Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
That song is mine, and he’s taking it.
Does he feel that way about me? Like the lyrics? Does he feel as if he’s waiting on me? Does he think he can’t live with or without me? Maybe. I’m too exhausted from us to dwell on it, and I suck in a deep cleansing breath, trying to separate myself from the words of the chorus, but my eyes are damp.
He ends the song and looks back at the crowd. He sweeps his gaze across the space and his eyes land on me, linger for a long moment, then move on. “Now don’t ask me to sing another one, because I don’t want to steal the band’s thunder tonight. Thanks, guys.”
The applause is deafening.
He walks off stage, and Dillon gives him a chest bump.
His date throws her arms around him and kisses him on the cheek.
I want to rip her hair out.
“Man knows how to make an exit—and sing, and play football. Color me impressed. Is there anything he can’t do?”
“No,” I mumble.
Mike gives me a long glance and frowns. “We can go, Charisma.” He pauses. “Or, if you want to talk to him, I can go and you can stay? I’m cool.”
“Mike…you’re the nicest guy I’ve met in a long time, but I’m fine.” I push out a smile.
I watch Blaze grab another beer from a passing waitress and chug it down. He doesn’t even look in my direction.
“I just need to go to the restroom. Give me a few,” I tell him then grab my purse and get up.
There’s a long line for the ladies’, but I wait, keeping my face averted every time a tall man walks past to get to the men’s. Finally, it’s my turn, and I walk in and shut the door. You’d think they’d have more restrooms, and clearly they need to modernize.
I stand at the sink and stare at my face. I look blindsided. I’ve had several drinks, but I feel sober as a priest. I end up turning the cold water on and splashing it in my face. Fuck makeup. I’m done with this night. Mike is right—I need to get out of here. If he gets up there and sings another song, I’ll lose it.
I leave and let the next girl in then make my way through the hallway.
And there he is.
His back is leaned against the wall, arms are crossed.
He’s not in line; he’s waiting on me.
Electric blue eyes pin me and don’t let go.
I straighten my shoulders and walk his way, stop in front of him.
I’m acutely aware that there are people all around us, but I tune them out and focus on him.
His face is made of stone, and except for that hand-tapping, you’d think he was perfectly relaxed.
I’m under his skin; otherwise why push me away so hard?
But I need more than him just wanting me; I need him to be in this as deep as I am. I need him to feel as empty as I do when he’s not around, to ache and want to spend every moment with me.
I love him. Those feelings started freshman year when we kissed, and no matter how much I try to ignore how I felt, it only escalated when we spent time together last fall.
Love hurts; I know it does. Love is opening yourself up like a book, letting someone see your secrets with every paragraph and page exposed, knowing that the person you’re showing it to can walk away at any minute. And maybe he will.
Love only works if you try, if you take a chance.
What if…what if I don’t care if all he can say is I want you?
I let that idea linger, settle, and take hold.
My chest hitches as we stare at each other. I think about those songs he sang to me in my room, the song he sang tonight.
If he’s been waiting for something from me, here I am.
What else do I have to lose?
His date pops up next to him, her hand curled around that bicep like it’s hers. She’s young, maybe a freshman, and so dang pretty. She’s exactly right for him, her height just a few inches shorter than his in her heels, her frame slender and perfect. My stomach twists. I can see her and him; it works in my head…so much better than we do.
But, I shove those insecurities down.
F her.
She doesn’t know the man I know. He’s never sang “Break Up in a Small Town” to her.
Whoever she is, I reach out and peel her fingers off him, and I guess she’s too surprised to stop me. She gapes at me, and I smile tightly. Hey, little freshman, my eyes say, you don’t know me, but right now you’re holding something I want. Back the fuck off.
I take two steps until I’m against him. My hands slide up around his chest to his shoulders, my palms pressed tight, so tight against his hard chest. His eyes don’t even widen as he watches me, never dropping my gaze.