Page 50 of Counting Down To You

“Hmm? Sorry, yes. Just a bit distracted.”

I bet you are. Robyn’s voice, sly, in the back of my mind.

“By what?”

“Oh. Well…” I’m not exactly going to tell him the truth, am I? Then again, there is something else distracting me at the moment too. “Do you know anywhere round here that does karaoke?”

“Karaoke?” Said as if he’s not totally sure what it is. “I don’t know…I mean, potentially?” He’s looking down at me. “You want to do karaoke?”

Oh God, he thinks I’m an idiot. Who proposes karaoke in a place where they basically have no friends? “I just…I thought it would be fun,” I say, somewhat lamely. “But it’s just an idea,” I add quickly. What am I thinking? I can’t do it here, with all these people I barely know. I can do it in London, in a karaoke bar, with Cal. That will be better—we can get a booth, invite a few, very select people who I don’t mind making a fool of myself in front of. It still counts. But there I feel a squirm of something like guilt, because I know that’s not what Robyn had in mind. And the thought of not living up to her expectations makes me a little sad.

Call your brother.

No. I’m not thinking about that one right now.

“Forget about it,” I say to Leo as we climb the steps, the now-familiar cinnamon and woodsmoke scent of the lobby greeting us. “It’s silly. I’ll see you at lunch, yeah?”

He’s watching me a little curiously as I make a beeline for the restaurant. “Yeah,” he says to my back. “Sure.”

A few hours later, when I’m in the office alone, Lucie sidles up to me, leaning against the desk.

“I hear you’re looking for somewhere to do karaoke.”

I frown up at her.

“Leo is asking around,” Lucie says, with a wave of her hand. “He’s not asking me,” she clarifies, “but I did overhear. And, as it so happens, I love karaoke. We can go tonight, if you’re up for it? Open mic night.”

I open my mouth, shut it again. Then, “Tonight?” My voice is a little squeaky. But, shit. I wasn’t really expecting this to come off. And open mic night does not sound like it’s in a little booth with no one to overhear.

Lucie seems to misread something on my face. “Don’t worry,” she says. “Brooks can come too.”

My stomach spasms uncomfortably and I can’t work out if it is because I want him to come, or because I really do not want him to be there to watch. But, either way, looks like I don’t have much choice.

“Okay,” I say, working up what I hope is an excited smile. “Tonight it is.”

—

As it turns out, karaoke is a very popular idea. Charlotte got wind of the plan and has dragged along a few other people her age, who are all dressed in ways that make me want to shiver in empathy. Elodie and Marco have come too, Elodie glinting with her usual array of jewelry, Marco looking like it is very much not his idea to be here. And then there is Leo, of course.

Lucie has taken us to the same bar I went to on my second night here. I’m greeted by the same scent of pine and charcoal, the same flickering candlelight, the same fairy lights decorating the line of the bar. But where there was a band set up in one corner last time, now there are just two microphones, alongside a piano. My stomach rolls with nerves.

Elodie looks around the bar, which already seems crowded. Too crowded. Jesus, I really do not want to sing—or attempt to sing—in front of all these people.

“I didn’t know they did karaoke here,” Elodie says.

“Oh, they don’t usually,” says Lucie, shrugging out of her coat. “I convinced them.”

Okay, I’m starting to see why Lucie was pissed about the GRM role. She’d be so good at it. I need to find a way to bring it up with Leo before I leave. I try not to think too hard about the fact that the thought of leaving makes me a little sad. And the thought of returning to my job, of sitting in the office and going on the hunt for talent, makes me a bit panicked. Even if I do miss Cal.

Elodie laughs. “Of course you did, ma chérie.”

Charlotte manages to find a table for everyone—a table that does not have enough room around it, but apparently we’re all going to try to fit anyway. There are a few chairs one side, immediately claimed by Charlotte and her friends, leaving the rest of us to squish together on a single bench the other side.

Obviously, I end up sitting next to Leo. I try to allow as much distance between us as I can—an attempt that is completely pointless, given Elodie settles in next to me, commanding me to move up and make room. Only there is no room. So now Leo’s thigh is pressed right against mine, and even though we are both wearing jeans, I can feel the heat of it, along with the solid muscle. I can’t move away, not without barging into Elodie. And I find I can’t look at him now, either. He is chatting to Marco, sitting on his other side. His tone is light and casual, like he isn’t bothered about how close we are. Although I do notice that he is sitting very straight, and a little rigid, almost like he’s afraid to move so much as a centimeter.

A voice speaks into one of the microphones. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!” I look over to see a short man with a hat pulled down over his ears. I can’t work out from his accent where he’s from—not English, but I don’t think he’s French, either. “This is the part where I usually announce the band, but due to a special request it’s over to you for the evening. So if you don’t like karaoke—best to leave now. And, if you’re staying, make sure to prep your singing voice—and be sure to let us know what you think after!”

Down the end of the bench next to Elodie, Lucie claps her hands. “Right, then. Who’s up first?” She leans forward so she can look at me. “Ali?” Given it was my idea, it’s not exactly surprising that she suggests this.