Page 70 of Off The Rush
“Okay, I have to admit,” I say with a grin, “you two were fantastic.”
“Thanks, Luka,” Emma replies, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Now it’s your turn to show off your skills.”
I chuckle nervously, knowing that my singing abilities pale in comparison to hers.
Someone else is called up to sing and they’re not terrible. Alec grabs us all another round of drinks.
“Next up, we have Luka Eriksson!” the karaoke host announces, and my heart races as I make my way to the stage. I glance back at our table where Emma sits, her green eyes alight with excitement, urging me on. My fingers grip the microphone tightly as I take a deep breath and try to quell my nerves.
The moment the music starts, I lock my gaze on Emma and begin singing, my voice surprisingly steady. The song is playful and lighthearted, something about falling in love, and it feels like the perfect fit for this moment. As I sing, I can’t help but let a grin spread across my face, watching Emma’s cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink with each lyric.
When the song ends, I return to the table, feeling more alive than ever. The urge to lean in and kiss Emma is nearly overwhelming, but I know it wouldn’t be wise given our situation.
To my surprise, though, she throws caution to the wind and presses her lips against mine, whispering, “I really like you, Luka.”
“Was that a good idea?” Alec asks, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, considering we’re trying to keep your relationship a secret?”
“We’re off campus,” Emma replies confidently. “We should be fine.”
Alec seems satisfied with her answer, and all three of us turn to JD, who has yet to take the stage. “So, are you going to sing or what?” I ask him, grinning.
“Absolutely not,” JD says, shaking his head. “I’m a terrible singer. It’s a bad idea.”
“Come on, man,” Alec chimes in. “If Luka can get up there, so can you.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say sarcastically, but I can’t help but agree with Alec. Although, I am a lot more willing to embarrass myself than JD is.
“Maybe you could do a duet with someone,” Emma suggests gently. “That way, you won’t be up there alone.”
JD hesitates, weighing his options before finally nodding. “Alright,” he says reluctantly. “But only if it’s with you, Emma.”
“Deal,” she replies with a smile, and I can see the relief in JD’s eyes.
“Alright, JD,” Emma says with a determined smile. “I’ll make sure you’re never alone on stage.” She grabs the songbook and flips through it, eyes scanning the pages for the perfect song.
“Only because you insisted,” JD grumbles, but I can tell he’s secretly happy that Emma is paying him so much attention.
“Got it!” Emma exclaims, scribbling their names down beside the chosen song before handing it to the karaoke host. As their names are called, JD and Emma make their way to the stage, and I exchange a knowing look with Alec. This should be interesting.
As the music starts, it becomes immediately clear that JD isn’t exaggerating about his singing abilities. His voice is a mix of off-key notes and painful pitch changes, but Emma’s melodic voice does its best to cover up the flaws. Alec and I struggle to suppress our laughter, biting our lips and avoiding eye contact to keep from bursting out.
When the song ends, JD and Emma return to the table, both slightly out of breath from their performance. Alec and I can’t contain ourselves anymore and burst into laughter. JD scowls at us, clearly unamused by our reaction.
“Hey, lighten up,” I say between chuckles. “You did great, man.”
Emma sits next to JD and leans in to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you for singing with me,” she says sweetly. JD’s expression softens, and he looks genuinely happy for the first time since getting off the stage.
“Besides,” Emma continues, “Luka got a kiss, so you deserve one too.” Before JD can react, Emma leans in once more, this time pressing her lips against his for a brief moment.
“Hey, where’s my kiss?” Alec asks, feigning jealousy.
“Please,” I scoff. “You always get to kiss Emma when we’re out.”
“Exactly,” JD adds, finally joining in on the laughter.
The four of us continue to take turns on stage, the energy in the room infectious and our spirits high. Each song brings us closer together, laughter and banter flowing effortlessly between us as we push each other out of our comfort zones. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.
“Alright, Luka, what’s your next song?” Emma asks, a mischievous glint in her green eyes. I smirk and lean in, whispering my choice into her ear. Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but she grins and nods.
