Page 82 of Fresh Tracks
He laughs through his nose and presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “You’re something, you know that?”
I shrug. “You’re right though. They had a lot of great albums. It’s hard to pick a favorite.”
I yawn and hold onto his arm wrapped around me.
I feel him nod, dragging his stubble through my hair.
“Yeah. It’s probably weird and morbid, but something about their music always grounded me. I think that’s also when I really understood death for the first time, realizing I would never get a new album from my favorite band. I don’t know, I think maybe that’s how I ended up right here though. No drugs, no groupies, just babysitting my bandmates and nursing a few drinks.”
I tilt my head enough to look into his eyes and see that nostalgic, contemplative look in them.
I reach up, cupping his cheek with my hand. I look into his crystalline blue eyes, wanting him to know I heard him and love that he just opened up like that.
“I think we all respond to tragedy differently. Sometimes, I feel like I make it too much of a point to live what I think is a full, spontaneous life.” I look down in my lap, looking at his hand holding mine. “I try to take advantage of every second I get and sometimes, I forget to slow down and enjoy what I have.”
“Sounds like we both still have some lessons to learn.”
I nod and lean into him, soaking up his warmth. He presses play and we spend the rest of the flight just like that.
One thought occupies my mind the whole way back to Jackson. Maybe this is why he came into my life when he did. Maybe he’s the calm and steady to my fast and free.
I bucklemy seatbelt as Tommy puts the car in drive to make the trip from the airport’s private terminal back to his house in Jackson. He reaches across the center console and rests his hand on my knee. I love the contact, but I lift his hand and place it back on the wheel.
“Sorry, I still get uneasy in cars when it comes to distracted driving.” His eyes briefly flick to mine and they’re laced with concern. With my history, it’s something that’s always bothered me that I’ve never been able to shake.
“No, you’re right. I got it. Hands at ten and two,” he says, nodding.
“But you can think about putting that hand much higher when we’re back at your house in twenty minutes.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He grins, popping his dimple. “Besides that, anything else you want to do tonight? Thoughts on dinner? We could stop into Gloria’s and see Sutton.”
“That could be fun.” I reach into my bag and pull out my phone, turning it back on. “I should check in with Josie too and see what she’s up to. I didn’t tell her we were coming back a day early.”
As soon as my phone screen lights up, message after message appears. So many notifications pop up that it vibrates nonstop in my hand.
“Baby, if you wait twenty minutes, you won’t need your vibrator. I’ll take care of you.” He waggles his brows and I feel that heat creep up my neck.
“I thought you said you weren’t the jealous type? And no, it’s my phone. It’s blowing up.”
I open a string of text messages, all from Veronica.
V: OMG.
V: What were you and TJ doing last night? Are you and TJ a thing?!
V: Call me! I have so many questions.
V: Also… don’t get mad. I might have freaked out and showed Tanner.
The last two text messages came in only about 15 minutes ago.
V: Jake called Tanner to make sure the driveway was clear. Your brother might be waiting at TJ’s house.
V: Wait… OMG! Are you staying there now? I love your brother, but you’re seriously living my teenage fantasy right now of dating Tommy Jacob from Teal Tigers.
Shit. I scroll the string of messages to see more of the same. I know Jake said it was just on a music blog, but he did say a lot of the followers were Teal Tigers mega fans. I should have known Veronica probably followed that blog and would see it. I almost love her enthusiasm, but it’s the messages about my brother that have my knee bouncing in the passenger seat.
“Everything OK?” Tommy asks.
