scribble down my song just as the waitress arrives to take our order.
“Huh. Interesting choice,” Karim says, shamelessly looking over my shoulder. “That’s a little dark, Shipley.”
“What did you pick?” Rickie asks.
“You’ll find out in time to sing it with me.”
“Mine is a duet, too,” Rickie says. “Karim, can you help me with this?” He passes my coworker a slip of paper.
Karim hoots with laughter. “Oh, man. Totally. You are a good time.” Karim hands both slips of paper to the waitress.
“What did you pick?” I ask.
“You’ll find out,” Rickie says, repeating my own irritating words to me.
The waitress peeks at the slip of paper in her hand. “Ooh, I’m going to make sure I’m not on break when you sing this.” She gives Rickie a big smile. “Now what would you like from the bar?”
“Tequila,” I grunt. “But it’s a bad idea. I’ll have water instead.”
Rickie laughs.
As I wait for my song, my discomfort turns to dread. The waitress brings our food, and the burger is delicious, with a garlicky local goat cheese on it. But I only eat half. Rickie also ordered me, of all things, a Shipley cider.
“Thought you could use the comforts of home,” he says when I recognize it on the first sip.
“That’s so cool that your family makes cider,” Jenn says.
“My brother has plans for world domination,” I tell her. “He’s making applejack now, too. They have it at Vino and Veritas on Church Street.”
“Oh, I like that place,” Karim says, bobbing his head. “Hey Rickie! Our song is up!” He cackles. “Brace yourself, Shipley. Your man is about to sing you a poppy love song. I can’t even handle it.”
“Which poppy love song?”
Rickie gives me a smack on the cheek. “You’ll see.”
He and Karim confer as they walk toward the little stage. They each get a mic, and the introduction kicks in. Both of them sway back and forth, and Karim snaps rhythmically to the easy beat.
“This song is for Daphne,” Rickie says, just before he begins to sing.
My face heats, and I still don’t recognize the song. But Jenn lets out a hoot. “Omigod, he’s doing Meghan Trainor! That is adorable.”
It takes me another minute. I paste a smile on my face as Rickie sings an easy sequence about a dream. Then the fictional dream ends, and he wakes up bereft.
But then the chorus kicks in, and I remember the song all at once. It’s called “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” He looks right at me and sings his heart out, while every woman in the room starts feeling lightheaded from how attractive he is.
Or maybe that’s just me.
“Oh!” Jenn elbows me. “Karim is taking the John Legend parts! This is epic.”
It is super, super cute. And I’m not worthy—of this song, or the hot man singing it.
He seems to think I am. So I can only try to live up to the hype.
Karim and Rickie ham it up at the end, and everyone in the bar claps and whistles. I feel flushed and self-conscious as he walks back to the table and then leans down to kiss me.
Somebody does a cat-call whistle. I might die now. But it will all be worth it. “Nice job, McFly. I loved it.”
Grinning, Rickie plunks down in the chair and steals one of my french fries. “Thank you, Shipley. What’s the duet we’re singing?”
“You’ll see.” I pick up my cider and take a gulp. Singing in front of strangers? How did I agree to this?
I worry about it while someone from another table sings a passable rendition of “These Boots are Made for Walking.” But then the DJ calls my name, and I’m almost glad.
“Let’s get this over with,” I grumble, and everybody laughs.
Rickie springs out of his chair. “It won’t hurt a bit.”
“Liar,” I gasp. And then I straighten my spine and head for the stage.
Thirty-Four
Rickie
Aw. Daphne is really nervous. I feel bad about pressing her to do this.
I’ll just have to make it up to her later. That could be fun.
“Okay, let’s hear Radiohead’s ‘Creep,’” the DJ says with a smile. “Awesome song.” He hits a button.
“Interesting pick,” I say. “A little dark, but it’s a killer track. I like it.”
She gives me a funny little smile. Then she switches on her mic, and I do the same. The intro kicks in, and she taps her toe easily to the rhythm. I put a hand on her shoulder and give it a squeeze.