Southern Romance by Crystal Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

even see her face.”  Again, Jade looked totally confused.
         “Hm-mm, that’s funny because if it would have gotten any redder it would have been glowing and we wouldn’t need to go and start the bon fire.  But just so you know, every time you get around her, you get this ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ look on your face.  We were cut from the same cloth brother, you know what your doing.”
         Jade nudged him in the side playfully and smiled at him.  After getting the fire lit everyone gathered around the equipment that had been sat up. 
         “As all of you know and for those of you who don’t, it’s now time for our traditional karaoke contest.  So if you have stage fright too bad for you because you ate my food and I want some entertainment in return.  Let’s get it started.”
         Stage fright was not the case here.  Stage hog maybe.  Sara had made her way back outside and had found her place by the bon fire and was enjoying the show.  Emmy Jean however had more than just a show in mind.  She intended to get Sara to loosen up a little bit.  She made her way to Sara and it wasn’t long when Della, Betty, Melly and Julie all found their way over to. 
         “Hi, I’m Della, this is Melly, Julie and Betty.  You know we haven’t had the pleasure of seeing you on stage yet.”
         Sara laughed out loud and then politely as it could be said, “There isn’t enough alcohol here.”
    All of the women st arted laughing and Betty left.  When she returned about 5 minutes later she had a drink made up for Sara. 
         “Here ya go, let’s start with this one and see where it goes.”
         “I don’t drink much alcohol.  You drink it for me though.”
         “It’s ok dear, you don’t have to drink it, but you know it’s ok to cut lose here.”  Emmy Jean smiled at her in a way of telling her to go on and take.  Live a little.
         Sara looked at Emmy Jean and when Emmy Jean nodded for her to take it, she did so.  She took a sip half expecting it to taste awful.  Instead it was like a sweet orange juice.  When Sara latched on to the straw this time, she took a long drink.  Everyone knew it was the drink that said, after a few of me, you’ll do almost anything. 
         Three drinks later and true to Sara’s word, she still hadn’t sang anything yet.  She could feel the drink kicking in and switched over to lemonade.
         Ronnie, Betty’s husband, took his turn singing and to Sara’s amazement he was good.  Everyone was grabbing their loves and dancing.  Sara swayed from side to side.  Jade caught it and didn’t give her a chance to decline him.  He was forceful when he walked up to her, took her hand and made her dance with him.  It didn’t take long when Jade could feel her relax and follow his movements. 
         “Why don’t you look at me?  I need to know.”
         “Because, I can’t ok.”
         “Is it because your face turns red when you’re with me?  Why is that by the way, you didn’t have the reaction when you first arrived?  What happened, what changed?”
         Sara’s head bolted up as if she wanted to ask how did he know and then she lowered it again just as quick, never answering his questions.  Jade curved one side of his mouth up.  “It’s not red now.”  He lied.  Her face hadn’t been so red before.  It worked.  Slowly, Sara raised her head back up.  But she didn’t look at him.  She looked around at all the dancers, at Ronnie singing, and everywhere she could that kept Jade from being able to see her eyes.  Just as the song ended, she darted.  She went back into the house and left Jade standing there.  Jade just shook his head and went to mingle with the other guest’s.
         Emmy Jean and George said their goodbyes at the end of the night and went in.  Justin drunk beyond reason, passed out by the bon fire.  Jacob wasn’t far behind him and