Free Stolen Breaths by Pamela Sparkman Page B

“Get me another shot of tequila.”
    Cooper looked at me. “Liquid courage?”
    “Yep.” I rubbed my hands together and then because I was still wearing my red dress from this afternoon, rubbed them on Cooper’s jeans.
    He laughed. “What are you doing?”
    “My hands are sweaty.”
    “Relax, Lily,” Cooper said. “It’ll just be us. Keep your eyes focused on me. Concentrate on me, and you’ll be fine.”
    “You do realize that you make me nervous, right? I had to close my eyes and not look at you the last time you made me sing, remember?”
    “Would you rather sing by yourself?”
    “No. I want you up there with me.”
    He kissed me on the forehead and wrapped his arms around me. “What song do you want to do?”
    “Do you know ‘Just a Kiss’ by Lady Antebellum?”
    “I do.”
    “Okay,” I said, and then exhaled. Joe handed me my shot and I downed it without the salt or lime. “Thank you,” I said, handing him back the glass.
    Joe had put the closed sign on the door and locked it after the last patron left. “We’re all set,” he said, looking at me and Cooper.
    “Wait,” I said. “Where did you get the guitar?”
    “It’s mine. I keep it here. I’ve got another one at home.”
    “Oh, okay,” I whispered to myself.
    “No excuses, sweetheart. You got this.”
    Hayden and Joe sat at one of the tables close to the stage and Cooper placed two stools side by side and then two microphones. “Take a seat, Lil.”
    I walked over and sat down on one of the stools, questioning my sanity.
    Before sitting down, Cooper leaned in close to my ear. “You have no idea how good you are. Do you trust me, Lily?”
    “Yes.”
    He moved to face me. “Look at me, and keep your eyes on me. Only me.” He sat down next to me, adjusted his mic, and counted off…1…2…3…and just like that music was playing.
    I focused on Cooper. Only him. I fought to keep from closing my eyes, allowing the melody he strummed to flow through me. I let him take me with him, to that place where you get lost in the hum of the rhythm, the soothing sound of the vibration of the strings, and the rich tone it makes when set in motion. Each note he played was distinctive and individual, yet combined beautifully like the flavors of a fine sauce. I’m not sure exactly when I realized that I was singing, but by the time I did I was no longer nervous. Cooper had the ability to soothe away my deepest fears and cover me with confidence like a warm blanket. The rich textures I was hearing were coming from his voice and mine, and blended together it was almost indescribable – like trying to dance to architecture.
    The song finally came to an end, and I was unable to take my eyes off of Cooper. He never once took his eyes off of me.
    “Do you guys have any idea what you sound like together? Oh. My. God. Y’all. That was amazing!” Hayden said.
    Joe spoke up after a few seconds of silence. “Seriously, that was insane. I don’t know what that was just now, but, Lily, I better not ever hear you say you’re too shy to sing again, because I’ll drag you up there myself. Cooper, my man, I think I’m in love with your woman.”
    Cooper blinked and instantly looked at Joe. “You can’t have her.” Then his eyes were right back on me. “She’s mine.”

    The drive home was quiet, yet comforting. It gave me some time to sort out my thoughts and feelings towards Cooper, a man I’d only known for a few days. Well, we met a couple of months ago, but we were just now getting to know each other. Yet, I felt so completely attached to him, as if we’d known each other our whole lives. I felt closer to him than I felt toward people I’d known all my life. In part, that may have something to do with Ms. Sophie and the fact that she practically took me in as her own family from that first day on the plane. Even she didn’t feel like a stranger to me. It was bizarre, and also amazing. Some things were simply unexplainable.
    “My friends