CALL YOUR MOM | ln4

eleven.

{ jonesy }

The adrenaline pumping through my veins as the cheers from the crowd fill my ears is the only thing keeping me going.

Ruthie and I have about 5 songs we cycle through when we sing Karaoke and tonight's choice is 'Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)' and I'm appalled at the fact that I'm singing this in front of Lando. But, then again, the crowd is loving it, so maybe I don't care all that much.

"'Cause I saddle up my horse and I ride into the city. I make a lot of noise 'cause the girls they are so pretty." It was my turn to sing the chorus since Ruthie sang the last one. I put my all into this, walking back and forth on the stage, really playing the crowd as I sang. "Riding up and down Broadway on my old stud Leroy and the girls say save a horse, ride a cowboy!"

I held the microphone out to the crowd, "Everybody says save a horse, ride a cowboy!" Everyone shouts back and I can't help the smile that stretches across my face.

I make the mistake of looking over to where Max and Lando are standing, both of them with the biggest grins on their faces. I'm never going to hear the end of this.

Ruthie and I had refused to tell either of them what song we were singing, regardless of how many times they begged, we refused. If they came with us often enough, they'd eventually hear all five of our songs, but we wanted to keep a sense of mystery since this was their first time joining.

"And I was going just about as far as she'd let me go but her evaluation of my cowboy reputation had me begging for salvation all night long." I sang along with Ruthie, my gaze finally leaving the duo and searching the crowd for other regulars.

We've been coming here long enough that people looked forward to seeing us. It was almost as if we'd created a little fan club.

"So I took her out giggin' frogs, introduced her to my ol' bird dog, and sang her every Willie Nelson song I could think of and we made love."

I remember when Ruthie dragged me here the first time, only a few weeks after the accident. She claimed I needed to get out, and I did. Turns out, Friday night Karaoke is one of the only things I used to look forward to.

"And I saddled up my horse and I ride into the city. I make a lot of noise 'cause the girls they are so pretty." The last chorus came around and I dialed everything to 11. I wanted to go out with a bang.

I skipped around the stage again, jumping and smiling. Everything.

"Riding up and down Broadway on my old stud Leroy and the girls say, save a horse, ride a cowboy! Everybody says save a horse, ride a cowboy!"

I was in my element, apparently.

With the biggest smile on my face, I held my microphone to the crowd. "Save a horse ride a cowboy! Everybody says, save a horse ride a cowboy!"

The song ended and the crowd went wild. My breathing was heavy as I handed the microphone off to the next group, Ruthie and I connecting hands as we made our way off the stage. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back as we made our final approach to the table where Lando and Max waited. They both had the biggest looks of amusement on their faces.

"That was... amazing." Lando laughed, holding out a drink for me.

I noticed that Max had one for Ruthie too. When did they buy these?

I mumbled a 'thank you' before downing half the drink, wincing at the sting of the alcohol in my throat. I didn't really care seeing as it was a liquid satisfying the dryness of my throat.