Here and Now. Michelle Monkou

falsetto had her doubled over with tears rolling down her cheeks. Only after he’d left did she notice Kasey sitting next to her. She didn’t want to look for Chase, but did wonder where he’d disappeared to.

      “I can see why you jumped on that.” Kasey slurped her drink. Laura knew it had to be at least the fourth or even fifth drink.

      “Jumped on what?” Laura shot back, as if she didn’t know.

      “I’d heard he wasn’t bad to look at, but up close, he’s good gosh almighty—darned beautiful.” Kasey laughed at her own comments.

      Laura shrugged, knowing that her friend would be like a dog with a juicy bone.

      Another wannabe-singer walked on to the stage and decided on a Mariah Carey song. During her butchering of a perfectly fine song, the crowd who had gotten into the swing showed no mercy. By the time the poor woman had ended, the crowd had split between full laughter and boos. Laura could never boo anyone, so she opted for the side-splitting laughter. She’d feel guilty later.

      “Speak of the devil.” Kasey nudged her.

      “What?” Laura looked over at Kasey, then followed her gaze. Chase stood on the stage.

      What the heck was he doing up there? Chase may have been a spokesman for various products and used to cameras and fans, but voluntarily having the spotlight was so not him.

      “Didn’t know he could sing. My, but this is a night filled with discoveries.” Kasey slurped her drink.

      “For me, too,” Laura muttered under her breath. She settled back in the chair. There would be no laughing and certainly no booing. Chase had a voice that could’ve landed him a record contract if that was his passion. She glanced around for the waiter, deciding that she might need something stronger, after all.

      “Ladies and gentlemen,” Chase began. “I’d like throw a little old-school out at you.”

      A roar went up from the crowd. Great. He won them over with no problem. When did he become such a ham? Back in the day, he only sang in church and once at his mother’s birthday.

      “But first, I need my partner in crime with me. We never actually sang this, but we did roller skate to it when we were kids.”

      Laura stared. Then set her glass down to flee. She couldn’t believe that Chase had the nerve to spread this insanity to her. Well, she wasn’t playing.

      “Folks, I think my other half is leaving. Don’t you want to hear that classic hit, Reunited, by Peaches and Herb? Come on folks, let Laura know that you care.”

      Laura heard her name being thrown back at her like an annoying echo. Someone reached for her elbow, yanking her back so that she lost her footing.

      “Get your hands off me.” Laura glared at the man who had too much to drink. She pushed away from him, as he hooted and hollered with his friends. She turned to look at Chase who still called her up to the stage to join him.

      Anger propelled her forward. She’d had enough. With or without Kasey, she was leaving. But before she left, she planned to tell Chase and his alter ego just what she thought of his school boy antics.

      Laura strode up to Chase, stopping a few inches from his face. Her finger started poking at his chest before she could think straight to get out the words.

      He smiled with all his teeth and charm displayed, while she sputtered incoherently. Why did he have to look so good? Never mind that, she knew enough to stop talking when he shoved the microphone in front of her.

      The music started. Then the words scrolled on the monitor. Chase put his arms around her waist. He held firm. With a bold wink, he pulled her into his arms, swaying to the music. Laura looked out at the crowd, deciding not to make a scene. Plus the song was so addictive that her brain already followed the lyrics, reminding her of their times in the roller skating rink.

      As a teenager, she couldn’t wait for couples only. He’d come to take her hand while she was surrounded by her girlfriends. They would descend into a giggling mess, while she left them for Chase. They’d skate hand-in-hand, weaving their way among the others, each wrapped up in their own world.

      She may not have been allowed to go on dates, but the skating rink was as good as alone time. Her siblings had to attend and so did his sister. But everyone was on the prowl to hook up with someone, so no one bothered her and Chase. Besides, everyone took it for granted that they were together.

      She sang the words, knowing that she wasn’t anywhere close to the quality of Chase’s melodious voice. Although she sensed him looking down at her, she refused to look into his eyes. He already had enough power over to her to make her act like a fool for four minutes. She didn’t need her legs to feel like rubber when she gazed into his honey brown eyes.

      The song did manage to summarize some of her feelings and the current state of affairs with this sudden reunion. Boy, did it feel good to lean against his body, firm and very muscular. His hand sliding up and down her back made her want to purr. She was relaxed enough to sway in time with him. Her leg slipped between his as they waltzed the last verse.

      Her brother, Pierce, had taught her to dance the box step. But Chase had taken it to another level full of sensuality and forbidden passion. When he spun her and ended the move with a dip, she succumbed and slowly moved her gaze from his full lips in its constant grin, up to his nose with its slender bridge, up to his eyes that pierced her with their intensity.

      The song died and yet she remained in his arms. Good sense prevailed as she broke the eye contact. Or, maybe it was Kasey’s sudden appearance as she popped her head between theirs.

      “That was awesome, guys. Ever thought about taking that stuff on the road?” Kasey straightened up and emitted a loud hiccup. “You all shouldn’t break up. Ya’ll look too good together.”

      Laura stepped away from Chase. Any high that she could’ve blamed on the caffeine from the cola was gone. There’d be no getting together. His family had made sure of that and he had aided and abetted everyone’s handiwork.

      Maturity had given her an upper hand. She didn’t plan to be in the position where a man’s rejection could devastate her to that degree. Life may not have any guarantees, but it didn’t mean that she had to go blindly into wrong situations.

      “Kasey, I’m ready to go.” Based on her friend’s drunken weave back to the chair, Laura figured that Kasey needed to leave also.

      “What’s the rush?” Kasey asked, her voice slurred.

      “You’re right, you should get her home. Do you need any help?”

      Laura jumped, not realizing that he’d approached.

      “I’m fine.” Kasey stomped her foot. The effort threw her off balance and she fell heavily into a nearby chair.

      Laura didn’t want to make a scene. She hoped that her friend would follow her quietly to the car. Despite the fact that she really wanted to get out of there and put some distance between Chase and herself, she couldn’t in good conscience leave Kasey. She’d never forgive herself, if something happened.

      “I don’t need your help.” Kasey showed her annoyance by shoving a chair aside before Laura clamped a tight, firm grip around her friend’s waist and propelled her out of the building.

      Immediately the cool night air hit them with a shocking blast. It had the desired effect, letting some rational thought make headway this disastrous night. She snapped the seat belt around Kasey.

      A tap on the glass startled her. Her nerves were on edge.

      Chase motioned for her to lower the window. She started the car first just to let him know that there would be no long conversations. Then she pushed the black button on the door panel until the window slid down mid-point.

      “I can follow so you can leave her car at her place. Then I can give you a ride home.”

      “Nope.” She hadn’t thought about