the entry fee when they have to go against the local champs. They might be tough.”
“Dylan, it’s been a while since I’ve sung in public. I know all the notes, but…”
“Well, you said you liked fun and adventure. What could be more adventurous than karaoke?” He lifted her face with his finger, taking in the look of indecision on her face. He forced her to meet his eyes. “Hey,” he said. “It’s just for fun; I’m not going to judge you or anything. But if you’re not comfortable, we can back out if you really don’t want to do it; no big deal.”
The serious look on his face, and his touch under her chin boosted her confidence. She’d still been singing at home. She could do this. Actually, she thought, how could she not do this?
“Oh no,” she smiled, hoping she conveyed more confidence than the butterflies that had suddenly taken flight in her stomach allowed her to feel, “I was just thinking how those country bumpkins are goin’ down!”
“Thata girl!” Dylan smiled that incredible smile, and she knew she would sing her heart out. For Dylan, and for Nick.
The country bumpkins turned out to be Frank and Joy Walker, and they were actually really good. Her voice was clear and bright, and his was deep and rolling. They complimented each other nicely, and got a rousing applause from the audience. It was cute how they dressed for the part, too. She was wearing a flouncy skirt, circa 1970’s line dancing competition, and he was pure cowboy, complete with boots, hat and bolero tie. When their song ended, they drifted into each other’s arms and kissed before taking a bow. Dylan and Tia shared a look that said, ‘tough competition, indeed’ as they clapped and cheered along with the rest of the crowd.
Two more couples performed, one newlywed and one a pair of girls. Both were painful to listen to. Then the mc stood up and called for Chester and Francine to take the stage. Tia’s heart began to flutter as her butterflies suddenly turned into bats—nervously, she looked up to her singing partner, who was smiling down at her. This couldn’t really be happening! If this was a dream, she definitely didn’t want to wake up from it. Dylan gallantly extended his hand and she took it gracefully, rising from her seat and walking to the stage. It was all a show now, so they set up the song by staring deep into each other’s eyes as they took their places in front of their mikes. It was a love song, after all.
As soon as the music started, Tia lost herself in the ebb and flow of the notes and the rhythm of her heart changed to match the music—slow and easy. Dylan’s voice glided in with the gravelly, honest sound that had won the hearts of millions. When Tia chimed in with the harmoy, their voices blended beautifully, rising and falling in piano and crescendo. Their eyes locked, and the passion of the music played out in their faces. Around the room, conversations halted and glasses stopped in mid-rise. Neither of them noticed, but Frank and Joy exchanged first a pained look, then a hug, as they conceded to the young couple on the stage who were so obviously in tune with one another.
When they sang the last line, “ Please don’t try to find me, I just wanna stay lost in you ,” Dylan tipped his head so that their foreheads were touching and their eyes were locked on each other. The room was silent for a moment, and then it erupted in a fury of applause, catcalls, and whistles. Tia felt humbled and proud, and wondered if Dylan still felt like this after every performance. She couldn’t imagine this kind of adulation ever getting old. Dylan took her face in his hands, kissed her on the forehead where his own had just been resting, then turned her to take a bow. As they made their way back
“Dylan, it’s been a while since I’ve sung in public. I know all the notes, but…”
“Well, you said you liked fun and adventure. What could be more adventurous than karaoke?” He lifted her face with his finger, taking in the look of indecision on her face. He forced her to meet his eyes. “Hey,” he said. “It’s just for fun; I’m not going to judge you or anything. But if you’re not comfortable, we can back out if you really don’t want to do it; no big deal.”
The serious look on his face, and his touch under her chin boosted her confidence. She’d still been singing at home. She could do this. Actually, she thought, how could she not do this?
“Oh no,” she smiled, hoping she conveyed more confidence than the butterflies that had suddenly taken flight in her stomach allowed her to feel, “I was just thinking how those country bumpkins are goin’ down!”
“Thata girl!” Dylan smiled that incredible smile, and she knew she would sing her heart out. For Dylan, and for Nick.
The country bumpkins turned out to be Frank and Joy Walker, and they were actually really good. Her voice was clear and bright, and his was deep and rolling. They complimented each other nicely, and got a rousing applause from the audience. It was cute how they dressed for the part, too. She was wearing a flouncy skirt, circa 1970’s line dancing competition, and he was pure cowboy, complete with boots, hat and bolero tie. When their song ended, they drifted into each other’s arms and kissed before taking a bow. Dylan and Tia shared a look that said, ‘tough competition, indeed’ as they clapped and cheered along with the rest of the crowd.
Two more couples performed, one newlywed and one a pair of girls. Both were painful to listen to. Then the mc stood up and called for Chester and Francine to take the stage. Tia’s heart began to flutter as her butterflies suddenly turned into bats—nervously, she looked up to her singing partner, who was smiling down at her. This couldn’t really be happening! If this was a dream, she definitely didn’t want to wake up from it. Dylan gallantly extended his hand and she took it gracefully, rising from her seat and walking to the stage. It was all a show now, so they set up the song by staring deep into each other’s eyes as they took their places in front of their mikes. It was a love song, after all.
As soon as the music started, Tia lost herself in the ebb and flow of the notes and the rhythm of her heart changed to match the music—slow and easy. Dylan’s voice glided in with the gravelly, honest sound that had won the hearts of millions. When Tia chimed in with the harmoy, their voices blended beautifully, rising and falling in piano and crescendo. Their eyes locked, and the passion of the music played out in their faces. Around the room, conversations halted and glasses stopped in mid-rise. Neither of them noticed, but Frank and Joy exchanged first a pained look, then a hug, as they conceded to the young couple on the stage who were so obviously in tune with one another.
When they sang the last line, “ Please don’t try to find me, I just wanna stay lost in you ,” Dylan tipped his head so that their foreheads were touching and their eyes were locked on each other. The room was silent for a moment, and then it erupted in a fury of applause, catcalls, and whistles. Tia felt humbled and proud, and wondered if Dylan still felt like this after every performance. She couldn’t imagine this kind of adulation ever getting old. Dylan took her face in his hands, kissed her on the forehead where his own had just been resting, then turned her to take a bow. As they made their way back
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