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while, but all the
regulars were there every week. Johnny couldn’t resist the pleas of
the crowd and wound up singing a Spawn song, one that Riley had
sung in the day but that Johnny had written both the words and
music to. The song was called “Tormented.” Katie had always thought
it was a cliché, but she supposed every metal band had to have at
least one song about how hard life was, how much it sucked, and how
pain was all they ever knew. Katie knew too that it was written
before Johnny had experienced real torment, and she wondered how he
would write about more recent years with his new band. What would
he have to say in a song about the last time he had darkened her
doorstep?
    After Johnny left the stage again and began
downing another beer, Katie continued looking through the book and
finally settled on one of her old favorite songs--“Kiss Me Deadly”
by Lita Ford. She was pretty sure she’d be too nervous to sing, but
she’d be sure to slam her whole drink before the deejay called her
name. She wrote it on the piece of paper, along with her name, and
delivered it to the deejay before Johnny was the wiser.
    When the people surrounding the table
finally dwindled away (all except one man their age who took up
residence with them) and two more people had been up at the mike,
Johnny turned his attention back to her. “So?”
    “So what?”
    “Well, what have you decided on? Do you
wanna do a Donny and Marie song with me?” He fluttered his
eyelashes in jest, grinning. “Or are you gonna choose your own
song?”
    “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
    “Well, you have to take your paper up
there.”
    “Already done.” He raised his eyebrows,
nodding, and grinned. “But I could use another drink.”
    “On me.” He raised his hand in the air and
his little cocktail waitress came running. Katie knew it didn’t
hurt that he tipped her a five every time she brought something.
She had a new rum and Coke for Katie in less than two minutes and
another five on her tray. She smiled at Johnny, her eyes lingering
a little longer than they should have, and Katie felt a smidgen
of...something. She took just one sip of the drink when the deejay
called her name.
    She was feeling looser, yes, but she didn’t
know that she was ready. No matter--it was her turn. And she found
that, after the first verse, she had fun and enjoyed herself. She
didn’t make a complete ass of herself and actually hit all the
notes. Her hands shook a little, but she felt grateful that the
words scrolled in front of her. She didn’t have to look at Johnny
or anyone else. She could simply read the words on the screen, even
if she did know most of them, and sing. And as she grew more
comfortable and belted out more of the song, she began questioning
her song choice. And then she questioned Johnny’s as well, and just
thinking about those things, she managed to get through the song
without much more conscious thought. Johnny’s song choice revolved
around love and even obsession--sweet and maybe directed at Katie?
Katie’s was about partying and getting laid. What the hell had she
been thinking?
    But she knew. As the night wore on, she felt
that old flame smoldering. Three years ago, she’d thought she was
over Johnny. Tonight she discovered that she was far from it. And
when he sang that song for her and then she felt his eyes on her
when she sang, she remembered all her old emotions.
     

Chapter
Five
     
     
    Johnny pulled up in front of Katie’s house.
Katie was giggling, stepping off the bike, and Johnny took the
twelve pack from her while she removed the helmet. She heard a dog
bark down the street and realized she needed to quiet down. It was
after ten, and all she needed was for one of her neighbors to send
the police to her house for breaking the noise ordinance. She dug
her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door. “Hand me that,”
she said, taking the twelve pack from Johnny and heading into the
kitchen. As she slid