Page 79 of Lovestruck at Sundown
Somehow, Caleb’s loss felt different. I would catch myself thinking of him in very specific moments, as if he were trying to tell me that even if he wasn’t physically here, he was still very muchpresent.Or at least, that’s what I wanted to think. It’s so hard to lose someone and come to terms with that loss when you can see, feel, and hear them in the most unexpected and inconsequential ways. Especially when youwantto see them everywhere.
When you refuse to let go.
“I like to think the wind is his way of communicating with me,” I admitted, feeling more confident sharing my theory with Nolan. “And it’s not that I think of him every time the wind blows.” I chuckled, resuming our lazy stroll to the exit. “It’s when I’m thinking of him or thinking about something specific that I feel like I need ananswer; that’s when it usually happens.”
Nolan and I walked silently for a few seconds as if waiting for the wind to blow against our faces to prove my point and make our conversation even more epic. But that soft breeze never came.
Instead, a loud engine roared in the distance, followed by screams. Panic invaded me, and I searched for Aaron because that’s what my instincts were programmed to do. As much as I told myself I didn’t need security anymore, I’d grownaccustomed to having Aaron by my side, appeasing the dread whenever it resurfaced.
My body stored a memory. An awful memory that included a school, screams, and an overwhelmed Aaron rushing toward me. My head began to spin when he reached me.
“I told him this was a bad idea,” Aaron grumbled, running a protective arm around my shoulder and leading me toward the exit in a hurry.
“What’s going on?” Nolan asked, trying to keep up with us while students stared at how Aaron rushed me out of the premises.
“William is here to pick you up,” Aaron explained. I didn’t understand. William wasn’t supposed to arrive until later tonight. “It’s a surprise, so act surprised.”
“Don’t think I’ll have to fake it,” I mumbled.
And that’s when I saw him parked by the curve, right in front of the school’s main entrance, leaning against his black Porsche. He was wearing dark denim jeans and a black leather jacket over a white t-shirt. Numerous students and curious pedestrians gathered around him. Most of them had their phones pointed at him, while some asked for a selfie or an autograph. William struggled to keep up with the demands of his overly excited fans, but he did it all the same with a huge smile on his face—the studied one.
All I could think of was that I was headed in that direction and straight into that madness.
Our SUV was parked behind his Porsche, and someone was behind the wheel, but I couldn’t make out their face.
“That’s Cooper,” Aaron said, reading my mind. “I need someone standing by in the SUV so we can follow you. And I wasn’t going to allow you to walk into this crowd on your own either.”
“Follow me?” I asked. “You’re letting me ride with William?”
Aaron’s brow wrinkled with evident disapproval. “He would’ve hauled you inside and driven away either way. So I preferred to have a plan.”
Sounds about right.
“I’m late for work!” Nolan said with a funny grin, hurrying away. Of course, he didn’t want to step into the growing crowd, and I didn’t blame him. “See you tomorrow!”
I waved Nolan goodbye, and that’s when William’s gaze met mine. He smiled, and I smiled back as William thanked his fans, letting them know he was done with the interaction.
Finally, I reached William after Aaron helped me push through the throng. “Hey.” I could feel everyone’s attention and their phones being directed at us, but I couldn’t make myself care. My emotions were all over the place. The scene didn’t feel real, anyway.
He rounded my waist with his arms, lifted me off the ground to level my face with his, and kissed me. It was a soft and quick kiss, but long enough for everyone to witness it. And capture it with their phones.
“Hey.” He smiled at me and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek, lowering me slowly to my feet. “Shall we?” He opened the passenger door, and I tossed my backpack on the floor before getting in. Aaron rushed to join Cooper in the SUV while William rounded the car, waving goodbye to his fans and finally sitting beside me.
He let out a charged breath through his mouth. “It was about time to let everyone know you’re mine.” He turned the ignition, making the engine roar. His hand squeezed my thigh before shifting into first gear and driving away. Cooper and Aaron followed close behind.
“So that was a publicity stunt?” I teased, and he laughed adelicious laugh that made his head pull back a little. “Did Naomi put you up to this?”
“Actually … she did,” he confessed. “She’s been suggesting we make our relationship official to keep the gossip magazines from making shit up. But the part of me coming to pick you up is something I’ve been dying to do since we came back from South Africa. So, I thought I might as well kill two birds with one stone.” He stopped so a few people could cross the street and leaned in to kiss my hair. “I just … wanted to feel normal, you know? But I knewthatwould happen, and we’d agreed to keep things more private, so I never did it.”
“I loved seeing you waiting for me outside.” I squeezed his hand resting on the gear stick.
“Want me to come pick you up tomorrow?” He winked at me and continued driving once the street was clear of pedestrians. “It’s your last day of school, isn’t it?”
I knew he was joking, but I still replied, “I don’t think Aaron would approve. His resting Aaron face confirms it.” We laughed. “I thought something was off today when I saw him standing outside my classroom and later when I heard the screams. But I’m glad it was just you making the girls go crazy.”
He rolled his eyes but kept his attention forward. Seconds later, a deep frown formed between his brows. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Oh, you’re fine.” I squeezed his hand again. “I loved it.”
