Chapter 16
Claire
When I got home from Shaun’s house, I pulled my phone from my purse and sent Nick a text.
“Hey. The Kind family is gathering tonight at the Brewhouse for some Karaoke. Do you want to go?”
“Hey. How do you know that?”
Shit. I needed to think of something quickly.
“Jenni texted me.”
“My shift ends at five. I’d love to go. I’ll need to shower and change when I get home.”
“I’ll be here waiting.”
“Okay. See you later.”
I didn’t know how to tell Nick about Sam, Stefan, Sebastian, Simon, Shaun, and Nora. But I knew I couldn’t say anything until the DNA test results came back. Plus, I had to tell him I bought a house, which would also have to wait.
After touching up my makeup and brushing my hair, I heard a knock at the door. Opening it, I smiled as Nick stood there.
“Hi.” He caught me off guard by wrapping his arms around me and embracing me.
“Hi.”
“Since when did Sebastian put Karaoke in at the brewhouse? We were just there.”
“I don’t know. Jenni texted me this morning and asked if we wanted to go.”
“I didn’t know you two exchanged phone numbers,” he said.
“We did last night.” I smiled. “Are you ready?”
“Yep.” He grinned. “I’ll drive.”
We climbed into his car.
“Am I finally going to hear that singing voice of yours?” He glanced over at me with a smirk.
“Maybe.”
We stepped into the brewhouse, which was packed with patrons. One of the long tables toward the back was set up with a reserved sign.
“You made it.” Simon walked over. “Hey, Nick.”
“Hi, Simon.” He shook his hand. “Is Christian and Charleigh here yet?”
“They’re on their way,” Simon spoke. “Get your asses over to the bar and get a drink. We’re all over at the table.”
Nick and I walked over to the bar, got two bottles of beer, and headed to my familys table.
“You’re here!” Jenni hugged me.
“Welcome to the family,” Grace whispered as she hugged me.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Shaun walked over.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“My guy at the lab said he’ll have the DNA test results tomorrow. He’s sending them to your email address.”
“Okay. Thanks, Shaun.” I smiled.
“I think it’s time we get our karaoke on!” Conner exclaimed as he held up his beer bottle.
“I can’t wait to hear you sing.” Nick smiled, hooking his arm around me.
“You sing?” Simon asked.
“A little.” I smiled.
“I haven’t heard her yet, but she told me she loves to sing and that her mother told her she came out of the womb singing.”
“Seriously? You love to sing?” Simon asked.
“Yeah. I do.”
“How about we do a duet together?”
“I don’t know, Simon.”
“Come on. You pick the song. Show us what you got.” He winked.
“Go on, Claire. I’ll be standing right here cheering you on,” Nick smiled.
“Fine.”
After Conner and Jackson finished their song, Simon and I stepped up.
“Claire says she can sing. But can she really? I’m putting her to the test.” He grinned.
I picked the song Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
“Great song.” Simon smiled. “Let’s do it.”
When I started singing my part, the entire restaurant went silent, and all eyes were on Simon and me. I belted out the words as if I was performing a concert. When we finished, patrons shouted and clapped. Simon hooked his arm around me and kissed my cheek.
“What the fuck?” He smiled.
We stepped off the platform, and Nick hugged me.
“I’m speechless right now. You were incredible.”
“Thank you.” I grinned.
Stefan walked over. “I knew it. I knew you looked familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. You were on American Idol years ago.”
“Yeah.” I bashfully smiled. “When I was sixteen.”
“You made it to the top five, and then you dropped out,” Stefan said.
“I got really sick and lost my voice. I had no choice but to drop out.”
“Damn.” He shook his head. “I totally would have voted for you. Your voice is amazing.”
“Thanks, Stefan.”
“He’s right, Claire.” Sam smiled. “You nailed that song perfectly. Better than this douchebag.” He gestured at Simon.
“I’m not going to lie.” Simon chuckled. “That was one hell of a performance.”
“You never told me you were on American Idol,” Nick said, handing me another beer.
“I don’t like to talk about it. It was a great experience, and I was grateful I made it as far as I did, but it wasn’t in the cards for me.”
“I’m sorry.” He pulled me into him.
“Thanks, but it’s all good.” I smiled.
“You don’t, by chance, play the guitar, do you?” Sam asked.
“She does. I’ve heard her.” Nick grinned.
“Then you’re invited to our beach bonfires.” Sam smiled.
“Raphael mentioned that you all gather down at the beach and play music.”
Instantly, Sam’s brows furrowed. “You know the Aubert’s?”
Shit.
Shaun heard and quickly came to my rescue.
“Hey, Sammy. I need you over here for something,” he said.
“Who’s Raphael?” Nick asked.
Double shit.
“Uh, a neighbor of theirs. I got turned around the other day and ended up on their street. I was looking for a coffee shop.” I lied. “Raphael was outside, and I stopped and asked him for directions.”
“Why would he tell you about the Kind family playing music down at the beach?”
“I was just commenting on how nice the houses were. He was telling me how the family lives there.”
“Oh. That’s weird,” Nick said.
After a fun-filled night, Nick and I left.
“My place or yours?” A smirk crossed his lips.
Iopened my eyes and stared at Nick as he peacefully slept in my bed. Anxiety filled me. I carefully and quietly climbed out so as not to wake him. Grabbing my phone, I went into the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. I checked my email and saw one from Dr. Kim, a geneticist from Cedars. Inhaling a deep breath, I opened it as my heart raced. The results confirmed that Sam, Stefan, Sebastian, Simon, Shaun, and Nora were my siblings.
“Morning.” Nick smiled.
I quickly exited out of the email and set my phone down as he walked over and wrapped his arms around me.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his lips softly brushing against mine.
“I was just checking my email.” I smiled.
He placed his hand over my heart. “Your heart is racing.”
“That’s what you do to it.”
“Is that so?” His smile grew wide as he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. “I have two hours before I have to leave for the hospital. Let’s not let it go to waste.”