The Choice by Kate Benson Page B

some people won’t sing!”
    “Yeah,” I say with a wink, laughing when she stuck her tongue out at me. “That’s really too bad.”
    Resting my head on Chase’s shoulder, I take in the scene around me. To most people, we’re just a few people drinking, but two of the people I love most in the world were here with me right now. Not everyone is so lucky, I know that firsthand. 
    “Baby, I need to go to the bathroom. Can you let me out?” I ask Chase and he rubs my shoulder affectionately, kissing me on the back of the head.
    “Need me to come with you?” he asks and I shake my head, making my way over to the side exit.
    Discreetly slipping out, I place the call I need to before sneaking back in and sitting beside Chase, pretending there’s a line I’m waiting to clear up so I can make my exit when I need to.
    Feeling my nerves, I grab his beer fro m his hand and kill it without thinking.
    “You okay?” he asks and I look behind me to find four sets of eyes on mine.
    “Yeah, sorry I thought it was mine,” I say quickly and blow out a breath of relief when they turn back to their conversation.
    “Baby,” Chase whispers into my hair and I twist slightly to find his eyes. “You sure you’re okay? You’re acting like you’re nervous or something,” he says, stilling my bouncing leg.
    “I’m okay,” I smile. “Just waiting.”
    Assuming I meant for the bathroom, he offers to sneak me into the men’s room. When I decline, he laughs and rubs my thigh, returning to the conversation.
    After a few more minutes, Lila glances over and gives me the signal. Pretending to head to the ladies room again, I r ound the corner just in time for Lila to make it to the stage.
    “Can I have your attention for a moment, everyone?” Lila says into the microphone and everyone in the packed bar looks her way. “Miss Ana? Can you come up here for a second, please?”
    Watching her from my hiding spot, I see her look around in confusion before she stands and walks to the stage to join Lila. Sitting on the stool provided by one of the bouncers, Ana takes a seat and begins to flush with embarrassment.
    “Now, as many of you know, this pretty lady has been my number one bartender for the past few months,” she starts and the crowd claps like crazy for my friend. “Tonight is going to be her last night with us here and Lila’s,” that gets a few boos and Lila waves them off. “Somebody told me that you thought we wouldn’t be sad to see you go. That maybe you weren’t getting a proper send off to celebrate your awesomeness,” she chuckles and I watch as Ana starts looking around for me.
    “ Where is Sophie? What did she do?” she yells at Chase as a huge smile crosses her face and he shakes his head, laughing.
    “Don’t look at me! I thought she was in the bathroom!” he yells back, causing the room to erupt in laughter. 
    Mike, the other bartender on duty, approaches the stage with a beer mug. He hands it to Ana with a grin and hugs her before leaving the stage.
    “What is this?” she asks, amused by the soda and ice cream floating inside.
    T hat’s my cue.
    T he opening riffs to Melissa Etheridge’s rendition of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of my Heart” begin. I make my way to her bouncing frame on the stage, meeting her gaze with a grin.
    “It’s your freaking float, you drama queen!” I say and she squeals with excitement. “Now hurry up and drink the damned thing so I can give the awesomeness that is my BFF her super cool send off!” 

Chapter Ten
Chase
    Although I’d caught on that she was up to something before she left the booth, I can’t deny the thrill of excitement that shoots through me w hen I hear Sophie’s voice in the microphone across the bar.
    Over the past few months since Jack’s memorial, I’ve heard Sophie sing dozens of times. Something about her singing in front of a crowd was completely different, thoug h. Behind closed doors, there is something so sensual and romantic about