Page 80 of Badd Love
Like holy shit.
I don't know fuck- about baritone or tenor or soprano—that one’s girls, I think?—I just know his voice was rich and smooth and expressive as he began the low, quiet opening, his voice growing in power and richness as the song built. When it crescendoed at the chorus, the choir joined in, weaving a harmony around Dane's voice. The song went slow and quiet again, and the choir faded until it was just Dane again, finishing the song.
When it was over, I was crying.
Not sure why.
But when I looked around, pretty much every Badd in the house was looking emotional. Ella was literally open-mouthed as a single tear trickled down.
"Did you know he could do that?" I asked as the crowd lurched to its feet, applauding.
"No!" she hissed back. "Did you?"
I could only shake my head.
Dane looked as stunned as the rest of us, as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened, either.
That was Dane's only solo, but the rest of the concert, now that I knew why I was there, was amazing. They did some current pop numbers, some classics, and an obscure piece in Latin I've never heard of that was haunting and gave me shivers.
Dane was glowing. He moved with the music, swaying, eyes closed, looking so full of light and life I almost didn't recognize him.
My favorite part was when the majority of the choir filed off stage, leaving Dane and seven others, evenly split between boys and girls, to occupy the bottom center of the risers. Singinga cappella, they did a stripped-down rearrangement of “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel, a truly inspired take on “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys—with certain lyrical adjustments made—and a soaring, gut-wrenching version of “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak.
When it was over, the Badd Clan made its way out to the lobby to wait for Dane to make his appearance. Rune found me, and we hugged properly.
"You're here?" she whispered in my ear, clinging to me. "Like, for good?"
I nodded. "All my shit is in my car. The little that I kept, at least."
"Why were you in Portland?"
I shrugged. "I left LA more than two months ago. I spent almost two weeks there. I spent nearly two weeks in Seattle with Raquel and Hamish. I spent a week in Eureka."
"Doing what?"
I shrugged. "Not being in LA? What were you doing whenyouleft LA?"
She grinned. "The same thing."
"So where do you think I got the idea?"
Her grin faded. "Dane is…putting on a brave face, but he misses you." She examined me. "Please tell me you're here to talk to him."
I nodded. "I am. Of course I am. It's…he's not the only reason I came, though."
"You look…different," Rune said. "I can't pinpoint why, though, or what it is."
I grinned, shrugged. "Probably just the fact that I've spent the last two months since leaving LA finally confronting my demons."
Her eyes instantly went misty. "Really?"
I nodded. "I'm not, like,healed. That's a lifetime process, I think. But I'm…" I let out a deep breath. "I'm okay. Like, actuallyokayfor the first time in my life."
She scrutinized me. "Something happened."
I nodded. "Yes. But I'd like to tell you and Dane at the same time, so I only have to tell it once."
"But you're okay? Whatever happened?"
