I pressed forward. “I earned the spot. If I hadn’t sung that day, the band wouldn’t have made it.”
“You haven’t practiced with us,” Kai said.
“No, you haven’t practiced with me,” I said. “I know I can do it. I know these songs. I wrote these songs. And honestly, I think I’ll give you the best shot at winning.” To Brooks, I added, “One of the judges said we had tons of chemistry.”
Brooks had his unreadable face on and I was beginning to think I’d been wrong in the car. I had thought I could only walk away from tonight with one of the things I wanted. But it hadn’t occurred to me until this moment that it was possible I could walk away with neither. I couldn’t let that fear stop me. “I should sing,” I said again, this time only to Brooks.
“She’s right,” Brooks said, shocking me. “We only made it because of her. I didn’t think you wanted to. I thought you were just doing me a favor. That it made you super nervous. But if you want to, you earned it.”
Ian was nodding when I turned to him with an apologetic expression. “Avery, yes, this is yours if you want it. I should’ve talked to you about it.”
“No, I didn’t own it. But I’m owning it now.”
“Can I sing backup?” he asked.
“Of course!” I had one more declaration, though, that I wasn’t sure he was going to support. “But we’re singing the love song.”
Kai groaned. “I won’t play if we sing that song. That song doesn’t even fit with a full band. It sounds ridiculous.”
“You’re right,” Brooks said, and just when I thought he was going to back up Kai, he finished with, “You can all leave the stage for the second song. I’ll play acoustic while Avery sings.”
Kai felt betrayed. It was more than obvious by the hurt expression he now held. “You’re only saying all that because she’s your girlfriend.”
“I’d say it either way,” Brooks said. “It’s the better song.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Whatever,” Kai said, and walked away.
“He’s such a baby,” Levi said. He held his fist out for me and I bumped it. “Let’s rock today and don’t worry about Kai; he always comes back. I should know.”
I smiled.
The loud screech of feedback rang through the air. A voice came over the speakers. “Welcome, music fans!”
Everyone cheered.
All the nerves and emotions that had been raging through me during the confrontation seemed to come pouring out, melting my muscles. I needed a place to sit and decompress before we actually had to perform. So I turned and walked away.
“Avery,” Brooks called.
I kept walking, not because I didn’t want to talk to him, but because when we did, I wanted it to be in some hidden corner away from everyone, away from the speakers. I made it to the row of food trucks just as Brooks fell into step beside me. I cut left, to the back side of the trucks, and finally stopped behind a rattling generator and took a seat on a patch of grass.
He sat down next to me.
“I shouldn’t have said screw you the other day,” I blurted out. “I’ve never said that to anyone before.”
“Wow, I’m the first? I feel so honored.”
“It didn’t feel as good as I had hoped it would.”
He laughed but then his eyes went serious. “I know why you said it and I’m sorry. It all came out wrong. I didn’t mean that you couldn’t have done this without me. I just meant that I had your back that day when you were scared. You could’ve done it without me. You’re amazing.”
“I don’t want to do it without you,” I said.
“I don’t want to do it without you either. I’m so glad you came today. That you’re going to sing. The songs didn’t sound the same without you.”
“Do you think Kai will play the first song with us?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. He’s fine.”
I reached my hand out for his and he was happy to comply. “Thanks for telling the guys about us.”
“It was never about not wanting them to know.” He shifted closer to me. “You know that, right? I do see a future with you. We’re practically neighbors. I mean, if you didn’t think I’d take that as a sign, you don’t know me at all.”
I smiled. “Plus, you owe me all your future children. So there’s that.”
“Well, that’s only if we win today,” he said.
“Then I guess we better win.”
He laughed.
“Should we go practice?” I asked.
He nodded but didn’t move.
I stretched up and kissed him.
We headed back to where we’d left the group. My head was buzzing from pride and my lips were stinging from kissing Brooks.
I reached out and grabbed his hand as we walked. He looked back at me, a smile on his face, and gave my hand a squeeze.
“Hey, you’ll still like me even if we don’t win today, right?” I asked.
“I’ll still like you even if we lose every day for forever.”
“That sounds like a lot of losing,” I said.
“Avery!” My name rang out above the music. I turned and saw Maricela holding a corn dog in the air while weaving through the crowd. She was flanked by Tia and Clay. When she reached us, she threw her arms around me. “Ian said you’re singing! Is that true?”
I nodded.
“I’m so proud of you!”
“That’s awesome,” Tia said.
“Is that what you asked the moon for?” Clay asked.
I laughed. “I guess, sort of.”
“That’s a solid wish,” he said. “I need to up my moon game next year.”
“Have you talked to Kai?” I asked Mari, wondering if he’d cooled off yet. I really did want the full band to play for the first song.
“No, I haven’t seen him in a while.” She pointed her corn dog at Brooks. “Is your
