Chapter Seventeen
Em
THE GROUP ROLLED INTO the city at eight thirty PM, colorful city lights cascading down on them in the black of night.
“We’re here. Fi-na-lly!” Seth had been so giddy about coming that he rushed the group, sounding like a drill sergeant, almost killing the mood.
They all had agreed that a little time away from the beach house could do them some good, but sometimes Seth’s overenthusiastic nature could drive a person mad.
“I finally get to meet your parents,” Claire said excitedly. “This puts us at a whole new level of friendship.”
Lennon laughed, “I love you, Claire!” She tapped her hand against the back of her seat, and Claire tucked her hand inside it.
“Hey Em, could you text Shae and tell her we’re here and get the address for where to meet?” Lennon asked, whipping them through a roundabout before screeching to a halt at a stoplight so abruptly that Em almost lost her grip on her phone.
“Sure, just keep us alive, yeah?” Em found Shae’s message from that morning and continued where they’d left off.
Em (9:09 PM): Hey, your sister wanted me to let you know we are here. What’s the address?
Shae (9:12 PM): Hey! Ok, yeah… I’ll drop a pin.
Em (9:12 PM): Thanks! Pray for us, your sister’s driving a bit wild.
Shae (9:13 PM): Ha! She gets nervous driving in the city, always has.
Shae (9:13 PM): ??
Em (9:14 PM): Thanks, ??
Shae (9:15 PM): Ask her if I can have her record collection if you guys don’t make it.
Shae (9:16 PM): Oh, and Kira wants her Jimmy Choo’s
Em (9:16 PM): Are you trying to get me killed, regardless of whether we crash or not?
Shae (9:17 PM): ??
“That’s a lot of texting just to ask for an address,” Claire interrupted, diminishing the grin on Em’s face.
Em locked her phone, slipping it into her back pocket before tossing a glare in Claire’s direction. The way she had intruded on her life this summer was starting to piss Em off.
Seth nudged her with his elbow, shooting a quick look back toward Claire.
“Jealous,” he mouthed.
The car glided to a stop under a streetlight past the corner of Tremont. Em opened the door and stepped out into the thick summer air, heat clinging to her skin. The city pulsed around her, a symphony of horns in the distance.
Downtown Boston had its own kind of vibe. Signs glowed in the shop windows. Brick-faced buildings loomed above them, whispering stories to each other through open windows and fire escapes. Everything was close, here. It was invigorating, like anything could happen.
Em followed the group across the street. Claire was bouncing ahead in her chunky heels, humming to herself. Brodie had wrapped his arm around Lennon’s waist, his hand trailing down to her bottom for a quick squeeze. She yelped.
“Sorry,” Lennon looked over her shoulder at Em and Seth, muffling a giggle with her hand.
Em was walking alongside Seth, who had charmingly put his arm out for her before they crossed the street.
The karaoke bar was tucked beneath a weather-worn awning, with a glowing purple sign that read: “Marlow’s”.
A rainbow flag hung crooked beside it, limp from the lack of breeze.
They stepped inside, the door thudding shut behind.
It was dimly lit and a little grimy inside, but full of warmth.
The walls were covered in Polaroids and autographed posters, strings of lights weaving through old metal chandeliers, hung low over the booths.
In the center, mismatched tables were shoved together, haphazardly, sprinkled across the floor, as if the room encouraged strangers to become friends.
A compact stage was tucked into the corner, lit by a spotlight that made the mic hum loudly when it got too close. A disco ball spun lazily above it, scattering fractured light across the wood floor, painting the crowd in flashes of silver and blue.
People were gathered, nursing drinks in plastic cups, cheering on a woman screeching her way through “Baby One More Time” as if her life depended on it.
Em grinned, her body relaxing as the nervous energy melted away.
It didn’t matter how complicated everything was with Shae or how much Claire annoyed her.
Tonight the city was humming, and the air was thick with possibility.
They spotted Shae at the front of the bar, close to the stage, sitting at a line of tables with all the chairs facing the stage.
Kira strode up to her with… someone else, who handed Shae a drink before sitting down beside her, whispering to her. Shae careened forward, laughing.
“Ahh, God.” Em thought, “What now?” They rounded the corner, and Kira bounded to her feet, throwing her arms around Claire, both of them bouncing up and down in excitement.
The girl made her way over, too, leaning in behind Kira to say hello, then scanning the scene with a lazy kind of charm that made her stand out without trying. Her eyes lingered a little longer when she spotted Claire.
“Damn,” the girl said, low enough to keep it casual, but with an edge that curled the air between them. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
Claire gave a deliberate blink, then grinned. “Only when I want to be.”
“My kind of girl.” The girl shot her a wink before sliding past to hug Lennon. Claire watched her, her teeth caught on her bottom lip.
Hold the phone, Em thought. This was a girl she’d seen before, someone who’d also gone to school with them. Nadia, was it? Ahh, hell, she didn’t remember, but she knew her from somewhere. She just hoped her joining them wouldn’t ruin the night.
“Let’s go get a drink," Em yelled over the bar music and a bit too close to Lennon’s ear. Lennon flinched at the sudden volume but nodded anyway.
“We’re going to go get drinks if anyone wants anything.” Lennon hollered.
“I’ll be DD.” Brodie volunteered. “So, maybe a Coke.”
“I’ll take a vodka and Sprite with a splash of grenadine,” Seth chimed in as he scanned the bar, clearly ready to throw out a web at the first cute queer guy he could trap.
“Claire, anything for you?” Lennon leaned in to ask.
“Oh, I’ve already got mine.” She lifted a hand, carefully swishing a clear liquid of whatever concoction the other two girls were holding.
The bar was sticky to the touch, and Em backed her arm off of it like it was a hot burner, swiping a napkin to wipe whatever gooey substance had transferred onto her.
The air where they stood reeked of lime, whiskey, and—she took in the girl to her side, leaning obnoxiously close to a woman she clearly had an appreciation for—anticipation.
“Let’s do a J?g-bomb, yeah?” Lennon was extra chipper.
She tapped the bar for the bartender's attention. “Two J?g-bombs and two Old-Fashioneds.” She scrunched her shoulders at Em, yipping. Then wrapped an arm around Em’s shoulders, giving her a tiny peck on the nose.
“Liven up. Tonight’s our night. Let’s have some fun,” she said through a smile, wriggling her brows.
The bartender dropped the drinks in front of them, and Lennon handed over her card. “Leave it open.” She turned, attempting to block her pointing gesture toward Em as she mouthed to the bartender, “I’m getting this one sloshed.”
If you didn’t know better, you’d think Lennon was already sloshed, Em thought.
They took their shots at the bar and headed back to the table with their drinks, Lennon dancing her way there.
Em sat behind Shae at the table, Lennon beside her.
Everyone had their eyes fixed on the stage where a man who was visibly impaired by alcohol was doing his best rendition of “Sweet Caroline.”
Seth was out on the floor singing along, waving his arms above his head alongside a group of partygoers he’d obviously just befriended.
Shae did a one-eighty in her chair. “Hey. What ‘cha got there?” She pointed her chin out toward Em’s drink.
“An Old-Fashioned." Em smiled. “Lennon ordered for me.”
“Old-fashioned, huh? My kind of girl,” the woman who Em didn’t know, said. “I’m Natalie, by the way. We went to school together, Natalie Hamilton.”
“Wait, are you Conner’s sister?” The question slipped out before Em could stop it.
“That’s not how I want to be remembered, but yes. He’s an asshole, I know!”
“Kira ran into her at Moe’s and invited her to hang out tonight.” Shae interrupted, giving Em one of the sweetest smiles she’d seen on her yet. Was she trying to explain, to make her feel more comfortable?
“I see,” Em smiled kindly. “Well, I’m glad you decided to join us.”
“I’m glad you decided to join us,” Shae corrected, a playful grin on her face.
Hmm, she wasn’t wrong. They were, so to speak, “crashing the party.”
“Are you going to sing?” Shae asked, as the man on stage reached up to tap the disco ball, tilting it. The reflection lit up the colors living underneath the green of Shae’s eyes, making Em not want to look away.
“Yes,” Lennon interrupted, overhearing the conversation. “You have to! I’m gonna go get the list.” Lennon got up and strode over to the karaoke host.
“You sing?” Natalie asked.
“She’s an incredible singer.” Shae locked eyes with Em. “You are!”
“Well, damn girl… do it!” Natalie twisted back around in her seat, clapping for the last performer leaving the stage.
Lennon came over and dropped a large book in front of Em. “Ok, we gotta pick something fairly quickly. They only have one book, and I charmed him into letting me bring it over here.”
“Len, I don’t know if I’m gonna do this. I...”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Lennon brushed her off before she could even finish. “Brodie, can you go get Em another Old-Fashioned?”
“On it.” Brodie tipped his glass of Coke up, downing it as though it, too, was an alcoholic beverage, and headed to the bar.
Claire leaned in toward Lennon. “So, who's the tatted dreamboat?”
Lennon laughed. “That is Natalie. Shae’s former… everything. And by the looks of it, your future mistake.”
“She’s hot,” Claire said, sipping her drink. “I bet I could handle her.”
“Hmm,” Lennon mused, “famous last words.”
Em and Lennon thumbed through pages of songs together at the table until Em eyed a song, the music already playing in her head. She smiled, a thought forming in the back of her mind.
“I think...” Em pointed to the song from the book.
“This one?” Lennon put her finger on the song. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Lennon picked up the book and walked it back over to the karaoke host. He peered over Lennon’s shoulder at Em, curiously as the two spoke for a minute. Em didn’t know what else could be said beyond, “This is the song, and this is the name of who’s singing it.”
Lennon skipped back over, a smile stretching across her face.
“Ok, they said you are number twelve in line, so like another hour maybe?” Lennon said.
Brodie made his way back with the drinks, dropping one on the table in front of Em.
“Guys, I don’t even drink this much. I’m going to be passed out drunk before I can even hit the stage if you don’t chill out.”
Em nudged the drink away from her, lifting her still unfinished drink to her lips and sipping.
Several drinks later and with the ultimate coaxing from the group, Em stepped onto the stage, just as Claire slid into the empty seat next to Natalie. Natalie didn’t take her eyes off Em at first, but Claire bumped her knee gently, drawing her attention.
The mic squealed as Em stepped onto the stage, laughter and chatter buzzing around the room.
She had forgotten how intimidating this could be, being up on stage in front of a group of mostly strangers.
A man's voice rang over the crowd, the karaoke host, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Theys and Thems. Please give it up for She-rah, Goddess of darkness, singing James Arthur, Can I be him.”
Em’s eyes widened at Lennon, who was snickering in her chair. Dammit. Lennon… really? She shook off the embarrassment, her eyes falling to Shae.
A smile tugged at the corners of Shae’s mouth, and Em could hardly look at her, immediately regretting her decision to do this.
Em released a tight breath as the opening chords played, regaining her composure. Her eyes settled on Shae, and Shae’s brows lifted, her eyes widening as a smile spread across her face.
Em’s voice was low as she stumbled through the first notes of the song.
This was far from her full voice, the voice that she was known for.
She hesitated to let the words all the way out, afraid not of her own voice but of the confession she was making.
With each line, she grew bolder and her voice stronger.
Her eyes didn’t leave Shae. Em changed the pronoun in the song to work for her, singing the words as if they were her own, and she meant every word.
By the time the second verse hit, Em had completely relaxed and was all in on this. She seized the mic from the stand and strode off the stage, closer to the crowd. When it spoke of someone not being deserving, she tipped her head toward Claire.
Without giving it a second thought, Em drifted toward Shae and slid over her thighs, smooth and certain.
One knee, settling on either side of her hips, pressing firmly against her.
She ran the backside of her hand down Shae’s face, her thumb grazing her lips when the song talked about wanting to kiss her.
Then took hold of Shae’s hand and ran it over her body, across her ass, and up over her breast when it talked about wanting to sing the song another time.
Shae’s mouth hung open, and her brows shot up.
Her eyes ran down Em’s body, and she brought her hands to Em’s waist, brushing her thumb across a bare patch of skin there.
It thrilled Em that she had the power to shock her, to make her come undone.
Yes, she was performing. Yes, it was all for Shae. No, she would never do this sober, but she wanted Shae to feel this.
Shae stared back at Em like she was seeing her for the first time. Her eyes were locked on Em in a dreamy look that Em could only equate with falling.
This was it. This is what she wanted, for Shae to look at her like she was in that very moment.
“Hell yeah!” Natalie bellowed, standing up to cheer for her.
The mic thudded softly onto the table as Em lifted herself from Shae, a mischievous glint playing across her features.
The whole crowd whooped and hollered as she placed the mic back on the stand and headed back to her seat, strangers stretching their arms out for high-fives on her way. She eased herself down into her chair, open in the most vulnerable way, and waited to see what Shae would do next.