39
Karaoke
“So what is this place were going to?” Dani asked as Rosa pulled away from the curb.
Rosa had arranged to pick Dani up so that she could have a drink for once.
After her phone call last night from Jez and the hour-long phone call she had today from him, she really needed to let her hair down.
The only consolation was that at least they could talk now, even though Jez tended to get emotional and somehow still made her feel guilty.
“It’s a bar that does karaoke,” grinned Rosa.
“Karaoke? Seriously?” Dani laughed. Wasn’t that so nineteen nineties?
“Kuch loves karaoke. Well he is half-Japanese so…” Rosa shrugged. “It’s great fun. And Kuch can really sing. I think he’s a frustrated singer actually,” Rosa giggled. “Do you sing?”
“Well I can hold a tune if that’s what you mean… ,” replied Dani modestly. “But I don’t think I’ll be doing any singing tonight. I mean, I play with my nieces and nephew on their karaoke game. Sing in the car and stuff, but real karaoke, that’s just a bit too scary for me,” she huffed.
“Aw come on, we all do. Once you’ve loosened up at bit, had a drink. What cake did you make for him?”
“Raspberry and vanilla. Nicole said that’s his favourite.”
“He’ll be thrilled.”
The bar was out of town in a rather affluent suburb.
Rosa parked up the car and they made their way into the rather smart establishment.
Dani walked in, carrying the cake box and stopped to take in the room.
It was nothing like she’d imagined a karaoke bar to be like.
She had visions of a dark seedy pub that smelled of stale beer and this was anything but that.
It was more like an uptown gentleman’s club with leather sofas and soft lighting.
The clientele were mainly in their thirties and over and they all looked professional and smart, though casual.
“Wow, it’s a really nice place.” Dani couldn’t hide her surprise.
“I know they just do karaoke about twice a month here and we try to come down when we can. It was just lucky it also coincided with Kuch’s birthday.” Dani followed Rosa idly. Her eyes focused on a man in his late forties singing ‘Unchain my Heart’ in a remarkable gravelly voice.
“He’s good.” Dani motioned to the man and Rosa smiled and nodded. The bar was pretty much full and the atmosphere was like something Dani had never experienced before. It had the vibe of a live concert but with added intimacy. Dani loved it.
“Here, let’s give the cake to the girl over by the bar. We’ll tell her when to bring it out.”
Dani handed over the box to the girl who seemed to know Rosa. She quickly gave the girl some instructions, explaining she’d tell her when to get it ready, then Rosa led Dani to where the rest of their friends were sitting.
There were roughly twenty of them and they’d taken over a large section of the bar that had six couches with a row of four low tables. The tables were covered in drinks and platters of finger food and dips. Kuch was up instantly hugging Dani and Rosa.
“Happy Birthday Kuch.” Dani kissed his cheek as he squeezed her tightly.
“I thought you weren’t going to make it.” He looked to Rosa.
“Happy Birthday.” Rosa hugged and kissed him. “It’s my fault, I got lost getting to Dani’s,” explained Rosa.
“As long as you made it,” he grinned, his eyes sparkling.
Rosa squeezed in next to Carmen, who was sitting on one of the couches.
Dani looked around at everyone acknowledging them with a wave as she tried to find somewhere to sit.
In all the commotion she hadn’t realised that Jerome was sitting behind her.
Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t thought for a second he’d be here.
Her heavy heart that had been weighed down with thoughts of Jez suddenly felt decidedly lighter and began to beat just a little bit faster.
“Well hello, Dani.” Dani’s attention was drawn to Arsenio who was also sitting next to Jerome.
“Um, hello.” She smiled weakly and then looked at Jerome and added, “Hi.”
“Hi.” A smile skirted around his mouth as he spoke and before he could say any more Kuch appeared with a chair for her.
“Here, Dani. I’ll squeeze you in over here.” He gestured to a small gap between two large couches, which placed her next to Jamie and Nicole and directly opposite Jerome. Oh hell! thought Dani. That’s all she needed.
The singer had just finished, everyone clapped and a few people whistled as he modestly bowed.
The deejay then called up the next name and a couple made their way to the stage.
Dani decided she’d keep her eyes on the stage until she could calm herself down.
She was beginning to fear this wasn’t just a regular crush.
Her heart was beating so much faster now, just at the sight of him.
The surprise of seeing him in a social setting made it so much more thrilling.
The last time she’d been at an event with him was at Adam’s charity dinner.
Dani smiled to herself thinking back to their dance.
She’d only seen a glimpse of him but he looked breathtaking in dark jeans and a cobalt blue deep V-sweater.
It didn’t help that they seemed to have some obvious chemistry that flared up unexpectedly.
What made it infinitely worse was that Dani knew that if he wasn’t married, that bubbling chemistry would have most definitely erupted by now.
The couple who had been called up, stood nervously while the introduction started and the audience clapped their encouragement once they’d started their duet of ‘Don’t go Breaking my Heart’.
They weren’t particularly good but the audience clapped along anyway as the couple loosened up and started to really enjoy themselves.
Their performance was infectious and, even though their voices were really nowhere near as good as the previous performer, everyone cheered them along anyhow.
“What do you think?” asked Nicole.
“It’s really great isn’t it? I thought people would boo them off.”
Nicole shook her head. “Most of the singers are good to average that go on, but even if you’re not good, the fact that you get up on stage and sing, well that deserves encouraging. They’re all regulars. Everyone knows everyone so it’s just a bit of fun.”
Kuch perched himself on the couch next to Nicole and handed Dani a drink. “Here, tequila no ice. So what do you think?”
“I think it’s pretty cool. Are you going to sing too?”
“We’re up next. You made it just in time,” he winked.
“We?” squeaked Dani, her face freezing for a second, hoping he wasn’t referring to her.
“Don’t panic,” Nicole chuckled. “He meant me.”
“Really? I can’t wait, then,” Dani said relieved, grinning at the two of them.
The couple finished and everyone clapped as they laughed and quickly left the stage.
The deejay then called up Kuch and he stood up from the couch and waited for Nicole.
Then to Dani’s surprise Richard got up too and Kuch’s brother.
She hadn’t even realised he was here. The atmosphere changed in the bar and everyone cheered as they got up on to the stage.
Jamie leaned over. “They’re quite the celebrities here,” he grinned. Dani furrowed her brow not understanding what he meant. “Just watch and listen.”
The introduction started to ‘Turn up the Love’ as they took their positions on the stage and then Nicole sang out the first line pitch perfect.
Dani stared in awe at her incredible voice.
The whole bar was focused on her, but Nicole seemed unfazed as she continued to sing the refrain.
Then from behind her Kuch began to sing the next rap part.
Everyone in the bar was clapping along to his performance.
Then it was Richard’s turn, who equalled Kuch’s incredible performance.
The atmosphere was electric. Kuch’s brother sang his part and then Nicole took over again.
If Dani didn’t know them she would have sworn that it was Far East Movement themselves performing.
“Told you.” Jamie leaned in so that Dani could hear.
“They’re amazing. I can’t believe how good they are.” Jamie grinned and nodded at her comment.
When they finished, the bar erupted into cheers and everyone was on their feet clapping.
Dani allowed herself to sneak a peek at Jerome who was also on his feet cheering.
He caught her eye and smirked, then put his finger and thumb in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Dani chuckled and turned her attention back to the stage.
The group came off stage back to their seats as the bar calmed down for the next performer.
“You guys were amazing!” Dani gushed. “Wow, I can’t believe how good you are.”
Nicole smiled widely. “Thanks.”
Dani shook her head in disbelief as Kuch came to join Nicole. “It was brilliant.” Kuch beamed back and looked at Nicole.
“She’s pretty special.”
“So are you.” Nicole blushed, then remembering herself she reached over for a drink.
“You were all just… I’m blown away. How can anyone follow that?” asked Dani.
The bar calmed down enough for the next singer to take his place on the stage and he started his rendition of Bon Jovi’s ‘Shot through the Heart.’
The evening progressed and one by one a number of the customers got up to sing, either a duet or alone.
Granted, it was hard to compete with Nicole and Kuch’s performance but most of the performances were good.
Rosa sang an excellent version of Tina Turner’s ‘Private Dancer’ to Dani’s utter surprise, and Rico sang The Police’s ‘Every breath you Take’.
Dani was already on her third double tequila, enjoying the fact she wasn’t driving for a change.
The karaoke took a break, mainly for the customers to socialise rather than focus on the stage and the resident piano player began to softly play a medley of popular songs.
Arsenio saw this as an opportune moment to get some one on one time with Dani.
She was sitting with Nicole as he sidled towards them.