Strong Enough (19 page)

“So Reece, what would it take to get you to
step on stage and sing, with me?” His hand not stopping its
repetitive tranquilizing motion.

I couldn’t decide if laughing in his face
would come off the wrong way or the exact way I intended it. So I
just went with it. “HA! So not going to happen. I don’t sing in
public anymore” I finalize my statement while picking up my vodka
water to sip.

“Ahhh but I beg to differ Miller,” Brent
chimes in.
Who fucking invited him again? Oh
shit yeah it was me.

“Don’t Brent, my singing in the gym is not
the same, especially since I didn’t know anyone was listening.”

I notice Jon’s hand stopped its moving
pattern on my knee and had slid just a little ways up the thigh
when he leaned in closer to the table and me. I was really liking
the feeling of his warm hand on my bare thigh and kind of wanting
him to lean in further so I could smell him.
What is wrong with me?

Leaning in further he rests his available
elbow on the table top and tilts his head toward my ear to whisper,
“You may not sing with me right now, but I know you will soon.” He
hesitates and leans back with a smile on his face. Was that a
sexual innuendo? If not, I sure do wish to God it was!

Just then the backlight of the stage goes
out and the spotlight shines on the stool and a microphone that was
set up a little bit ago. Jon knows this as his cue and stands from
the table breaking the physical connection I had with him. My skin
runs cold quickly without his warm touch. I look up and see his
blues gazing down and that sweet grin and just nod.

“Well you guys, I know you won’t be staying
the whole time but would love for you to stay for a couple songs at
least.” He pauses looking for approval from us. “Of course man we
have time to stay,” Brent spouts off and I quickly kick him under
the table which was obvious and Jon just chuckles. “Good I’m glad,”
he says then turns and walks the few feet to the stage.

“Are you stupid or something? Why would you
say we would stay? You know I have this party to go to,” I bite out
in a short, hushed, irritated voice.

“Miller, do I look stupid? That boy has a
crush and girl, you have one right back. Just because I didn’t make
a big ordeal about him having his hand all on your leg, does NOT
mean I didn’t take note. You ask me, that boy defiantly wants you
to sing something with him, if you know what I mean,” he says
winking.

Leaning in closer to Brent so my words don’t
travel, “Oh for the love of Mary would you knock that shit out
Brent? I don’t have a crush. Yes the guy is very yummy,
did I just call him yummy?
I mean
good looking, and yes his voice is sexy, but I don’t have a crush.
LIAR.
I just know when to admire a
good sound. So if you don’t mind, keep your comments to yourself
otherwise I won’t let you take me out again,” I say lightening the
mood a bit and playfully hitting him on his arm.

The sound of the cracking stage mixes with
the feedback of the microphone as Jon walks across and takes his
seat on the stool set out. I watch as he lifts his guitar off the
stand and rests it on his right leg and secures his shoulder strap
around himself. He places his pick in between his lips as he
adjusts the microphone stand and positions it where he wants it. Of
course I seem to have my focus on the bright blue pick that gets to
touch his soft full pouty lips, watching it move slightly up and
down.

Removing the pick he glances my direction
and winks. “Hello everyone, it’s great to be back at Solo’s
tonight. I appreciate all of you that have come out to listen to
me, and even those that didn’t but are here listening anyway,” he
says while lightly checking the tuning of the guitar. The crowd
offers a nice laugh for his humor and he flashes a big smile as a
thank you.

Continuing his tuning. “You know, my
favorite thing about music is the way it can express what we often
are too afraid to say. Artist use lyrics to tell their story and
listeners use the lyrics to relate their life to the song. Every
song sung takes on a different meaning for every person that
listens to it. I think for this reason is why I love singing. I
like to bring a story, and idea, a thought to people and let them
use it for what they need. Could be motivation, inspiration,
healing, confirmation or whatever. Music says what you can’t.” His
words drift off leaving an understanding with me that I couldn’t
help but deny.

He begins to pick on his guitar with a few
cords and I hear the tune immediately and recognize it. My heart
stops, literally stops. Then the lyrics start and I reach for
Brent’s arm which startles him. The slow mellow tone of his voice
rides through the first verse and I am deadlocked on his face. His
eyes are closed as he sings softly into the microphone.

Backbeat the word was on the street

That the fire in your heart is out

I’m sure you’ve heard it all before

But you never really had a doubt

I don’t believe that anyone feels

The way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk are winding

And all the lights that lead us there are
blinding

There are many things that I would like to say to
you

But I don’t know how

I feel lost in the words, lost in his voice. The
slow rhythmic strumming and picking plays into the mellowness of
the song and the emotion coming from him.

I said maybe

You’re gonna be the one that saves me

You’re gonna be the one that saves me

And after all you’re my wonder wall

As he continues and finishes out the song I realize
the words he said before he started singing were true. I found
myself relating to the lyrics in a way that was needed for me.
Remembering that someone saved me, not knowing who he was, not
knowing where he was, and him not knowing the feelings I have for
him not just for what he did for me, but because I have spent six
years imagining who he was, what he was like and who he would be to
me. No one could feel the same way I do about him, even without
knowing him.

Brent reaches over and lightly wraps his
hand around mine that is clutching his arm. “Are you okay Reece?”
With concern in his voice.

Shaking my head up and down. “Yeah, yeah I’m
good.” Offering a smile and letting go of his arm to relax back
into my seat.

“He’s really good Miller, I get the
attraction.” Brent offers up as conversation. “I’ve never heard
that version of Wonderwall before, but I have to say I like it more
than the original.”

I turn and look at him with a bit of
disbelief. “You know that song?” I ask questioning his
statement.

“Of course I do, I don’t live under a rock,
and you will be happy to know I am quite the music fan.”

Brent never ceases to amaze me, I think
that’s why I like him. He’s easy to be around, gets me and my
attitude and still comes back. He’s quiet but not, hot but gay,
sincere with a bit of jackass and knows how to be a smart ass right
back to me.

Looking down at my watch I see the time is a
little after 8:00 pm and I am relieved I don’t need to get up right
now and leave. I want to hear more from Jon.

“I want to say a special hello to a couple
friends in the audience tonight…” He starts and my blood drains
from my face. No, he isn’t about to call me out in front of all
these people. Please, please, please don’t do it. He glances my way
and smiles.
UGH that damn smile!

“My new friend Brent Towers and…” He
pauses.

Here it comes, please don’t do it……

“My old high school track coach, Coach
Johnson.” He looks at me and winks.

Oh thank god, wait, why would he say hi to
Brent and not to…

“Oh yeah and this sweet girl Reece over here
too, I hear she has a beautiful voice but she won’t let us hear it
tonight.”

Yep that did it, heat rushes to my cheeks
and I feel the walls moving around me as I hear the “awww’s and
come on’s” from the audience in response to Jon saying I wouldn’t
sing. Nope, not going to work.

“Come on now everyone, she’s a little gun
shy tonight but I bet she will be up here singing soon enough so
you will have to come back to see if she does.” He snickers out as
he begins to play.

Reaching out to adjust the microphone stand
again and looking at me with determination. “This is one of my
favorite Zac Brown Band songs. It reminds me of what I want in the
future. Hope you guys enjoy it.”

He begins to pick at the strings and a
beautiful melody begins. I find myself tapping my foot to his
playing as the lyrics start.

So we live out of our old van

Travel all across this land

Me and you

We’ll end up hand and hand

Somewhere down on the sand

Me and you

Just as free,

Free as we’ll ever be

Just as free

Free as we will ever be

Drive until the city lights

Dissolve into a country sky

Me and you

Lay underneath the Harvest moon

Do all the things that lovers do

Just me and you

I have never heard this song but listening to him I
pick up on the melody quickly. The tempo even and soothing as he
continues with the song and I see the rest of the crowd bopping
their heads to the music as he plays and sings. The crowd goes wild
with applause as Jon comes to a close on the song and I can see
many of the audience are looking in my direction.

Not realizing it, but I am smiling pretty
big seeing the reaction Jon is getting from the crowd. I feel pride
for him and I’ve only known the guy for what five hours? It’s a
weird connection. One I’m not sure what to do with.

Suddenly the effects of the liquids I have
consumed hit me and I let Brent know I am going to the ladies room.
As Jon plays another song, I make my way through the crowd and the
cramped tables to the other side of the bar and down the long
hallway to the bathrooms in the back.

Walking out of the bathroom trying to shake
off the excess water from my hands due to there not being any paper
towels in the bathroom, I am startled when someone grabs my elbow
and pulls backwards. My immediate response is to jerk my elbow away
turning to see who is trying to manhandle me, but I am pulled into
another room, and the door closes behind me as I try and assess the
situation and attempt to prepare myself for defense.

“What the hell,” I yell spinning around and
yanking my arm free to face the door and attempt to leave. Standing
against the door is Jon with a very mischievous smile on his face
as he crosses his arms in front of his broad chest, stretching the
material of his shirt across his arms and revealing his muscles.
He’s not built like Zane by any means, but there is strength in his
arms that I can see is protective.

Pushing off the door in a seductive relaxed
manner, he takes a few stalking steps toward me with his arms still
crossed and still smiling. “There is something about you, something
that makes me want to know more. What is it? What is it that I want
to know more about?” He questions, coming to a stop in front of me.
Not knowing exactly what to say I stare at him and just shrug. He
reaches out with his right hand and lightly brushes my long hair
behind my shoulder exposing the skin. He takes the back of his
pointer finger and runs it down my neck and across my collarbone. I
respond by tilting my head away from his hand and exposing more
skin. He continues to trace my collarbone across my chest and
reaches up with his left hand to now brush the hair off my other
shoulder exposing that skin. He steps a bit closer to me leaving
very little room between us. Instinctively, I take a step back to
add more personal space. I find I have already backed myself up to
the wall and have nowhere else to move. He hasn’t moved and is
still very close to me. His hands are soft except for where you can
feel the callouses from his guitar playing.

“Do you realize how beautiful you are?” He
asks as his eyes follow his hand that is tracing my skin.

Taking in a deep breath and nearly gulping
down air. “No,” is all I can say.

“You have this sensuality about you, but you
hide it. You don’t realize how pretty you really are and people can
see that.”

I know he’s right. I know I don’t think of
myself as beautiful, maybe cute at times, but for the most part,
beautiful is not a word I have ever used to describe myself.
Feeling his hand as it slides down my shoulder, I close my eyes and
breathe in savoring every touch he is giving me.

“I can see you’re hiding. You’re not
comfortable in your skin, are you beautiful?”

Hearing him call me beautiful in his sexy
voice sends a shiver down my spine, wanting to hear him do it again
and again. How can someone that has known me for mere hours and
really not have said a whole lot to me, know this about me already?
How does he know I’m not comfortable being who I am right now?

He continues, “The minute I saw you, I could
see the beauty. I could see something about you. I didn’t have to
be told you could sing. I heard you in the park.” He chuckles. “You
don’t realize how much your sweet voice carries even if it is just
a hum.” His left hand reaches up and he threads his fingers into
the base of my hair. He closes the gap between us completely when
his right hand slides over my waist and around my back pulling me
into him. Our lips brushing from being so close. He smiles and
lightly moves the tip of his nose up and down over the tip of mine
which puts a bigger smile on my face. He pauses a second, pulls
back a fraction and looks into my eyes before leaning in slowly as
his lips brush mine. My toes wiggle in my heels to remind me this
isn’t a dream. He passes back over my lips again with another
feather light kiss and it’s driving me insane. Knowing I can’t take
much more of his soft, sensual brushing kisses, my hands shoot up
to his hair and my fingers weave themselves through it, pulling his
lips towards mine with more force until they are planted against
mine. It was instinct and he was responding well to it as he lets
out a slight moan while my hands continue to fist his hair
massaging his scalp. The sweet kissing picks up speed and the heat
when our lips, mouths and tongues collide back and forth against
each other rises. The temperature in the room must have gone up
too, because I can feel a bead of sweat forming in the small of my
back and is traveling south. I can’t seem to get enough of him as I
feel I am trying to devour his face. He breaks away from the
kissing and leans further in so his lip’s land at the base of my
chin. He works his way to the base of my earlobe kissing it lightly
and in an incredibly sexy way. The anticipation of him kissing that
special spot sets me off as my hands release from his hair and they
slide down his back. I need to feel his skin with such a passion.
Taking my hands, I slide them under his already untucked polo and
along his back feeling every muscle as I go. I slowly and lightly
scratch my way back down.