Chapter 12 #2
“I learned long ago not to question him. Fair warning, you will be embarrassed by the end of the night,” I say, lifting my cup of water in salute.
Thea tips her head as she watches him. “I never understood the urge to stand up in front of people like that.”
“What are you talking about?” Addy says with a little laugh. “You wanted to be a singer.”
“When I was fourteen and hadn’t realized I have neither the talent nor the patience for that kind of life.”
“She’s a lying liar, Owen,” Addy says, that fake smile twisting into something teasing and indulgent. “Don’t believe her for a second. Her voice is incredible.”
“Perfect segue, baby,” Harrison calls from the stage, and Thea’s head snaps to his so quickly I expect her to end up with whiplash.
“What does that mean?” Thea whispers, meant only for herself, but I seem to be listening to her—and watching her—too closely.
Harrison steps up to the lead singer’s microphone, dragging another stand to the front of the stage.
“Evening, y’all,” he calls into the microphone, that strong Southern accent he picks up every visit slipping out.
The crowd cheers in response. “The non-Ellises in the room don’t know me well since my brother and I were only up here in the summers, but this place is home to us.
And, because it’s home and family, I was able to convince my cousin here to let me get up on stage. ”
He claps Gabriel on the shoulder, his guitar swinging from the force. Gabriel grimaces, mouthing an apology to the crowd, and laughter breaks out.
Harrison chuckles along with them, always quick to laugh at himself.
“I know this isn’t karaoke night, but we’re here for a celebration.
Ever since this perfect woman agreed to marry me, I’ve been trying to come up with an engagement present for her.
She keeps saying she only wants me. Can you believe that? ”
The crowd’s eating him up. Some cheer and clap, some holler about how Addy’s a good woman. A few of our cousins heckle Harrison, calling out that she must have been knocked over the head to want him.
He waves his hands to quiet the crowd. “But I finally found something. Addy’s got the voice of an angel, and apparently so does her sister.
The two of them dreamed of starting a sister singing duo, and today I’m going to make their dreams come true.
” He looks right at Addy now, love shining in his eyes alongside a touch of uncertainty.
“I got the band to learn that song you two loved to sing.”
She squeals and grabs Thea’s hand. “The Pistol Annies?”
Her enthusiasm dissolves Harrison’s trepidation like sugar in water, and he preens like a rooster. “Yes, ma’am. Y’all get up here!”
Addy turns to Thea, whose face has gone white. “Let’s do it!”
“Up there?” Thea asks, her hand trembling slightly.
“Yes! Please, Tia,” Addy begs, clutching Thea’s hand in both of hers and bringing them to her chest. “It’s our song.”
Thea smiles slightly. “I can’t believe you told him about that.”
“I’ve always loved singing with you, and I want him to know everything that’s important to me.”
Thea groans and pushes away from the table. “Let’s get this over with.”
Addy squeals again, bouncing on her toes before running up the stairs of the stage. Thea drags her feet but follows.
“This is going to be awesome,” Harrison says as he throws himself into Thea’s vacated seat.
The sisters talk to the band for a minute before setting themselves up in front of the two microphones.
Thea’s gaze lands on mine, and she widens her eyes in a clear what the heck is happening look.
Heat blossoms in my chest. There are tons of people in this bar, but I’m the one she seeks in the crowd.
The band starts snapping their fingers before Addy joins in a cappella.
The tune’s familiar, a soft, seductive melody.
Addy’s voice is beautiful, light and clear, hitting each note with precision.
Any fear that the locals would be pissed about their live music night being turned into glorified karaoke disappears.
After a few lines, Addy lets Thea take over.
And my heart stops.
Her voice is low and smoky. Less perfect than Addy’s, but with so much character.
And as she sings about temptation and love and sinning, I nearly crawl up on that stage to beg for a scrap of it all.
I lean forward, elbows braced on my knees and my water clutched so tightly between my hands that the glass may shatter.
Addy’s voice joins in with Thea’s, the two of them harmonizing in practiced perfection.
The sisters glance at each other, a broad smile taking over Thea’s face to match Addy’s.
Those tempting hips swing in time with the song, and I want to stand behind her, gripping them tightly as I move with her.
I want her thick curls gathered in my fist while my lips run up and down her neck, to feel the vibrations of her song moving through my body.
I don’t want her attention on Addy. I want her attention focused wholly and completely on me.
And then I get my wish. Thea turns back to the audience, and her eyes snag on mine.
A surprised look takes over those incredible features, and I almost regret what she must see.
I can imagine what I look like right now.
Possessed. Starving. But there’s no stopping it now.
Not while she’s up on that stage looking like perfection and sounding like my every dream.
She must have missed her cue, because Addy elbows her in the side, making her jump and breaking our staring contest. Thea noticeably keeps her gaze away from me after that.
Or, at least, she doesn’t look at me again.
I hope it’s an effort to keep from looking at me.
Because it would take God himself appearing in this bar to get me to stop watching her.