raising our drinks in a toast before turning our attention back to the songbook.
As we flip through the pages, I find myself getting lost in the anticipation of hearing Emma sing. I’ve heard her hum tunes while we hang out, but I’ve never witnessed her fully embracing her talent. And there’s something undeniably attractive about watching someone you care about doing what they love.
“Hey, Luka,” Alec nudges me, snapping me out of my reverie. “What song are you going to sing?”
“Still deciding,” I admit, flipping through the pages with renewed focus. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what any of us sing tonight. What matters is that we’re here, together, supporting Emma and enjoying each other’s company.
“Alright, let’s get this party started,” Alec declares, slapping his hand down on the table as he finds a song he likes. We all laugh and continue picking out our songs, settling in for a night of fun and laughter.
“Emma Delaney, you’re up next,” a voice calls out from the stage, and I feel a thrill of excitement as she offers us a bashful smile before heading up there. As we watch her walk away, JD leans in, grinning. “Man, I can’t wait to hear her sing.”
“Same,” I agree, taking a sip of my drink.
Our anticipation is growing by the second. The spotlight finds Emma as she takes the microphone, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and excitement. It’s endearing to see how vulnerable she is in this moment, but I know that once she starts singing, she’ll own the stage. It’s who she is.
The music begins, and Emma draws a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. And then, she starts to sing. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful, weaving a spell around the entire room. Every note she hits sends shivers down my spine, and I struggle to focus on anything but her.
“Wow,” JD whispers, echoing my thoughts exactly. “She’s incredible.”
“Perfect, more like,” Alec adds, and I can’t help but agree. There’s something about seeing Emma so in her element that fills me with both pride and desire. I can feel myself getting hard just thinking about how talented she is, and I have to shift in my seat to try and alleviate the discomfort.
“Can you imagine being able to do that?” I ask, unable to tear my eyes away from Emma as she pours her heart into her performance. “It’s like she’s got some kind of superpower.”
Alec chuckles. “Yeah, man, it’s unreal. She’s going to be a star someday.”
We continue to watch as Emma finishes her song, the last notes lingering in the air like a whispered promise. The applause is thunderous, and I can’t help but join in, clapping my hands together as hard as I can.
As Emma walks back toward our table with flushed cheeks, I can’t help but notice the nerves that seem to be consuming her. She’s probably worried about what we think, but there’s absolutely no need for that.
“Emma, you were amazing!” JD exclaims, grinning from ear to ear.
“Seriously, you are incredible,” I add, my eyes meeting hers as they shimmer with happiness.
“Like an angel,” Alec agrees, and it’s obvious how much we all admire her talent.
Her face breaks into a dazzling smile at our reactions, and it warms my heart to see her so genuinely pleased. “Thank you, guys. That means a lot,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude.
Before we have a chance to say anything more, the announcer calls, “Next up, we have Alec and Emma singing a duet!”
Alec stands up confidently and extends his hand to Emma, who accepts it gracefully. They make their way to the stage, and I can’t help but wonder how this performance will go. I’ve never heard Alec sing before, so this should be interesting.
The music starts, and I’m immediately captivated by the harmony between Alec’s deep, rich voice and Emma’s melodic tone. It’s like they’ve been singing together for years. Who knew Alec had such a hidden talent?
“Wow, I didn’t know Alec could sing like that,” I mutter to JD, who nods in agreement.
“Me neither,” he replies, looking just as surprised as I am. “But they sound great together. I know I’m not going up there with her after him.”
As the song progresses, I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy watching them share this moment on stage. The chemistry between them is palpable, and I want nothing more than to be up there with Emma, basking in her undeniable talent but I have something else up my sleeve tonight.
Eventually, the song comes to an end, and the crowd erupts in applause once more. Alec and Emma exchange proud smiles before returning to our table, both beaming from their performance.
