Matchmaker Mayhem No Chapter 8: Karaoke Confessions

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Karaoke Confessions

The neon lights of Lucky Star Karaoke Bar blinked in rhythm with the distant hum of traffic. Inside, the dimly lit room buzzed with energy, a mix of off-key singing, clinking glasses, and muffled laughter. Ava leaned against the bar, nursing a soda with one hand while massaging her temple with the other.

"This was a mistake," she muttered, watching her group of matchmaking clients belt out an enthusiastic but painfully off-pitch rendition of "Don’t Stop Believin’."

"You think?" Ryan’s voice ca from behind her. He slid onto the stool next to hers, a fresh beer in hand. He wasn’t even trying to hide his amusent.

"I told i karaoke wasn’t a good idea," Ava said, scowling at the spectacle before them. Arthur, still in his work clothes, was valiantly trying to hit the high notes while Sarah twirled a tambourine like it was an Olympic event.

"And yet here you are," Ryan said, gesturing to the chaos. "Admit it, you’re having fun."

"Watching my clients butcher classic rock songs is not my idea of fun," Ava said, though the corner of her mouth twitched.

Ryan leaned closer, his grin widening. "Co on, Matchmaker. Loosen up. It’s karaoke night. Where’s your sense of adventure?"

"I left it at ho," Ava deadpanned.

Ryan chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. "Well, you’re missing out. Karaoke is all about letting go, being ridiculous, and not caring what people think. You should try it."

Ava arched an eyebrow. "Let

guess you’re one of those guys who takes karaoke way too seriously, aren’t you?"

"Absolutely," Ryan said, his grin turning mischievous. "In fact, I’ve already picked out a song."

Ava groaned. "Of course you have."

Before she could protest further, Ryan stood and sauntered toward the stage, grabbing a microphone with the confidence of soone who had clearly done this before. The room erupted into cheers as the opening chords of "Livin’ on a Prayer" filled the air.

"Oh no," Ava murmured, sinking lower in her seat.

Ryan launched into the song with gusto, his voice surprisingly decent but his exaggerated rock-star antics stealing the show. He pointed at the crowd, whipped an imaginary guitar, and even dropped to his knees during the chorus.

Despite herself, Ava found herself laughing. It was impossible not to. Ryan’s enthusiasm was infectious, and even Arthur, who looked like he hadn’t had fun in years, was clapping along.

When the song ended, Ryan returned to the bar, slightly out of breath but grinning ear to ear. "And that, my dear Ava, is how you do karaoke."

"Impressive," Ava admitted, though her tone was laced with sarcasm. "Did you practice that in front of the mirror?"

"Every morning," Ryan said without missing a beat. He tilted his head toward the stage. "Your turn."

Ava’s smile vanished. "Not happening."

"Co on," Ryan coaxed. "You can’t co to karaoke night and not sing. It’s against the rules."

"There are no rules," Ava said, crossing her arms.

"There are my rules," Ryan said, leaning closer. "And rule number one is: no fun-haters allowed."

Ava opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Sarah appeared, tambourine in hand. "Ava, you have to sing! We’ve all gone already. It’s your turn."

"Peer pressure," Ryan said, grinning. "Looks like you’re out of excuses."

Ava shot him a murderous look but reluctantly stood. "Fine. One song. And then I’m done."

As she walked to the stage, Ryan leaned back in his seat, looking far too pleased with himself. Ava scanned the song list, her heart pounding. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, anticipation buzzing in the room like static electricity.

Finally, she selected a song. The opening notes of "I Want to Know What Love Is" filled the room, and Ava grabbed the microphone, her palms slightly sweaty.

At first, her voice was hesitant, barely rising above the music. But as she reached the chorus, sothing shifted. The crowd cheered her on, and Ava found herself relaxing, letting the lyrics carry her. By the ti she hit the final note, the room erupted into applause.

Breathless, Ava returned to the bar, her cheeks flushed. Ryan clapped slowly, his grin softer this ti. "Not bad, Matchmaker. Not bad at all."

Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile. "Don’t get used to it."

---

As the night wore on, the group settled into a comfortable rhythm. The clients bonded over shared drinks and increasingly questionable song choices, and Ava allowed herself to relax for the first ti in weeks.

Eventually, the crowd began to thin, leaving Ava and Ryan sitting at the bar while the last stragglers perford a dramatic duet of "Endless Love."

"You were good up there," Ryan said, breaking the comfortable silence. His tone lacked its usual teasing edge, catching Ava off guard.

"Thanks," Ava said, swirling the ice in her glass. "I haven’t done karaoke since college."

"Why not?" Ryan asked, genuinely curious.

Ava shrugged. "I guess I got busy. Weddings, work, life... it all just kind of took over."

Ryan studied her for a mont, his gaze unusually serious. "You should do it more often. Let yourself have fun."

Ava laughed softly. "You sound like my grandmother."

"She’s a smart woman," Ryan said, his lips quirking into a small smile. "She sees what you’re capable of. And so do I."

Ava’s heart skipped a beat. For once, there was no sarcasm, no teasing. Just sincerity. She looked away, suddenly unsure how to respond.

"Anyway," Ryan said, his tone shifting back to playful, "if you ever need a karaoke partner, you know where to find ."

Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "I’ll keep that in mind."

As they left the bar that night, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing had changed between them. Whether it was the karaoke, the shared laughter, or the quiet monts in between, she wasn’t sure. But for the first ti, she found herself wondering if Ryan was more than just a pain in her neck.