Free First Date by Krista McGee

surprising even herself at this display of emotion. “Don’t be nervous. If you sing even half as well as you did at practice, the audience will be blown away.”
    Anna Grace smiled. “Thanks, Addy.”
    “You’re next, Anna Grace.” Eric motioned for the young woman to stand in the wings.
    She left and Eric walked over. “And how are you, Addy?”
    “More nervous than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
    “Understandable. The latest numbers I’ve heard are twenty million viewers—”
    “Not helping,” Addy said, hands over her ears.
    “Picture everyone in their underwear?”
    “Even worse.”
    “Break a leg?”
    Addy chuckled. “With my luck, I just may.”
    Their banter was interrupted by the first angelic notes of Anna Grace’s song, and Addy glanced down at the kazoo in her hand. What in the world am I doing? Maybe she could fake an asthma attack. Or a heart attack. That would buy her more time. Maybe even send her home. Home . . . No cameras, no packages, no talent shows. God, I would give anything for this to be just one very long dream. I’m ready to wake up. Anytime now . . .
    “All right, Addy. There’ll be a three-and-a-half-minute commercial break. Get in place and then Dan will give you the thumbs-up sign. Your music will start right after that. Got it?”
    “If I say no, can I get out of it?”
    Eric pushed Addy onstage, where she walked to the blue X . Downstage center was what Eric called it. She wasn’t allowed to move from that X .
    Addy wasn’t sure she’d be able to move anything ever again. Thousands of faces looked at her, cameras were hugging the stage. Behind those cameras, millions of people were sitting at home watching her. She had never been so terrified in her life.
    “The next contestant tonight is Miss Addy Davidson,” Hank said from his post at stage left. The audience erupted in applause and the stage lit up around her.
    God, help! Addy took a deep breath and lifted the kazoo to her lips. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend she was in the trailer with Kara, just practicing, as she had the last few nights.
    Kara had helped Addy find background music suitable to accompany her kazoo. The two decided a patriotic piece would be best, and Kara insisted on “The Star-Spangled Banner” and taught Addy how to hum “runs”—a series of notes like the pop stars sing—to be included at the end. On “Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,” Addy hummed her heart out, putting her whole body into the effort, just like Kara had shown her.
    The audience began laughing and clapping.
    They actually like it . Thank you, Coach Kara .
    By the time Addy hit the last line, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave,” the audience in the Nashville theater was on its feet.
    As she took her bow, Addy looked down and saw Jonathon on the front row, a big smile on his face and a thumbs-up in her direction. She stood and stared at him for a moment, taking in his double-breasted tuxedo and brilliant smile.
    “Pssst.” Eric waved from offstage. “Let’s go, Addy.”
    She tore her gaze away from Jonathon and walked back to a squealing, clapping Kara waiting in the wings.
    Hank walked over and pulled her aside. “Not bad, Addy. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
    She blinked. Is he actually complimenting me?
    “So, are you ready to play by my rules now? I’m still willing to give you a shot.”
    Addy stepped back. “Your rules?”
    “Don’t act innocent. Your parents can give me a call and we can work something out. Here’s my number.” He held out a card.
    “Thanks, Hank, but I don’t think so.” Addy refused to take the card.
    He put the card in his back pocket and scowled. “I hope you enjoyed this week, then. Because it will be the last one you have here.”
    Addy tried to speak, but Hank cut her off. “No, no, Miss Addy. You’ve made your choice.”

    Addy woke up the next morning to Kara’s screams.
    “Addy, Addy. You are never going