Our Song by Casey Peeler

It’s one of the most famous duets in country music— “It’s Your Love” by Tim and Faith. You’d think that this would make me happy, but instead, I’m the most anxious I have ever been in my life. Jake gives the crowd what they want by doing what he does best on stage. I step back out of the light and enjoy the view just like on tour. This time things are different. We are different. Different than we were a few hours ago. I feel like he’s trying to prove himself against Chase, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
    Once Jake finishes his song, we join together for a fun duet of Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue.” As I turn and signal the band, the house lights focus on me. I begin to sing one of my favorite songs of all time. I zero in on Chase, and his face looks like he’s seen a ghost when he peers into my eyes. I sing the verse straight to him.
    People in the crowd find someone they love on the dance floor and sing as we do. Jake joins me at the chorus and sings his verse directly to me. I know I must be standing there with the goofiest grin as I join him in singing.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Chase at the bar, and the expression on his face hurts my heart. I’ve never wanted to hurt him in my entire life, but this is what I want. I want Jake Bryant, or at least I think I do.
    Once the song ends, he pulls me in close and kisses my forehead. Forehead, really? I just knew he was going to tell the world about us tonight when he picked that song. Then, he asks me, “You think he liked it?” I feel a piece of my heart break when I see Chase slam his water and exit to the side porch. I wonder if this was Jake’s way of making a point to Chase, and if so, we are done before things even get started.
    As soon as the lights dim, I whisper to Jake, “You did that shit on purpose.” Without thinking, I exit the stage and hurry to Chase.
    When I walk outside, the cool air touches my sweaty skin and chill bumps instantly rise. Looking to my left and right, I start panicking to find him. I should have told him; that’s what friends do. Now, there’s nothing to tell. I don’t want to be with someone that takes his power out on others, even if the world sees him as the best thing since sliced bread. I see him at the edge of the porch staring out into the grass.
    I take a deep breath as I reach him. Placing my hand on his back, I don’t say anything.
    “Belle, you need to go. I can’t do this here.”
    “Can’t do what, Chase?”
    Chase turns toward me with pain written all over his face. “Let you go. I can’t let you go. You’re everything to me and seeing you up there with him… singing our song together. I can’t watch that.”
    “Chase, we have always been just friends.”
    “‘Just friends’? I do believe there was one night that we were anything but ‘just friends.’”
    “Don’t, Chase! Don’t go there.” Tears begin to form in my eyes.
    “Bella Blu, that was our song, not y’alls. Tell me that it didn’t feel the same. I saw the way you looked at me when you sang that first verse. You were singing to me. Then when you looked at him… I don’t even want to talk about it. Please tell me it didn’t feel like this.” Chase takes me in his arms and pulls me into his perfectly chiseled body as his lips meet mine. They’re soft at first and then harder with every moment. I try to resist him, but I can’t. I’ve denied us as long as I can remember, and even though Jake has given me so much over the past few days, he’s just a memory when Chase touches me. That spark I extinguished the night on the trestle is alive and burning tonight, and I won’t put it out.
    When we finally pull ourselves apart, I know I have to talk to Jake, but before I can do that, I have something that I must tell Chase.
    “Chase, you know things will never be the same.”
    “Bella Blu, I don’t want things to ever be the same. “
    “I need to talk to him, even though I’m pretty sure he