“So,” I begin, “Jules and Natalie and I have been friends since college, so they knew me back when I used to play with a local band here in Seattle.” I smile out at them. All the guests have gathered in a semi-circle around the stage, Jules and Nate and the rest of the family and bridal party up front. Will is gazing at me with warm blue eyes.
I look to my left to see Leo standing by the stage with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me intently. I swallow hard and focus on the task at hand.
Just get through this one song, Meg.
“I was a bit surprised when she asked me to sing tonight because I haven’t sung in front of an audience in quite some time, but I’m honored to sing for Jules and Nate’s first dance together as a married couple.” I smile again and strum the guitar, making sure it’s in tune.
It is, of course.
“The song they’ve chosen is I Won’t Give Up.”
I begin to play the intro as Jules and Nate take the dance floor. Nate pulls Jules into a firm embrace and moves her effortlessly across the floor.
‘Cause even the stars, they burn
Some even fall to the Earth
We’ve got a lot to learn
God knows we’re worth it
No I won’t give up….
I’m taken away by the song and watching my beautiful friends dance so gracefully, gazing into each other’s eyes. Nate is singing along with me, to his girl, and the romantic in me melts at the sight. He leans down to murmur something in her ear, then kisses her naked neck, below her ear, and sweeps her around the floor again, much to the crowd’s delight.
I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’ve given you all my love
I’m still looking up
I find Will’s eyes across the dance floor. He’s smiling at me, watching me intently. God, I love him.
I’ve got to tell him.
The song ends, and the room erupts into applause and whistles. I smile and back away from the mic to offer a little curtsy, and then walk to the end of the stage, ready to hand Leo back his guitar.
“We have to do a song together,” he says, his face serious.
“No, thank you.”
He takes his guitar and hands it to someone else, then grabs my arm and pulls me back to him and whispers in my ear.
“Megan, please. I’ve missed you. Let’s do the song we used to do at weddings back in the day.”
I sigh and tears threaten.
“Leo…”
“Please. You sound great. We’ll blow them away.”
“You don’t need me to do that, remember?” I ask, my voice cold. He scowls.
“I never said that.” He sighs. “Come on, people are watching.”
I don’t have a choice. I do not want to make a scene at Jules’ wedding. So, I follow Leo up the stairs and stand at his side as he speaks to the audience.
“Hey, everyone, are you having a good night?” He asks, and the audience applauds and whistles. “Good! I’m honored to be here tonight with my band to entertain you all and celebrate with Jules and Nate. I knew Jules, back in her college days, and I’m happy to see she found a dude worthy of her.” He winks down at Jules. “We just came off a big tour, so being here with you guys is a nice and welcome change.”
He offers the audience that killer smile of his, and I swear half the women in the audience, including Samantha, look about ready to throw their panties at him.
I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“I kept Meg up here because Nash is that little local band she told you about earlier. She and I go way back.” He smiles over at me. “And she’s agreed to sing one more song with me before she joins you guys to get drunk and be stupid while I work my ass off up here.”
The audience laughs and I join them. I find Will in the audience, and he’s watching, standing still. I can’t read his face.
Someone hands me a mic, and Leo takes his mic off the stand and sets the stand aside.
“Don’t we need a guitar?” I ask into the mic.
“Nope, we have backup.” He winks and nods at one of the guys to join us on stage with a guitar. He leans in and whispers the song in the guy’s ear. I don’t know him; he must have joined the band after they got to L.A.
“This song,” Leo says into the mic and looks up at me, his dark gray eyes happy. “is called Marry Me and was originally done by a band who is also from Seattle, Train.”
The audience applauds again, and I can’t look away from Leo. We always nailed this song. It wasn’t originally written as a duet, but we alternate the verses and join together for the chorus.
I start, while Leo watches, lip singing along with me, his eyes bright and happy and encouraging, and I offer him a sassy smile as I start the song.
Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
He joins me for the chorus. This tall, tattooed rock star, singing a sweet love song. It looks all wrong, but God, his voice is amazing. As his voice joins mine in perfect harmony, goose bumps break out on my skin and I smile widely at him.
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
I lower my mic to my side and watch Leo take over the next verse. I’ve always loved to watch him sing, even when I was very young, in the first foster home with him. He would sing to me all the time, and then let me play his guitar, showing me so patiently where to put my fingers and make the sounds perfect. He taught me how to control my voice.
He taught me everything I know about music.
As he sings these lyrics, I can’t help but wonder if he has a special woman in his life now. I hope so. He deserves one, although I know his trust issues go deeper than mine.
Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
For the last half of the song, we sing it all in harmony. I hear Jack, our original pianist, join the guitar and I’m just completely swept up in the moment. We step closer together, passionately singing about this sweet love, just inches apart.
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me