Listen to Me (Fusion 1)

“We’d better get inside,” Max says, clapping my shoulder as he passes by. “You got this, bro. And if you need it, I’ll ask for an ice bucket so I can pass it to you onstage when you toss your lunch.”

“Very funny, asshole. Thanks.” I nod and watch my friends walk in the front door, then jog around to the back. When I walk into the kitchen, Mia grins and winks at me. “How is she?”

“Grouchier than I expected,” she says thoughtfully.

“Crap. That’s not good.”

“Actually, I think she’s grouchy because you aren’t here.” Her smile widens. “So I’d say it’s a great sign.”

“Did she say anything about me?”

“Not in study hall, but I might see her before choir,” Mia replies, rolling her eyes, then laughs. “No, she didn’t say anything, but I don’t expect her to. She’s in moving-on mode.”

“Let’s see if we can stall moving-on mode and instead kick her into forgiveness gear.”

Mike begins to sing “Drops of Jupiter,” and my heart immediately begins to race. I let out a gusty breath and rub my hands together. When he reaches the bridge, I walk into the dining room, sticking close to the outer edges of the tables where it’s a bit darker so Addie doesn’t see me.

But I can see her. She’s standing at a table, smiling at customers, nodding, one hand on a man’s shoulder. God, she’s gorgeous. I feel like it’s been years since I last saw her, rather than it being two weeks.

Two of the longest weeks of my fucking life.

Her hair is pinned up tonight, with loose curls hanging around her face. She’s wearing those fucking sexy black-rimmed glasses that I learned she only wears when she’s been battling a headache, along with a flowy red dress and black heels that beg for a man to bend her over the closest surface and fuck her blind.

I pray she gives me the opportunity to do just that later tonight.

Right after I tell her how much I love her and explore every inch of her incredible body.

Mike finishes his song and, without a single word, passes his guitar to me and leaves the stage. The room quiets as customers watch, wondering what I’m doing. I glance up to see Max, Tiff, Chris, and Kevin at a table in the center of the room, but my eyes skim the tables, looking for Addie.

And there she is, at the right side of the room, watching me with a scowl.

“Good evening, folks. Don’t worry, Mike will be back out in just a few minutes. I thought I’d give him a break and sing a song for someone special.” My eyes are pinned to Addie’s. Her hands are clenched at her waist as she watches me. “I hurt someone I care about very much. Okay, I’ll be honest, I fucked up.” I shrug, playing the audience. “But I would regret it the rest of my life if I didn’t sing this song to her. I’ve been writing it since the day we met.”

A woman nearby lets out a loud “Awww!” I laugh and nod. “Yeah, I guess you could say that I felt that click the minute I first saw her. I don’t know that I believe in love at first sight, but boy do I ever believe in that click. So, this is for you, Addie. It’s called ‘If I Had Never Met You.’ ”

My fingers begin to strum the strings as Riley, Cami, Kat, and Mia join Addie, holding her hands and smiling in encouragement. I’m soon swept up in the lyrics, singing just to her as the rest of the room fades away, and I’m just looking into her beautiful face as the song comes pouring out of me.

If I had never met you, what would I be now?

I’d be incomplete and wasted, a man who lived without

I would not have seen the sunrise Monday mornin’

And I would not have smelled your hair as the sun was risin’

You take what’s broken, touch it softly, and make it better

You’re the stream of light that keeps on pushing,

gently breaking through

Into the darkest room

I watch as a single tear rolls down her cheek, and she reaches up mindlessly to brush it away. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and apologize. To tell her that everything is going to be okay.

But I’m not so sure that they are.

And if I had never met you, where would I be now?

I’d be searching, lost, and aimless, not knowing when, or how

I’d be looking for my happy ending story

I’d be staring down the broken road before me

You came into my life and saved me

From my wicked self and gave me

A reason to believe that there might be a bigger plan

All my fingers ache to play you

Both my arms have got to hold you

We will make sweet music like this Fender in my hands

What if I had never met you, where would I be now?

The song ends and the audience erupts into applause. I smile and nod, but then sober quickly as my worst nightmare comes true.

Addie says something to Kat, then turns away and runs out of the room, into the kitchen, and I’m sure right out the back door.

Fuck.

I pass Mike his guitar and weave through tables to where my friends are sitting, clapping and smiling.

“It’s over.”

“What happened?”

I don’t answer as I continue out the front door of the restaurant and to my car. I need to get out of here.

“Jake, stop!” Kevin calls. I turn to find not just all four of Addie’s friends but mine as well marching out after me.

“She left,” I say, my heart aching. “It’s over. She doesn’t want me.”

“I was watching her,” Tiffany says, shaking her head. “Jake, that was not the face of a woman who doesn’t want you.”