“Why not?”
I shouted to be heard over the current performer. “For very obvious reasons!”
“Nope, we took care of all your lame excuses,” he replied, holding up his fingers as he ticked them off. “We’re not in Northwood, no one knows who you are, and you’re in disguise just in case.”
“Your hat and sunglasses aren’t a disguise,” I hissed.
Wyatt smirked and slipped out of his leather jacket, draping it over my shoulders. “How ‘bout now?” he asked.
“Wyatt! No! I look ridiculous.”
“I was going to say I think you look hot,” he said, leaving me even more speechless than the idea of walking out on a karaoke stage.
“What’s it gonna be, Penny Layne? We’re up next.”
I swallowed hard, wishing I had it in me to face my fears. Not just for me and the future of my music, but for Wyatt. I wanted so badly to be the girl he thought I was. I couldn’t ever remember someone believing in me this much. It was overwhelming. But I still couldn’t do it. I wasn’t the fearless girl he wanted me to be and I never would be.
Maybe it was time I faced the facts—not everyone has what it takes to capture their dreams.
Applause broke out, making my decision for me as the current performer bowed and jogged off stage.
The MC’s voice boomed into the microphone. “Thank you, that was lovely. And thank you to all our patrons for coming out tonight to show your support at Journeys, where anyone can be a star.” More applause. “Don’t miss your chance to perform with a live band. There’s still time to sign up, but for now we’ll be entertaining you with the sweet sounds of Donny and Marie from Northwood.”
The crowd cheered and Wyatt’s bright green eyes searched mine. “That’s us. You coming out there with me, Penny Layne?”
It killed me to dash his hopes, but I firmly pressed my lips together and quickly shook my head.
To my surprise, he didn’t look disappointed. He just winked and walked out onto the stage like he’d been born there.
“Looks like it’s just Donny tonight,” the MC said when Wyatt gave him a nod.
I slinked back to my seat again, sipping my Shirly Temple while I watched Wyatt light up the stage with his rendition of the twangy duet. He strutted around the stage singing and acting out both parts of the song, delighting the audience. Even his Franken-boot couldn’t stifle his charisma.
Wyatt owned the stage and I couldn’t help grinning as I watched him twirl the mic and give pretend hair flips every time he sang Marie’s parts. With the live band behind him he was actually pulling it off.
By the time the song ended, I was breathless with laughter. I jumped to my feet with the rest of the crowd to cheer like wild for Wyatt’s hilarious performance. He looked winded when he took a bow, waving to the crowd, but I’d never seen him look more alive.
Had I ever looked that alive?
It almost made me wish I’d been brave enough to go up there with him.
The MC came back on stage to take the mic from Wyatt, but I watched him whisper something to the guy instead of handing it over. Wyatt pointed at me and the MC’s gaze followed. I shrunk in my chair instantly feeling my cheeks flame.
What in the world was Wyatt up to?
If he thought he was going to get me up on that stage with him now that people were staring at me, he was crazy. I tipped Wyatt’s black fedora lower on my head as I watched him grin, nodding at the MC who shrugged and finally took the mic back.
I relaxed when I saw Wyatt moving out of the spotlight. For a minute there, I’d thought he was going to pull some stunt to get me on stage. I really needed to get a grip on my paranoia.
I took another sip of my drink as the MC’s voice filled the room once more. “Well, folks you never know what’s going to happen here at Journeys but that’s half the fun, isn’t it? Who enjoyed that last performance by Donny and, um, Mr. Marie?”
I clapped along with the crowd waiting for Wyatt to rejoin me.
“Well,” the MC continued, “You’re in for a treat because he’s got one more for ya.”
The stage lights dimmed, and Wyatt walked back into the lone spotlight wearing a guitar. He shook hands with the MC who passed him the mic. Time slowed as I watched Wyatt secure the mic in the stand. His magnetic grin had people cheering before he even opened his mouth.
“How’s everybody doing tonight?” Wyatt asked.
The crowd cheered. They were pretty rowdy and seemed primed to cheer for anything at this point.
“Alright, it sounds like you’re feeling pretty good.”
More cheering.
“Well, I’m feeling pretty good, too. And that’s why I’m gonna go out on limb here and ask if you mind hearing something original tonight?”
The applause thundered through the crowded bar, but still it did nothing to drown out the pounding of my heart.
“Well, okay then. I’m Wyatt Nash, and this song is called Bent.” His eyes found mine. “I’m dedicating it to you, Penny Layne.”
Tears filled my eyes the moment the first chord of my song rang through the speakers. Listening to Wyatt sing my words back to me did something that I couldn’t explain. For the first time ever, I felt the words and the power behind them. Each verse filling my heart until it was near bursting.
I’d written this song for everyone in the world who felt crushed and alone as an anthem to tell them to rise up, that they were stronger than they knew, that they couldn’t be broken. And in all the times I’d spent singing that song, I’d never fully let the words sink in. I’d never really sang it to myself.
And the funny thing was, the person that needed to hear this song most, was me.
How had I missed it?
As if in a trance, I stood and moved toward the stage as Wyatt crooned the next verse. The rowdy crowd had fallen silent, spellbound by his commanding presence. Even I couldn’t resist his pull as I moved further away from the safety of the shadows.
Wyatt spotted me and grinned as he sang the chorus. I stood against the stage now smiling back at him with tears in my eyes as I waited for him to start the next verse. But to my surprise, he didn’t. He stopped playing all together and moved closer to the mic, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I’m sorry to leave you hanging, but it doesn’t feel right singing this song alone when the incredible girl who wrote it is standing right here. What do you say, Penny Layne? Will you come up here and sing with me?”
“Do it!”
“Sing with him!”
The crowd was cheering like crazy, demanding I join Wyatt on stage. I didn’t know if it was their encouragement or the way he was smiling at me. But the hope in his eyes was heartbreaking and I couldn’t look away. So, I did it. I reached up and took the hand Wyatt offered and let him pull me onto the stage.
He grinned so wide it was almost painful to witness. But I couldn’t stop my heart from soaring as he winked and pulled me to the mic stand, dropping my hand to strum the chords again.
The instant Wyatt’s hand let go of mine, I regretted my decision.
I stared out into a sea of expectant faces and broke out in a sweat.
What was I doing?
There was no way I could sing in front of all these people. I felt like I needed a fire extinguisher to dowse the inferno of humiliation engulfing me. I gulped down air as I stood frozen in the spotlight like a deer facing down a tractor trailer.