Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 129207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“Holy shit,” I breathe. “That’s amazing.”
“No, Rae,” he says, his eyes dancing with undeniable happiness. “You’re fucking amazing.”
Ezra leans down and drops his lips to mine in a swift kiss that takes me by surprise. He’s done it only a handful of times, and while every single one has been incredible and cherished dearly, they’re not the type of kisses I’ve been holding out for, and he damn well knows it.
He pulls me into him, his arms tightening around my waist as he buries his face into the curve of my neck, breathing me in as though needing just a moment to center himself. He gently kisses my neck, and even over the sound of the busy bar, I hear his words clear as day. “I love you, Rae.”
“I know,” I murmur, pushing up onto my toes, needing to get even closer.
Slipping his hand into mine, Ezra drags me back over to the guys, and I cling to his side for the next hour as we celebrate their massive win.
Then before I know it, the bar starts clearing out, and the guys make their way over to the stage. They begin pulling everything apart as I try my best to be helpful, but aside from carrying the small things out to the van, that’s about as much help as I can be. Even after years of being involved with the band, I still can’t work out how a drum set is supposed to go together.
I stand out back with the boys as Ezra and Rock load the last of the drum set into the van, and as I watch him, that strange feeling of excitement and anxiousness increases, only now it’s definitely tipping toward the anxious side.
This is it. He’s about to say goodbye to the guys, hook his arm over my shoulder, and take me back to his car, and it’s there I’ll suggest we go somewhere private.
I love gig nights. We always get to hang out afterward. Sometimes we go to parties or the lake while the guys throw back a few drinks, and other times we chill in my room, just the two of us. But tonight, it’s all going to change.
Tonight, I’m truly going to make him mine.
I’m done waiting, and I think he knows. Besides, when you’re this in love with someone, why should you be made to wait? Why should he have to hold back all the time when we both know how right it really is?
The sliding van door closes, and I stand up a little taller, watching the guys pile into the old van. Ezra turns and flashes a brilliant smile, and as butterflies explode in my stomach, he makes his way over to me. His arm raises, and I prepare myself for how it will drop over my shoulder, only it falls lower, hooking around my waist and pulling me against him instead.
He doesn’t try to walk back to his car. We just stand there in the middle of the bar’s loading area. “Sooo,” he starts, his tone laced with hesitation as he drops a kiss to my temple. “The guys kinda wanna go to this dive bar across town to keep celebrating. Apparently, there are some girls there that Rock knows, and he’s been wanting to meet up with them.”
“Oh,” I say, pulling out of his arms and feeling all of my hopes for tonight catch fire and burn to ashes at my feet. I try to force a smile across my face, not wanting him to feel guilted to spend the night with me if he’d rather celebrate with the guys, something he should absolutely do. But his tone is clear, it’s not something I’ll be invited to. I’m too young, and unlike these guys who can somehow walk into any bar or club without even a hint of being asked for ID, I don’t seem to have the same advantages. “You wanna go?”
“Yeah, I mean, nights like this don’t just happen every day.”
“Okay yeah, I’m kinda tired anyway,” I tell him, struggling to hold the smile on my face as I feel my eyes beginning to prick with tears.
“Alright, cool,” he says, digging his hand into his pocket and grabbing his car keys. He hands them to me with a stupid wink that almost has me wanting to forgive him. “Don’t wreck her.”
My brow arches as I stare at the keys in my hand. He knows damn well I’m not supposed to drive without a supervising adult yet. After all, he and Axel are the ones who’ve been teaching me, but I suppose Ezra’s never really been the type to follow the rules. I mean, falling in love with his best friend’s little sister and writing songs about all the things he wants to do to her is definitely breaking a few. “And if I get pulled over?”