Boarded by Love
Page 42

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “You ain’t about to dominate anything. I’m a master at this.”
“We will see,” I say before standing up.
“Oh, we will,” she says, pursing her lips up at me.
I want to give her a kiss, but she’s my competitor now, and I’m about to whoop her ass. Heading toward the stage, I take the mic and put it on the stand. I hear my name screamed by some of the girls, and when I look out to where I know Claire is, her eyes are on mine, a challenge in her eyes. She doesn’t care about the girls; she doesn’t care about anything but me. That’s freaking awesome, but I’m not going to let that distract me. She’s going down.
I know I have all three categories. I know my music, but I know she does too. She might get me on the pop one, but I’ll have one over on her in the rap and love song categories. When the music to “Say it, Just Say It” by The Mowgli’s starts, everyone in the pub goes crazy. I sing like I’m going for a Grammy, working the room, getting people to clap and scream, while knowing all the words. It’s fun; I love singing. It’s always been a passion of mine but hockey always won over it. My mom always says I could be the next Michael Buble, but I would rather be the next Wayne Gretzky.
Soon the song is over and the crowd goes nuts, even the bartender is clapping. Putting the mic back on the stand, I head over to where Claire is coming toward me, a grin on her face.
“Impressive,” she says, stopping in front of me. “But I’m better.”
With only a wink, she passes by me and I swear I’m so hard I can’t breathe. This girl gets me on so many levels, and knowing that she is as big a competitor as I am turns me on so much I’m not sure I can move. Somehow my legs start to move and I head back to the table to drop down into the seat beside Jayden. Claire is still setting up her song, so I reach for the beer that Jayden has for me and take a long pull.
“I like her.”
I glance over to see my brother’s eyes on me. “Me too,” I answer.
“She’s great. She likes you too.”
“Good, that’s what I want.”
He nods and then turns as the music to “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry starts. Oh, smart move. It’s the hottest song out and everyone in the pub is up, dancing and singing along. Claire’s voice is nice too. She wasn’t lying when she said she liked to karaoke. She can carry a tune, and damn, she looks good doing it. But when she starts to move her body to the music in a sexy way, the guys in the pub start to holler and my body tightens with jealously. I don’t want to share her with anyone in this pub; I wish it were only us two, but I know that’s silly. She isn’t dancing for anyone but me. Her eyes haven’t left mine, and soon I’m wound tighter than a clock.
Jesus, she is beautiful.
“She got you on this round.”
I scoff at Jayden. “No way!”
“Yes, way,” Matt says, his eyes all over Claire’s body.
“Hey, asshole, watch it!” I say sternly, and he laughs, waving me off.
“I’m not dumb, Jude. I don’t want your girl.”
“That’s right,” I say just as she stops singing and the pub cheers loudly for her as she puts the mic on the stand.
When she starts down the stage, I watch as Jimmy Tavins, a guy who plays for the football team, stops her, and she smiles up at him as he talks to her. I want to get up and go tell him to get away from my girl, but before I can even move, she’s waving him off before heading toward me. Dropping down into the seat that Jayden left empty since he went to sing, I look over at her.
“What did Jimmy have to say?
She eyes me, and then rolls her eyes. “I know you aren’t jealous.”
“No way, I’m just asking,” I say and she laughs.
“Oh gosh, nothing. He asked me if I wanted to dance, and I said no, that I’m with someone. Is that a problem?”
Yes. “No, not at all. You can dance all you want.”
She laughs as she wraps her arms around mine and leans her face on my shoulder. “Do you know how cute it is when you pout being all jealous?”
I don’t answer and she giggles as she rubs her nose along my jaw. “Have I told you that I’m glad I’m here with you?”
I give her a sideways glance and shrug. “No.”
Her giggles continue but then her hands slide down my thigh and I jump in surprise. Looking at her, I say, “Wow, getting a little frisky, aren’t you?”
“I’m trying to cheer you up,” she says innocently and I laugh, bringing her in for a kiss, but she dodges it. “I don’t kiss my competition.”
“But you’ll feel them up?”
She looks at me all wide-eyed and like I’m an idiot. “Of course. It weakens you.”
All I can do is shake my head. “Well played, Ms. Anderson.”
“Thank you,” she says and turns her attention to the stage where my brother is doing a horrible rendition of NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye.” We watch as Matt, Bryan, and Caleb have their turns, and in my opinion, my only competition is Claire. Going up next, I grab the mic as Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love” starts. Looking out toward Claire, I smile as I sing and she moves in the chair, singing along with me. Moving my body to the beat, the girls all scream, and my girl looks at me like I’m a big piece of cake and she is the fattest kid in America craving me.
Hell, if I’d known singing Justin Timberlake would get her all hot and bothered I would have done this four days ago.
Finishing the song, the place goes wild and I know I’ve taken this category. There is no way she can beat that response or the fact that I didn’t miss a lyric at all. Jumping off the stage with a little more pep in my step since I know she won’t beat me in the rap category, I head toward her and she meets me in the middle again.
“Was that for me?”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
“Good choice, but my beloved JT won’t distract me from kicking your ass. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have extreme karaoke to beat you in,” she says with a look, and then she passes by me as I fight the smile that wants to come out.
This girl is nothing but fire.
When I get to my seat, I turn to see that she’s handing the DJ her phone and then she goes onstage. I don’t know what she’s doing, but then the soft medley to a song starts and her voice is like an angel’s, filling the quiet pub. I know the lyrics though; it’s a remake of Drake’s “Hold on, We’re Going Home.” It’s soft and beautiful, and as I watch her sing, I know my chances of winning this round have just been blown out of the water. Not only that, but good God, she is amazing and the words…I know they’re for me. Because she’s a good girl and I know it, and everyone knows I act so different around her. While I had done the same, it was playful and to throw her off her game, but this feels way different. When her eyes meet mine, everything inside me sizzles.