Page 3 of See Me

Ashley saunters back to the group with a smile on her face. “Did you guys see that priest?” She glances down at what looks like a business card in her hand and giggles.

She giggles.

“Look.” She turns the card around and it says,Come get Psalm. For private confessions, call Father Russo.Followed by a phone number.

“It's funny right? I mean it’s blasphemy, but it’s funny.” She tucks the card in the back of her phone case. “Is there a church around here?”

I shove her shoulder. “Ashley. Oh my god.”

“What? I just want to feel the Holy Spirit move within me.”

“Deep within you.” Alex laughs.

Ashley bounces in place. “Look, it's been weeks. I don’t want it to close up.”

Cassie slaps her hand to her forehead. “It’s not like your ears if you don’t wear earrings.”

“How would you know? You have Sexy Sweats stretching your cookie every night.”

Jace chokes on his drink. He manages to croak, “Sexy Sweats? Cookie?”

Cassie blushes. “Never mind. Let’s go look at the song list for Karaoke. Ella’s going to sing.”

I whip my head back and forth. “No, Ella is not.”

She stomps her foot and her curls bounce. “Come on. You’re dressed like a famous lounge singer and you have an amazing voice.”

“Yeah, in the shower.”

“How about you pick the song?” Cassie offers.

“I’ll look, but no promises.”

Twenty minutes of very intense negotiations, two shots of tequila, and a promised week in the Lancaster’s Lake Tahoe cabin later, the song is cued up and I sing the first line ofNightmareby Halsey. Not exactly lounge singer material but the song speaks to me. Halfway through the song my throat burns with the intensity and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

I try to shake off the feeling but the song is… intense.

Take back your power.

My eyes burn when the song ends and I can’t fight the feeling to turn and look behind me. I squint toward the darkened hallway. Nothing is there, no one.

The crowd erupts and I walk off the boxing-ring-turned-stage with my head down. The lump lodged in my throat keeps me from heading into the crowd and I follow the signs for the restroom.

I need a minute.

I splash some cold water on my neck so I don’t destroy my makeup any more than the few errant tears managed to do. I dab under my eyes with a napkin and smooth my face. Releasing a noxious breath long and slow, I take a step back from the sink.

I hoist my boobs back up in my dress and hold my chin high.

They are impressive, aren’t they?

The only thing I’m willing to accept that I inherited from my mom. That and the red hair.

I exit the restroom and nearly collide with what I can only describe as a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.So cliche.He grips my shoulders and spins me up against the wall. Not meaning to be sexy at all, just trying to avoid a disastrous collision, I assume. But the hairs on my neck stand again and I take in a few ragged breaths. His eyes dip to my cleavage and he hums deep in his throat. When his hands slip down and offmy arms, my skin chills in their absence. He peruses me head to toe and backs away into a darkened doorway.

I smile.Thanks, Mom.

I rejoin my group and the priest behind the bar starts to shush the crowd. He points the remote at the TV and turns the volume all the way up.

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