Page 66 of Rock Out Together
Emily
Six weeks later
“Will you chill?” Zara grabbed my leg, stopping my knee from bouncing. Her touch grounded me, but my nerves were on fire with anticipation.
I couldn't help it. We were in a car Jake sent to pick us up at the airport, about to pull into Clarke Records in LA, where Steele Horizons was gearing up for the international leg of their tour. The thought of seeing Jake again had my heart beating like it was a drum.
Zara and I had finished finals and were on a plane that night to LA. I was here to see my boyfriend. That’s right!Boyfriend!We'd moved into couplehood. I hadn't used the “L”word yet with him, not because I didn't feel it, but because I was scared. The depth of my feelings for him was overwhelming, and I didn’t know how to jump that hurdle and bare my soul.
I’d only seen Jake in person for a few days since our tryst on the beach. After our couple-defining Zoom call, he’d squirreled away some time and come to Gainesville to see me on a weekend. We spent the entire three days inside the hotel … naked. Not that I had complained. Those stolen moments had cemented our connection and made me crave him more.
Every night, we capped off our day with a video call, discussing anything and everything. Clothing was optional. The calls were my lifeline, each one helping us build a bridge between our worlds.
The car pulled up to a large art deco building. I grabbed my purse and jumped out, not looking to see if Zara was following me. I was ready to see my boyfriend and get one of those amazing I-missed-you-like-crazy hugs. The anticipation was like a current running through me, pulling me toward him.
Never in my life had I thought I’d date a sexy-as-fuck, talented-as-hell rockstar. Yeah, there were perks to his lifestyle, but honestly, I’d rather just be alone with him, listening to him strum his guitar.
As I approached the receptionist for a visitor's badge, someone hopped out from behind a potted plant wearing a tan trench coat and dark sunglasses.
It was Jake.
In a dramatic flourish, he undid the belt of his coat. He flashed it open, revealing a pair of very skimpy Care Bear boxers and a Harmony Bear T-shirt. His playful antics were a reminder of the night we met, and my heart swelled with affection.
“Care Bear stare!” he shouted.
I felt my cheeks flush. Everyone nearby was watching, unsure what to do. Beside me, Zara burst out in hysterical giggles, bent over, unable to contain herself. Her laughter was infectious. I couldn’t help laughing despite my embarrassment.
Jake shut his trench and grabbed my hand, pulling me to the bank of elevators where Rowan was thoughtful enough to hold one for us, allowing for a quick getaway. He saluted, a massive grin across his face as the sliding doors closed. Rowan’s camaraderie was a testament to the band’s tight-knit bond.
I turned to my boyfriend and slapped his shoulder.
“You’re a Care Bear flasher?!” I asked, aghast at what I’d just seen. His playful grin made him impossible to resist.
Jake was laughing, holding me to his chest, his glasses off. He kissed me gently on the nose, then nuzzled his lips into my neck. His warmth enveloped me, making the world fade away.
“I missed you so much. I wanted to give you a greeting that’d live up to how we met. I mean, look!” He pulled back and opened his trench again, showing me his boxers with Too Loud Bear. They were orange, with pictures of thesmiling bear and microphones. His thoughtfulness, even in his silliness, made my heart skip.
I shook my head. “Where did you find those?”
“Custom job, baby.”
“Jake, you have way too much money on your hands if you're custom ordering your boxers.”
Instead of answering, he pulled me in for a hot, passionate kiss. All my thoughts evaporated except for those about his body and the amazing connection we shared.
When we took a breath, the elevator finally stopped on the recording floor.
“So, tell me then, does this Care Bear want to share?” I asked, sliding my hand over the distinctive bulge in his boxers.
His only answer was an eyebrow wiggle, and another deep kiss before he pulled me into an empty rehearsal room.
author bio
Heather E. Andrews grew up in the Pacific Northwest but followed her parents to the East Coast, leaving behind the sandy beaches of Camano Island for the mountains of the Adirondacks. After spending years in school pursuing an academic career, she put down the calculator and decided to follow her dreams. Now, she fills her days writing stories of heroes and heroines overcoming their struggles and finding happiness in each other’s arms. Her life is full with a loving husband, two neurotic pugs, and two very needy guinea pigs. She loves to hear from readers at [email protected] and www.heather-e-andrews.com.
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