Page 71 of Everything In Between
The server returns a few minutes later with our drinks and we put in an order for some appetizers—fried pickles and pretzels with beer cheese. When he walks away, another up-and-coming artist takes the open stage and introduces himself.
Jersey props her head up on her hand, leaning forward a little to get as good of a view of the singer as possible. A blissful expression takes over her face the moment the singer starts his first song. She might be entranced by the music, but I am entranced by her. I live for these small moments.
I could watch Jersey like this for hours, days, years, aneternity. Her face so clearly displays her love for music and songwriting, and I wish there was a way I could bottle it up and sell it, but I’m grateful I’m the one that gets to see it in real time.
Her love and her passion are priceless.
“He’s so good,” she says, eyes sparkling as she takes in the person on stage. “Listen to the cadence of his lyrics.” And later, as he finished his set and is walking offstage. “He wove that melody together masterfully.” She shakes her head in awe. “He’s gonna go places.”
Even as she enthusiastically explains things I really have no clue about, I listen intently, wanting to understand the things that are so important to her. I want to learn everything about her: her likes, dislikes, and everything in between.
She’s lit up with excited energy the entire ride back to her place. “You remind me of how excited Riley was after we saw your concert,” I tell her, remembering the night fondly. “She was pretty wound up the whole way home, too.”
Jersey beams at me. “Was she?”
“Oh yeah. She’s a huge fan of yours. She’s going to be so excited to meet you some day. You two have a lot in common, so I’m sure you’ll get along well.”
“Will she be at your game before Christmas?” she asks. “She’ll be done with school by then, won’t she? I can’t wait to meet her.”
I shake my head. “She’ll be done with school, but unfortunately, no. She’ll be coming up for Christmas Day, but she won’t be there for the game. She’s apparently got a new boyfriend she’s going to spend some time with.” I try not to let my dissatisfaction show at the thought of my sister dating. It will take a lot for someone to be worthy of her in my books.
Jersey’s expression falls. “Dang it, I won’t get to see her then.Ugh.” She falls back against the car seat. “Why does Cal have to be such an asshole? I mean, what kind of scrooge wants me to be in the studio onChristmas?”
“That is pretty petty of him,” I agree and then reach for her hand. “But you’ll get through it.We’llget through it.”
She exhales and squeezes my hand. “You’re right. I was looking forward to our first Christmas and getting to meet your parents and Riley, though.”
“You’ll see my parents at the game and I’m sure if you really want to Riley could be talked into a FaceTime. That would make her day. I’m in this for the long haul, Jersey. We’ll have many more Christmases to spend together.” Hands still entwined, I tug her closer to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She leans against my side, where she stays for the rest of the ride.
When we walk into her condo and close the door behind us, she launches herself into my arms, taking me a little off guard. Her arms wrap around my neck and she hugs me tightly.
“Thank you so much, Hayes.”
“For what?” I murmur into her hair, burying my face against her and breathing her in. She gives the best hugs.
“For everything,” she whispers.
When she untangles herself from me, I meet her gaze and my breath catches. Her warm brown eyes are overflowing withemotion and desire. It sends need skyrocketing through my body.
My hand rises to cradle her cheek, and I tilt her jaw up, positioning her so I can kiss her. She sighs happily as soon as my lips are on hers, leaning into the kiss, driving me wild.
Not wanting to break apart, we stumble down the hallway toward her bedroom, each of us having the same want and need on our minds.
Jersey kicks the door closed behind me and then finally breaks away. She gives me a heady stare as she takes a step backward, her hands falling to the hem of her dress before raising it up and over her head, exposing her body to me.
My mouth goes dry as I take in the lacy blue bra and panty set she’s wearing. The color stands out against her smooth skin. I reach for her again, unable to bear the thought of not touching her.
“You are everything to me, Jersey,” I murmur against her mouth as I kiss her deeply again. She whimpers as she arches into me and the sound goes straight to my dick. I walk her backward until we’re right at the edge of her bed.
She falls back against the mattress and I follow closely behind her, pulling my shirt over my head in the process. I lean down to kiss her again, resting some of my weight against her, the heat from her flushed skin seeping into mine.
Fuck, she feels so good against me.
I could die a happy man knowing what it’s like to kiss her and have her body against mine. The need to have her, consume her, toknowher becomes overwhelming.
As I hover above her, something has me pausing. I stare down at her, memorizing the way she appears right now, exactly in this moment. My heart is hammering in my chest, desire coursing through me at rapid speed, but still, I slow down and take in everything about her right here.
Her pupils are dilated, her already plump lips swollen from the ferocity with which I’ve been kissing her. She’s looking up at me as if she’s trying to memorize everything too, commit it to memory.
