“Huh?”
“Go with Charli to order your ice cream or I’ll change my mind,” I threatened in a joking manner.
“Oh, okay thanks.” He placed his iPod in his pocket and walked off with Charli.
When they were gone, I turned to Carls. “Why haven’t you fucked Derek yet? Carls, what’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing. It’s not him. It’s me.”
“What’s wrong with you then? Is your fiery whole singed?” I said as I choked on the wine I had just swallowed.
“You’re such a bitch. No, I really like him, and I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You’re not going to screw this up, Carls,” I said quietly, as I pulled her hands into mine and squeezed them with reassurance.
“How can you be so sure?” she groaned.
“Well, I can’t, Hun. But I know you, and you’re awesome. Derek seems to like your awesomeness as well, so just be yourself and go with the flow. Don’t try to change who you are.”
“It’s not that simple,” she whinged.
“Carly?”
“Yes,” she replied, her tone laced with hostility.
“Do you want to fuck Derek?”
“Yes,” she sighed.
“Well, that’s fucking great, because I want to fuck you, too,” Derek said as he stepped up beside Carly. “How bout tonight? My house. I’ll even cook you dinner first.”
Carly looked like she had shrunk about two sizes.
“I won’t bite, Carls...” He bent down and leaned closer to her ear, “unless you want me to.”
Her eyes widened and a small, embarrassed smile appeared on her face. I couldn’t help but smile along with her.
“Sure,” she answered, shakily.
“Good.” He stood back up as if he had not just blown Carly’s mind. “Alexis, how you feeling?”
“As nervous as fuck,” I answered, continuing with his blasé attitude and ability to easily change the subject. I held up my hands to see if they were shaking. Surprisingly, they weren’t.
“Don’t be. The last time we rehearsed you were fine. I will pick up the chords if you falter. Now, Lucy is gonna call Charli up on stage as soon as our set finishes, then you’ll be next.”
“Okay,” I nodded.
Carls still hadn’t moved, still slightly stunned but now staring greedily at Derek.
“Hope you like chicken. I make a mean satay,” he declared before he kissed her quickly then headed back to the stage.
I watched Carly come back down to earth in the seconds after Derek left.
“I don’t,” she said as she finally made eye contact with me.
“You don’t what?”
“Like satay,” she admitted.
I laughed.
“But fuck! I’ll eat it for him. I’ll even eat it off him if he wants.” She dropped her head to the table in surrender.
***
Charli and Nate returned shortly after, eating their ice cream sundaes while we watched the band kill some popular covers and play some of their own songs. I hadn’t yet had a chance to listen to the CD that Derek gave me for my birthday, but after hearing the two songs they played, I was going to make it a priority—they were great songs.
“When do I get to sing?” Charli asked excitedly. Geez, I wish I had her enthusiasm.
“Derek said when they finish this first set of songs, Charli,” Carls explained. “So what are you going to sing?”
“I’m going to sing “True Colours”. Lucy has been helping me practice. I like that song because it’s about rainbows.” Oh, my, God! When has Lucy been helping her practice?
Just as I was about to ask her, Lucy called her up on stage. She jumped up like a grasshopper and made her way toward Lucy. Bryce took a seat beside me and placed his hand on my thigh.
“We have a very special guest here today to perform a song for you,” Lucy said into the microphone as she adjusted her seated position behind the keyboard. “I’d like to introduce you all to Miss Charlotte Summers. She is going to help me sing “True Colours” by Cyndi Lauper.”
Charli took a seat next to Lucy and moved the microphone down so that it was positioned perfectly in front of her mouth. “Hi everyone,” she said happily, addressing the room’s occupants with confidence.
Lucy started playing the keyboard, making my heart beat heavily in my chest, excitement and anticipation radiating through me. I sat straight up and beamed at my brave and beautiful little girl, waiting for her voice to fill my ears.
When it did sound throughout the roof top, it brought a tear to my eye. She was so confident and smiled as she sang each and every word. Lucy joined in on the chorus which made Charli smile even brighter, and before I knew it, I was dabbing my eyes more often.