Page 45 of Rocking Cedarwood

Chapter Twelve

One week before the start of school

Michael stood on the porch and watched the traffic sail up and down the main drag of Cedarwood. He rubbed the top of his head. The couple of weeks between the end of the tour season and the start of the school year meant time to grow his hair back out. His head itched as he touched the spiky strands of hair.

While he sipped his coffee, the tart brew burned his tongue, but he didn’t care. He had too much on his mind. Bandit and the Blackhearts had had a fantastic year, but he hadn’t wanted to write new music until the night he’d almost lost Niall. The drive to create hadn’t been as strong until he stared down the possibility of his world crumbling if Niall left. He’d poured his heart into fifteen songs for the upcoming album. Recording wouldn’t start until the spring and he welcomed the break.

For the first time since he’d started the band, he wasn’t looking forward to the next tour and since the band had decided to take a year off…he had time to regroup. Of course, having Niall with him as the band traveled from town to town certainly helped. The hours weren’t as long and the miles of road not nearly so boring. They’d fucked after every gig and in nearly every state in the lower forty-eight. He was stronger because he’d shown both sides of himself to Niall and had been accepted.

Behind him, the door creaked. He didn’t have to look to know Niall had strode onto the porch. He turned enough to drape his arm around Niall’s shoulders.

“Thought I’d find you out here.” Niall kissed Michael’s neck. “Deep in thought about the school year or about the band?”

He should’ve known Niall would figure him out. Over the last three months, they’d forged a deep connection. Between the weekends together on the road and the stolen days here and there during the course of the tour, they’d become closer than Michael would’ve thought possible. Niall meant more to him than life itself. He could live without Niall, but he didn’t want to. Funny since Niall was about the only person or thing that affected him that way.

“So?” Niall eased away from Michael and sat on the railing to face him. “What’s on your mind?”

Michael widened his stance and folded his arms. “I’ve been thinking about this summer, the band and my job at the school and your offer.”

“I figured as much.” Niall crossed his ankles and rested his hands on the railing. “You’ve been talking in your sleep.”

“I have?” He didn’t know he did such things. Huh. Michael sighed. He needed to get on with his life and his decision. “Sorry about that.”

“No problem. It’s amusing, though. You sang in your sleep, too.”

“I did?”

Niall nodded. “I’ve never heard the song before, so it must be something you’re working on without even knowing it.”

“You inspire me.” Michael gazed into Niall’s eyes. “Do you really want me to move in with you? For good?”

“I do.”

“You’re sure?” His hands shook. Good thing he had the coffee cup to keep them busy.

“I don’t do anything without having a plan.” Niall drummed his fingers on the railing. “I asked you to move in with me because there’s no point in having two homes when we’re together anyway. Why not have one and make this work? I love you and want you here.”

Michael flexed the muscles in his jaw. “Dex and Blake seem to think I’m smartest to stay with the band. I’ve thought long and hard about this and I’ve considered their points of view. I also thought about you and me.” He rocked on the balls of his feet. “I’m sticking with the school until the contract runs out. Once it does, I’m going to see where my musical career is at. I don’t want to give up either career and I sure as hell don’t want to give you up either, but I want to ride the wave with the band for as long as possible.” Niall made his heart beat and eased his mind. Having Niall beside him helped to level things off for him. He still had the creative spark for his dark, moody music, but he also had a safe place to fall—as long as he had Niall in his life.

“Makes sense.” Niall crooked his eyebrows but didn’t smile. “I can’t blame you. You’re a god when you’re on the stage. Then again, you’re pretty important to those kids.”

Not exactly the rousing endorsement he’d expected from Niall.Fuck it.They’d agreed to be completely honest with each other. Now was his turn to bare his soul. Michael crossed the short expanse to Niall and put the coffee cup on the flat railing. He pinned his lover between his body and the post. “You’re my constant. Whether I’m at the school or in the band, I’m at my best because I’ve got you in my corner and my bed.”

Niall hooked his fingers in Michael’s belt loops. He didn’t say anything right away and he didn’t meet Michael’s gaze.

Michael’s skin itched. He’d expected Niall to be thrilled with his decisions. His confidence dipped. Maybe his belief that Niall would accept him, no matter what, was off base.

“Niall?” He curled his fingers under Niall’s chin. “What do you think?” he whispered.

“I think accepting both sides of you will take time. Whenever I look across the hallway, I’ll not only see Michael, but I’ll see Bandit.” He paused and a slight smile curled his lips. “But I happen to like Bandit.”

“Oh.” Michael bit back a groan. He hadn’t thought the dual sides of his personality were a problem for Niall. Niall claimed he wanted to be with Michael and that Bandit wasn’t important, but had that changed? Maybe he was overthinking everything and getting too concerned over nothing? His stomach lurched.

“Stop worrying and look at me,” Niall said and grabbed Michael’s attention. “The thing is, I like Bandit just fine. He’s a fantastic musician. But I fell for Michael. Whether you’re in front of a group of fourth graders or holding that guitar, the man beneath the makeup and behind the button-down shirt is the guy who has my heart in his hands. That’s why I want you to live with me. I want to see your face in the morning and last thing at night. I want to hold you while we sleep and spend the day fucking after we have an argument. You drive me crazy, but you bring out the best in me, too.”

This time Michael paused. He replayed Niall’s words in his head. As the importance of what Niall had said washed over him, he grinned and a laugh bubbled in his throat. “You’ve practically written a song for me.”

“Take the words, put them to music and make a fortune with it.” Niall wound his arms around Michael’s waist and tucked his hands into Michael’s back pockets. “I’ve been a little in love with you since we met, but this summer changed my feelings. I got to know the real you—both sides of you. Bandit is good, but Michael is my guy. I love you with all my heart.”

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