Chapter 18 - Niall - Bumping into You
Chapter 18
Niall
Maybe I’m flirting too much, but I can’t help it. I love seeing Gwen’s cheeks turn red as I catch her off guard. The look on her face when I licked the ice cream off my thumb was perfect. Her eyes were wide, expression full of shock and want. I know she’s attracted to me. That was clear when she realized I was in a towel earlier.
Regardless of the deal I made with her and the one with Greg, thoughts of her have been running through my mind since the moment she bumped her head in my car and her strawberries-and-cream scent caused my body to react to her in a way that no one has made me feel in a long time.
After ice cream, everyone talks about ending the night with the late-night karaoke at the Hurdy-Gurdy bar. A few people bow out, already having made plans, and others say they’ll see how the night goes.
A while later, after arriving at the Hurdy-Gurdy, it ends up just being Gwen, Greg, Holly, Trent, Margot, and me. After watching a few other people sing, some good and some completely horrendous, the girls are up. They’ve picked “Super Troopers” from Mamma Mia!
I can tell at once they’ve done this before, and I smile as they pose facing the audience.
“This is their song,” says Greg, chuckling.
“Why’s that?” I ask, curious for as much information about Gwen as I can get.
“Well,” says Trent, “they’ve been singing ABBA since they were kids, and after Mamma Mia! came out and they saw Meryl Streep and her friends dancing to this song, they made it their mission to learn the dance.”
“You’re in for a treat,” says Greg, before cheering loudly for the girls.
The music starts, and, in the most hilariously choreographed dance, they begin their karaoke version of “Super Troopers.”
None of them miss a single move, with Gwen taking the lead and Holly and Margot as the backups. The crowd sings, whoops, and hollers during their performance.
My stomach does a flip. If only Gwen really felt that I could be the person who makes her happy, just like the lines she’s singing now. As they finish the song on a “you . . .” and point toward Greg, Trent, and me, I can’t help but beam at Gwen.
Greg, Trent, and I stand and cheer the loudest. Gwen is all smiles until she starts walking off the stage. She tenses for a split second. I don’t think anyone else notices, but no one else is watching her as intensely as I am either.
Scanning the room, I notice Bradley, Tammy, and Vivian in the crowd. They must have decided to join us after all. Vivian and Tammy are standing and clapping along with the crowd, but Bradley is staring at our little group, dread etched across his face.
“Wow,” says Greg, patting me on the arm. “Your Sully energy must be working. I haven’t seen Gwen have that much fun in a while. She must be feeling more like herself already.”
As the girls join us back at the table, Greg embraces Holly.
“That was awesome,” says Trent.
I grin at Gwen as she comes and picks up her pi ? a colada.
“Gwen, that was so great!” says Margot. “I never thought we’d get you to take the lead again.”
Gwen beams at her friends and shrugs. “Just felt like time, I guess.”
Vivian, Tammy, and Bradley join our group. “We made it,” says Vivian, pulling a chair out next to her sister. “I was glad we caught your Mamma Mia! performance.”
“It looked so fun,” says Tammy, “that I signed Bradley and I up for a duet.”
Everyone nods politely, and then there is a beat of silence before Margot says, “I want to do another song. Come sing with me, Trent.”
“Alright, but there’s only one song I’ll do,” says Trent, then laughs.
“Ha,” says Margot, “I already knew you’d say that, and I put us on the list.” She grabs Trent’s arm and drags him toward the stage.
Trent doesn’t miss a beat as the piano chords start, and he sings “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. Margot catches the chorus, and they’re off. Playing air guitar, hopping up and down, and walking around the stage as if they own it. Not as choreographed as the girls were, but clearly this is another regular for the group.
Catching Gwen’s eyes, I notice she seems a little down. Her smile says happy, but her eyes are far, far away from this bar.
“Let’s do a duet,” I whisper in her ear.
“Do you sing?” she asks.
“In my shower, mostly. But I’ve done karaoke with the guys before, back in college.”
She wrinkles her nose but then slowly nods in agreement.
“ Cúla búla , I’ll get us signed up.” I hop up quickly before she has a chance to change her mind.
When I sit back down, Gwen leans over and asks, “So what song are we singing?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Hmm. . . . How do you know I’ll know it?”
“Everyone knows it. You will be fine. I promise,” I hold out my pinky to her.
Looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, she loops her pinky with mine, and we shake on it. “You better not let me make a fool of myself up there.”
“No worries, I’ll always have your back,” I say. “Plus, you’re too cute to ever appear foolish.”
She wrinkles her nose again as Trent and Margot make their way back to the table.
Next, Bradley and Tammy are up.
“This should be interesting,” adds Greg.
“Yep,” agrees Trent.
“Gwen,” says Holly, “we can head out if being around Bradley is making you uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine,” says Gwen. “I’m here to have fun and spend time with my friends. I’m not going to let Bradley ruin that.”
“Good for you,” says Margot.
“I’m so sorry again,” says Vivian, “for the misunderstanding.”
“Don’t worry about it,” says Gwen. “Though, I hope he sounds like a goose when he sings,” she adds with complete sincerity.
There’s a moment of stunned silence, then we all burst into laughter, getting a few looks from the people around us. I guess we are about to see for ourselves.
Tammy is grinning at the crowd like she’s Miss America. Bradley is the complete and utter opposite. Glancing briefly in the direction of our little group, he looks as if this is the last place on earth he wants to be. When the music begins, Bradley and Tammy sing “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee.
Tammy immediately gets into it, bopping and leaning into Bradley at each of her lines. Tammy, bless her heart, is giving it her all.
I cringe a little at their performance. It’s a little much, but somehow endearing. Bradley, unfortunately for Gwen, seems to have a decent tone. Though his demeanor onstage definitely does not come off as endearing. The man looks like he has stage fright.
I almost feel bad for the bloke. He clearly doesn’t want to be up there, and it’s clear he only is because Tammy is having the time of her life.
As they finish their song, Bradley practically runs off the stage, followed by a smiling Tammy. There is a smattering of applause from the crowd and a whistle from Vivian, who, bless her, is so supportive of her friend.
Two more singers and another group go before it’s Gwen and my turn to sing. I signal to her with a tilt of my head.
“Go get them, Sully!” cheers Greg.
“Woohoo, didn’t think we’d get you up there,” says Trent. “We haven’t heard you since college, Sul!”
I wave them off, chuckling. It really has been too long; this is going to be the craic .
Eyeing me with trepidation, Gwen takes the mic and follows me onto the stage. The DJ announces our song, and at that, Gwen’s eyebrows almost go into her hairline. Surprise at my choice colors her face.
“You got this,” I mouth to her as the music intro starts. I just have to hope she’ll start singing at her part as I belt out my best John Travolta version of “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease . Never one to do things halfway, I get into the moves, channeling my inner Danny Zuko.
Gwen is laughing, surprised at my performance. And bless her, she doesn’t miss a beat. Clearly a Grease fan herself, she immediately embodies the not-so-sweet-anymore Sandy. Even going so far as to push me back with her foot on my chest.
A radiant sparkle in her eyes, a buoyant energy enveloping her, she becomes this fearless, sexy version of herself, and it’s like I’m getting to see the real Gwen. Dancing around the stage, we are so in sync. It’s like we’ve practiced before. By the end of the song, we are laughing, dancing, and having the time of our lives. I give her a hug after spinning her around as the song ends. The crowd is going crazy. Our friends whoop and holler for us too. Taking Gwen’s hand in mine, my fingers tingling at her touch, I lead her in an over-the-top bow onstage.
As we make our way off the stage, I notice Bradley and Tammy leaving the karaoke bar. Looks like Bradley might not have enjoyed the performance as much as everyone else.
“Okay,” says Holly, “that was seriously the best thing I’ve seen all day!”
“Totally agree,” adds Margot.
“Did you all practice that?” asks Greg, eyeing me curiously, a smile on his face.
“Nope,” says Gwen. “And Niall, you didn’t tell me you could sing or dance. That was so much fun!”
Trent clasps me on the shoulder. “It was fun to watch too. Just like the old days.”
“Sure was grand,” I say, grinning at them all. Being up there with Gwen, dancing and having fun, that . . . that is exactly what I want with her, for us.