I Never Planned on You (I Never 1)

He smiles at me, forcing me to smile back.

“Okay, let’s do this.”

“So what did you have in mind to sing?”

“Well, I saw they have a section dedicated to The Voice, which I absolutely love, so I think I’m going to sing this one.” I point to Ashley De La Rosa’s version of “Foolish Games.” It was originally sung by Jewel back in the ’90s, but I love this edgier rock version of the song.

Nodding his head, he lets Scott know of my selection and whispers in my ear, “Go get ’em, killer,” and winks before heading back to the table.

I wait at the bar since Scott said that I would be next. Holy shit, I can’t really be doing this. As I look at the lady on stage currently attempting to belt out “Sometimes” by Britney Spears, I can’t help but laugh. Well, at least I’ll be better than her…and Zach and Kyler for that matter.

I was challenged and while I’m not like Zach and Haylee who can’t refuse a dare/challenge, I need to be able to prove to myself that I can do this—turning over a new leaf. So here goes nothing.

My palms are beginning to sweat.

Scott takes the stage ahead of me. “All right, everyone, let’s hope talent runs in the family. Give it up for Zach’s sister, Danielle.”

I wipe my palms on my jeans as the music begins to play, but I am frozen in time. The words appear on the screen, and I go to open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I look around at the crowd and find our table. My eyes land directly on Kyler, and he smiles. I nod and turn to Scott, asking to restart. I take three deep breaths as the intro begins again. I close my eyes and open my mouth, and this time the words spill out. I feed off the crowd cheering me on—they are actually cheering me on, not booing me off the stage. This rush is amazing. I haven’t felt this alive in so long.

I get a bit ballsy and decide to take the microphone off the stand during the second verse. While I don’t have choreographed dance moves like Kyler and Zach, I try to get lost in the music and feel the emotions coming off me. The cheers get even louder as I sing the last high note at the end of the song, and I can hear Haylee’s loud whistling. I feel sorry for the guys because I have been in close proximity when she’s done that, and it is loud as fuck. As I finish the song, I am frozen, out of breath, and full of smiles. The small crowd yells their praise as I set the microphone back on its stand and exit the stage, headed back to the table.

“Holy fucking shit, Dani! Where the hell did that come from?” my brother asks as he pulls me into an embrace, and I shrug.

“That was so amazing,” Haylee adds before pulling me from my brother’s arms and taking me into her own.

Kyler hasn’t said a word. As I come around to our side of the table and sit back in my seat, I reach for my margarita that has surprisingly but pleasantly been refilled and take a sip. I place it on the table and catch Kyler still staring at me from the corner of my eye. I place my elbow on the table and prop up my head on my fist. ?

??Don’t you have anything to say, Lawson? Are you happy now?”

He still hasn’t responded. Zach ends up throwing a napkin at him and he finally snaps back out of it.

“Wow, just wow, Dani. That was…I don’t even have words. I am so not sorry I tricked you into getting up there now.”

I smile back. “Good. I’m not sorry either. In fact, thank you. I hadn’t felt that alive and good in a long time.”

I’m not sure if it’s the tequila flowing freely in Dani’s veins (she’s on her third margarita), the adrenaline from getting up there to sing, or being in close proximity to me—I’m hoping it’s the latter, but whatever it is, I’ll take it—but this is the most relaxed I have seen her since we met. I place my arm over the back of her chair, and she instantly leans back into me…win for me! She makes it seem like a natural reaction as if she has been doing it for years. It makes me wonder if that kiss has been on her mind too. I mean, how could it not be? It was mind-blowing.

Leaning closer to her, I whisper in her ear, “Dance with me.”

She tilts her head toward me, and we are just inches apart. If I bend forward I could press my lips to hers, but I don’t want to make her uncomfortable or anything. Dani looks around. “But no one is dancing.”

I fight back a laugh. “So? There’s music playing—what more do we need?” I place my other arm on her leg to envelop her fully in my arms. She looks down at my hand but doesn’t move it.

Leaning back into me, she laughs. “Umm, really bad music.”

I look up on the stage and see someone butchering Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” There’s always that one person in the crowd who attempts to sing this song, but no one compares to Mr. Joel. I cradle my head in her neck and run my nose up and down, inhaling her scent. She always smells so good. I can hear her breath catch, and her pulse begins to race just as it did the other night in the kitchen.

“Dance with me, Dani.” It’s not a question but more of a request or a demand. She turns in her chair to fully face me and swallows hard as she looks directly into my eyes.

“Okay.”

Just one word and I’m a goner. I am grinning ear to ear. I stand and extend my hand, and she takes it and stands.

“We’ll be back.”

Zach turns his attention away from Haylee. “Where are you guys off to?”

“The dance floor.”