Forked Roads Back

10 - TESSA

"OKAY," BILLY SAYS, LOOKING down at a clipboard.

Please don't say my name, I think to myself, crossing my fingers under the table.

"Next up we have Tessa?"

He looks up and his eyes dance between the tables around the room.

My head whips towards the stage, and I try to duck down, but before I can, Glen and Ryan push me to stand up and a spotlight hits me, blinding me just as a deafening cheer comes up from what seems like the entire bar.

As I get closer to the stage, he must recognise me, as he seems to look at Jamie. I don't look back to see his reaction because my cheeks are now a deep shade of purple. "How you doing tonight?" he asks me, shoving the microphone in my face, meeting me half way up the stage steps.

"Oh, I'm just wondeful, thanks." I answer as sarcastically as I possibly can to talk my nerves down.

As I watch Billy's expression change, I do end up risking a glance at Jamie over my shoulder, and unfortunately Billy notices.

"Oh it's this Tessa?"

Jamie covers his face playfully whilst Billy offers his hand to help me up the last step of the stage.

"And what is this Tessa singing today?" he asks me, handing me a second microphone and I try not to cringe as he puts an extremely sweaty arm around me.

My cheeks are boiling as I try to speak with confidence. "Hallelujah."

The whole bar cheers, and I'm glad. Jamie had said to go with a crowd pleaser, and Hallelujah was one that every single person in the world knows.

"A very good choice!" He says before starting to turn to his guitar.

"But..." I stop him, making him turn around.

He raises his eyebrows. "But?" he asks, but when he smiles, it's clear he knows what I have in mind.

"I think I'll need a hand with the harmonies," I finish, bravery coursing through me as I move to stare directly into a certain pair of bright blue eyes trying to hide behind the bar.

"Uh oh!" Billy says behind me, laughing.

I clear my throat before continuing with my plan, hoping he would do it and hoping this sudden bout of bravery will pay off.

"Jamie!" I direct my call very loudly to the bar and whoops rise up around the room. "Come join me up here, will you?"

He doesn't move to start with, but I'm not giving up.

His cheeks are as red as mine, but this is payback. And when he still doesn't move, despite the cheers and clapping, I decide to use his earlier words against him.

"You've got two options here," I shout, the crowd laughing. "One!" I put up one finger. "You leave me up here to sing alone," I start and he shakes his head. "Or two," I add, raising another finger, "you sing up here with me."

"An enticing offer, eh Jamie?"

Jamie makes a face and shrugs. "What's in it for me?" he shouts back at me.

I shake my head.

Okay then. Two can play at that game.

"Option one: nothing... because you've made me stand up and sing alone."

I smile with pride at how brave I'm being, not believing these words are about to come out of my mouth.

"And option two: I kiss you here, in front of everybody." Cheers ring out loudly before I add, "If you're good enough."