Page 44 of Let’s Make a Scene

I leave the stage to enthusiastic applause.

“Wow, man,” Scott says. “That was better than Springsteen.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Cynthie mutters, but when Hannah sends her a warning look, she plasters on a smile. “But it wasn’t bad.”

“Can’t wait to see what you’ve got, Taylor,” I smirk.

Something dangerous creeps into Cynthie’s expression then, but she doesn’t respond, only turns to the stage where Arjun is about to deliver on his promise.

This he does with more energy than skill. I wouldn’t have expected “Total Eclipse of the Heart” to inspire quite so many hip thrusts, but everyone laughs and cheers as he thoroughly enjoys himself.

Patty watches through her fingers, but she can’t help the delighted chuckle that escapes her.

“Is it just me, or is this kind of hot?” she asks Liam.

“It’s really something,” Liam agrees diplomatically.

After Arjun finishes, Mark and Marion go all in on “Summer Nights” and the entire pub is on their feet, joining in, yelling the lyrics back and forth. Simon’s version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is another hit—his falsetto taking everyone by surprise. It’s a good night. Cynthie and I even manage to remain reasonably civil, barely glaring at each other at all.

I’m surprised when my name is called again, but Arjun has signed the pair of us up for a duet, and apparently I’m taking Kiki Dee’s part on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” I do my best, but when Arjun’s enthusiasm leads to him singing both parts and attempting some interesting harmonies, I’m laughing too hard to concentrate on hitting the notes. I wonder why it feels better that way.

Eventually, the guy with the clipboard shouts Cynthie’s name. Hannah’s head snaps up.

“Cyn…” she says as her friend gets to her feet. “What are you singing?”

That wild look is back, and Cynthie says nothing.

Apparently this means something to Hannah, because her eyes widen in alarm. “No,” she shakes her head vehemently. “Cyn, you promised after last time…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Cynthie murmurs, sliding around the table and heading for the stage to raucous applause from the crowd.

“Oh, shit.” Hannah’s head sinks into her hands.

“What’s going on?” Patty asks, frowning in confusion.

“It’s a Code Black Velvet,” Hannah whispers, as if that means anything. “Just… brace yourselves.”

I’m as baffled by this as the others around the table, but we all turn to watch as Cynthie moves to the center of the stage and picks up the microphone.

A moment later the air fills with the sultry twang of a guitar, a pulse of bass, the soft crash of a snare, and Cynthie sends Hannah a wink, before she starts moving in time to the beat, her hips swaying in a hypnotic, sinuous motion.

Something electric moves through the room. There’s a collective intake of breath, even before she opens her mouth and starts to sing about Mississippi in the middle of a heat wave.

Her voice.

I was so unprepared for her voice. It’s dark, husky magic. It sounds like the title of the song she sings—soft, seductive, just a little rough. The entire room is spellbound, and something alarming is happening inside me. I wonder, dimly, what total organ failure feels like.

A whoop from the crowd breaks the spell, and the temperature spikes, the room suddenly ten degrees hotter.

“Whoa,” Scott murmurs, his eyes like saucers, but this time I don’t think it’s drugs; this time it’s all Cynthie.

“Oh my God,” Patty croaks. “This is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I am having some very confusing feelings.” Liam is breathless.

I can’t say anything. Nothing at all.

“She promised she wouldn’t do this song anymore.” Hannah’s voice is muffled, her head still in her hands. “Last time she caused an actual riot.”