Page 121 of Rock Out Together
We miss you, we’ve missed you,
So please……
(Chorus) We want you to come back home,
Back in to our world.
This used to be your world,
You’re a part of our family.’
I played the last few strains of the song, my eyes never leaving Kate’s face. Even in the darkness of the crowd, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears and a small smile played upon her lips, giving me the hope that she wouldn’t runaway. The crowd went wild, pushing and shoving each other to get closer so we played on, finishing our set in record time. Usually, we would play three extra songs at the end as our encore but we only did one this time. I needed to get to Kate.
four
. . .
Kate
The soundof the crowd around me dimmed as I allowed the words of Luke’s new song to sink in. Was he finally telling me he loved me? Or was it just meant in a familial way, as he sang about us all being a family? There was no way I would ever know unless I asked him.
I watched as they belted out their songs, playing with as much energy as they ever had while the audience lapped it all up. Luke was amazing on his guitar, his fingers deftly playing the notes in unison with Benny and Joel. They’d certainly gotten better since I’d last seen them. I sighed to myself at that. It seemed like just more proof that they had been better off without me. So why would Luke or the others want me back in their lives now?
The time passed swiftly and before I knew it, the gig was over and Luke was making a beeline towards me. He grinned when he came to a stop in front of me, his eyesgazing hopefully into mine. The women around us screamed excitedly, jostling into me as they tried to get Luke’s attention. He reached out and grasped my hand, pulling me after him as he weaved through the patrons, through the back stage area and out into the fresh air.
We paused to breathe in the crisp, clean air as we studied our options. Luke raised an eyebrow at me, silently questioning where we should go.
“Come with me,” I muttered, leading the way. I strode briskly across the pavements, only checking once or twice if he was still following, and led him to the small house I called my own. I’d used my savings to buy the lease for five years, giving me time to figure out what I was going to do with my life. I was three years in to the lease and no further forwards. That thought alone was depressing. I glanced up at Luke as I unlocked the door, his face a mask as I showed him into my home. I gestured for him to go into the living room and asked if he wanted a drink. When he responded yes, I headed to the kitchen to get one for both of us. I wondered what he might be thinking. I glanced around, trying to picture what he could see.
There was my beige two seater sofa against the far wall, a television with a unit that housed small everyday items. There were a couple of pictures on the walls and trinkets on small table units that were neatly dotted about, but it was minimalistic. I hadn’t spent much time there as over the past few years, I’d been in and out of hospital and decorating the house hadn’t been much of a priority. Until now. The way he was taking everything in and pursing his lips at the lack of ‘me’ was oddly discomforting. I poured us both some water and headed back into the living room, offering him one of the glasses in my hands.
I studied him as he took a large gulp of water, taking in his tight black jeans and black sleeveless rocker top. His hair was in a bit of a state from where he’d raked his fingers through the sweaty mess on stage, yet he still somehow managed to look drop dead gorgeous. His eyes flickered towards me and he curled his lips into a lopsided grin.
“So…How long have you lived here?” he asked, setting his glass down on a nearby table. I shrugged.
“Since I came back, a couple months after you guys left.”
I put my own glass down, biting hard on my lip as I tried to sort through the thoughts swirling in my mind. There was a question burning inside of me but could I ask it? I could see he was watching me, waiting for me to speak. Even now, after all this time, he was still in tune with my body and the knowledge there was more to come. He’d always been that way, never rushing me until I was ready. I plucked at a loose thread on the sleeve of my top as I spoke.
“Luke? That song you sang for me tonight…Was that you telling me that you have feelings for me? Or was it just the three of you letting me know you’ve missed what we all had?”
Luke frowned at the words as they tumbled from me, a crease forming between his brows. He reached out, capturing my hands beneath his own and raising them up to rest on his chest. I could feel the steady beat of his heartunderneath my palms, the pace helping to put me slightly more at ease.
“That was me confessing how I’ve always felt about you,” he murmured. I glanced up, the breath catching in my throat at the intensity of his gaze. I searched his face, seeing only tenderness there instead of the anger I had fully expected to find. Even after leaving, he still cared for me. Deciding to bite the bullet and take a chance before I changed my mind, I tilted my face up, inviting him to kiss me. He RSVP’d in less than a second. His lips crashed into mine urgently, the softness of his mouth causing me to melt against him. He pulled back momentarily, his face splitting into a wide smile.
“Mmmm, you’ve no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he uttered huskily as he brought his lips back to mine. I felt his hands snaking around to my back, one at my shoulders and one at the base of my spine, pulling me so I was flush against him. I kissed him back tenderly as we caved in to what was happening. Before I knew it, I was leading him to the bedroom. I was grateful to think I’d tidied up earlier. I felt the heat blazing from my cheeks as I allowed him to slide my top up and off over my head. Luke grinned as he took in the sight of me, his eyes blazing with a lust he no longer wanted to hide. Grabbing my jeans, he made quick work of removing them.
I was about to help him with his clothes when I noticed he was frozen, staring, and his whole demeanour had shifted from lust to an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Confused, I glanced down at my body, wondering what it would be that had made him stop when I saw it. Ah. My scar. He hadn’tseen it and didn’t know it existed. Dread bloomed in my chest as I took a step back, my hands instinctively covering the scar from his gaze. Luke glared at me, his mouth set in a straight line.
“What happened to you?” he demanded.
“Nothing, I’m fine,” I lied.
“That’s not fine. You’ve got a scar! Did someone hurt you?” he asked, taking a step closer to me. I flinched, making him pause where he was. Shaking my head, I tried to smooth things over.
“No, no. Nobody hurt me. I just had to have a small procedure and it left a scar. Don’t worry about it,” I told him, bending down to reclaim my shirt from the floor and pulled it on over my head. “I think it’s probably best if you leave now.”
“Kate, what aren’t you telling me?” he questioned, the fury gone and replaced with concern. That bothered me more than his anger. I didn’t want his pity.
