Chapter 42
BIX
As Sade and I sing, more and more people drift towards the bandstand to watch. I spot Carlos moving closer, his expression rapt with interest.
“The man I love,” I croon, making happy little sounds to communicate the emotions in the song.
It’s nothing I can write on a piece of paper. Nothing I can explain. They’re just nonsense sounds that float out of me, sounds born of the heady feeling of realizing you’re in love.
Like I’m in love with Slayer.
“Songs are nothing but emotions wrapped up in lyrics,” Lola always taught us. “It’s the melody that matters. It doesn’t matter if you play it on an instrument or mimic that emotion with your voice. The words don’t matter one dang bit.”
The audience is getting it, I realize as I look out at them. Paul was on to something with this duet. The contrast between Sade’s soulful, direct delivery and my free-form interpretation creates something neither of us could achieve alone.
I move my shoulders, a little shimmy, a little shake. My pearls take on a life of their own.
Suddenly, everyone is on their feet, clapping. I catch sight of Slayer standing at the edge of the crowd, his expression unreadable. Valentina hovers at his side, whispering something in his ear.
My voice fades into softness, and Sade returns. I riff on her lyrics as she sings, our sounds overlapping into an explosive finale.
The crowd goes wild. It’s as if they’ve never heard such a combination before. Maybe they haven’t.
Frankly, neither have I.
As the applause crests, Carlos steps forward, clapping enthusiastically.
But it’s Slayer’s reaction I’m searching for. His jaw is tight, his eyes locked on mine. There’s something in his eyes that makes my stomach drop—not just anger, but betrayal.