Page 56 of Tinsel & Tools
“Then who are you fucking? Because I know you’re getting it somewhere.”
“You don’t know shit.” I glared and took a pull of my beer.
Before he could say anything further, Kyle called my name. I climbed onto the stage and took the mic. The screen lit with the lyrics to “Simple Man.” The opening took me straight to my parents’ kitchen and my mom telling me to slow down, to listen, and to keep my word, even when it costs more than I planned.
When the song turned to what life should be, I didn’t think about work. I thought about who I wanted to be. A good son. A brother who shows up. Someone Gavin could count on, even if our secret stayed between us.
When the line about finding the right person came around, I ignored the details and kept what mattered: love can settle you if you let it. The song pressed on, talking about following your heart, I found Gavin’s eyes and held them for a beat. I meant it. All of it.
By the last lines, the bar was quiet. I finished clean, let the track cut, and the clapping came strong and loud. I nodded to Kyle, set the mic on its stand, and stepped down.
“Ladies and gentlemen, will someone get that man a recording deal?” Kyle said into his mic as I walked back to the table.
I slid in beside Gavin again, and he said, “I think I could listen to you sing twenty-four-seven. You need to do it more.”
“Yeah? Well, I want to hear you sing. Put your name in.”
He started to shake his head. “I don’t usually sing in bars.”
“Come on, Gav,” Allie spoke. “You have a good voice too. Do it!”
“Yeah, Gav. Do it.” I smirked.
He took a deep breath. “All right.”
I moved out of the seat so he could slide out, and then he went up to the binder, flipped some pages, and then wrote on the sign-up sheet before coming back.
“What song did you pick?” Ryan asked.
“Just a little musical number.”
I raised an eyebrow. “A musical number?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with musicals?”
I chuckled. “Nothing.”
Two singers went ahead of him, then Kyle called him up.
He walked onto the stage, nodded, and faced the screen. The opening notes started, and people cheered.
“What song is this?” I asked Allie.
“‘Rewrite the Stars’,” she answered.
“What is it from?” I wondered aloud as Gavin started to sing about wanting someone, and it not being a secret he can hide.
“The Greatest Showman,” Allie responded. “But it’s a duet.”
“Really?” My mouth fell open, watching as he sang every word, singing about rewriting destiny. He sang what I assumed were both parts, and he closed his eyes for most of the song. I wondered if he was singing directly to me.
Gavin carried it to the end, left the mic on its stand, and stepped down. The applause came fast, a few cheers with it. Some people only looked at each other as though they were in shock.
Mike Barnes, the fire chief and Pete’s boss, stopped by our table with a non-alcoholic Heineken in his hand. “Damn, Maddox. You two would be fire singing together.”
If he only knew the heat we had together.
“Yeah,” Allie agreed. “Both of you make everyone lean closer just to hear how beautifully you can sing.”
