HIM:

I strum the first few chords of the intro of Take It Easy, posture open, scanning the crowd just in case someone feels brave.

One verse. In a music-loving crowd like this, there are bound to be dozens of people who know this song. Everybody knows this song. Someone will join in... (Right?)

I start to sing.

One line.

Another.

The crowd claps along, a few people smile, but no one moves. Dang, tough crowd. Maybe I should have borrowed the Viking helmet or something…

I finish out the verse, starting to lose hope. This is it - time’s about to be up. 

But the moment I change chords for the first chorus... it happens. And my entire body lights up.

A female voice, bright and sure, slips right into the harmony - a third above - so clean it makes my neck tingle.

I turn my head.

She is already walking towards me.

Denim skirt. Black t-shirt hanging off one shoulder. Long hair and a smile that is ready to play.

Eyes locked with mine like she knows something I don't. Ohhhh hell. If this is the “trouble” I’m magnetizing, at least I’m gonna enjoy it.

Suddenly, it's a duet.

We hit the next verse like we’ve been doing this for years - me leading, her dancing around my lines with her harmonies. Effortless, confident, absolutely in it.

The crowd leans in and goes wild with recognition when we hit the “Winslow Arizona” line, feeling like they’re part of the unfolding story, but it’s getting really easy to forget they are there. 

I don’t know who this woman is, but her energy is undeniable. I try to concentrate on the guitar solo, I don’t want to lose it in front of this many people, but I keep sneaking glances at her. She is clapping and smiling and hyping up the room so that by the time the last verse comes, they're all singing with us.

When it finally ends, the crowd erupts. Half of them shout “Encore!” All I know is that I don’t want this to be over.

I look at her. "You up for one more?"

She raises an eyebrow and leans in. "It’s a little past my bedtime but… What did you have in mind?"