He slides the bow across his fiddle slowly, creating a chilling intro that sends goosebumps down my spine. Josh’s fingers strum notes on the guitar where a piano is in the original version. Monica ignores Adrian as he sits next to her, and I ignore both of them as I perch on the stool—giving myself over to the song.
I open my throat as wide as possible to keep up with Regan’s fiddling and Jewel’s intentions for the song. It feels good, until we near the end. Josh, Regan, and I seem to intuitively slow down in time over these words and I close my eyes as tight as they’ll go.
I sing the last three words of the second verse extra slow, and take a deep breath at the end; the guys do too. The silence feels longer in my head, I’m sure. I force my throat to reopen, and I finish the song with my eyes still closed.
“Jesus Christ, Ember, that was awesome.” Josh stares at me slack-jawed as Regan nods.
“Yeah, November, you were meant to sing with a fiddle.” Regan squeezes my shoulder and puts his fiddle in the case.
I can’t bring myself to look up. I can’t look at Monica. I’m sure she knows what I was thinking—what I was feeling.
“Ember, I gotta take this call outside, K?” Adrian holds up his phone and I nod, returning my gaze to the floor.
“You don’t sing for him.” Regan blurts out as Adrian leaves the bar.
“What? Who?” I ask, startled back to the present.
He lifts his chin to the door. “Your boyfriend.”
“Adrian’s not my boyfriend.” I slide off the stool and square off to Regan.
“Whatever. Either way, you don’t sing for him. If you did, your eyes wouldn’t have been closed the entire time.” He walks over to me and taps my forehead with his index finger. “Who you singing for, Beautiful?”
“Me.” I shrug as I feel heat betray my face.
“Ha! OK. Whatever you say. Just don’t stop singing for “you” then, OK? That was perfection.” He walks his suddenly cocky self over to the bar and pours himself a beer.
I look to Josh. It’s my turn to look shocked. “Did you hear that?” I ask incredulously.
Josh shrugs and puts his guitar in its case, seeming to have gone mute. I turn to Monica who holds up her hands in defense.
“I’m not getting into this with you, Harris. I heard what he said, and I agree with him.” She tilts her head to the side, daring me to challenge her. Challenge accepted.
“You agree with him? About what, exactly?” I hop off the stage.
“The look on your face, that was all Bo. You forget, I’ve seen you with him more than anyone here, but Regan picked up on it after one song.” Her face doesn’t even get red. She’s confident and unwavering.
“So you think I’m still singing for someone who broke my heart?” My volume increases, causing the guys to turn toward us.
“Oh for the love of God, Ember, would you listen to yourself? Bo was in a mess of shit, and all you can think about is how it made you feel.” Here it is, the first time Monica and I are talking about what happened in Concord.
“Jesus, Mon, go ahead—tell me how you really feel.” I put my hands on my hips, waiting for her response as Adrian reenters the bar.
“You want to know how I really feel? I’ll tell you. I think you made a huge mistake when you walked out on him in Concord, and you’re making a bigger mistake now.” She points at Adrian without making eye contact with him.
My chest heaves under my anger. Adrian’s eyes volley between us in silence. I stare through Monica as I address her and our friends.
“I’m done here. Let’s go, Adrian.”
Regan and Josh stand bug-eyed and silent as I brush past Monica and lead Adrian out of the bar.
“What was that all about?” Adrian asks as we get to my car.
“Monica’s a bitch, that’s what that is about,” I huff.
“Is it because of me? Did you tell her?”
Before I can answer, Regan hollers after me.
“November, wait!” I roll my eyes as Adrian gets in the car.
“What’s up, Regan?”
“I’m sorry if I pissed you off back there, I—” I cut him off to spare him the torture creeping across his face.
“It wasn’t you. It was Monica. She’s engaged and suddenly becomes an expert on relationships. I’ve got a killer rest of the week ahead in Concord, so I’ve gotta get going. I’ll be back Saturday, OK?”
His shoulders relax to their normal position and he smiles in relief. “OK. Hey, I’ve been texting Rae.” His smile changes to one of endearment. “We want to hit up Coldplay’s concert on Thursday in New Hampshire. You want in?”
“Hell yes! I’ve wanted to see them forever! And, any excuse to hang out with Rae is OK by me. Thanks Reagan, see you Thursday.” I forget my anger at Monica for the moment as Regan and I say goodbye and I get in the car.
“You’re in a better mood.” Adrian’s voice is tight as I start the engine.
“Regan has the hots for Rae,” I giggle. “They’re going to a Coldplay concert on Thursday, and he asked if I wanted to go. I’m psyched!”
“Who else is going?” His tone borders on accusatory, but I ignore it and shrug.
“I didn’t even think to ask.”
Chapter Fifteen