***
I shouldn’t have doubted Alexander’s ability to captivate any audience.
The people here tonight are an eclectic mix of young and old. I can’t tell if anyone recognizes him, but they all love what he’s doing on the stage.
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Women are whistling, men are pumping their fists in the air and almost every person in the Pink Parlor is on their feet, dancing right along with Alexander.
I’ve never brought a date to this karaoke bar.
I’ve come here with Kate a handful of times, and once with her and her friend, Tilly.
Tonight is a brand new experience for me.
“Your boyfriend is awesome.” A middle-aged woman elbows me in the side. “He’s the life of the party.”
I laugh. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“He’s available?” She stares at the circular stage. “Do you happen to know if he’s into fifty-something divorced women?”
I wiggle both brows. “You can ask him as soon as the song is over.”
She shakes a finger at me. “No way. I’m going to lead the charge for an encore as soon as this song is done.”
I glance back at the stage to catch Alexander looking right at me as the song drifts into another chorus.
The crowd joins in, singing right along with him.
I shouldn’t be surprised. When he took the stage and asked for requests, it was a man who yelled out, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Alexander called back that he knew all the lyrics before the band started playing.
He can sing. He can dance too.
I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything Alexander Donato can’t do well.
As the song ends, the crowd starts chanting for an encore. Alexander’s hand pops into the air as he brings the microphone back to his lips. “I need a break, folks. Thanks for making me feel like a rock star for one night.”
Laughter fills the room as he steps down from the stage taking the stairs two at a time.
The people gathered near the stage part to let him pass through. Some of them pat him on the back. Others shake his hand.
By the time he reaches me, I’m grinning from ear-to-ear.
He picks up the bottle of beer he ordered before he hit the stage. “It’s your turn, Olivia.”
“Not tonight.” I shake my head. “My throat is a little scratchy.”
“Is that so?” He leans forward, his finger hovering over the skin of my neck. “You didn’t mention that earlier.”
I pretend to cough. “It just started.”
“Take the stage.” He motions toward it with his beer. “We had an agreement.”
“Did we?” I feign surprise even though he’s right.
I dared him to sing in front of strangers because I thought he’d refuse to do it. I was wrong. I was so wrong.