Page 126 of Reverb
“Yeah?” He had a weird inflection in his voice, but it didn’t sound like what he was gonna say would break her heart.
“I talked to Adrian.” He ate the fries and followed them with beer. “Don’t have any close friends. Not much family.” He shifted on the seat. “I left everyone. That’s what he said.” Another pause. “Being alone didn’t bother me before, but I miss the band. And it’s killing me to be away from you.”
Another piece of understanding clicked. Yes, this was about them. But also affected everything.
“You don’t have to take me back,” David whispered.
“I know that.” She wanted him. Wanted him back where he fit with her, in their family. “I’m going to anyway.”
Those four words caused David to fumble with his beer. “Mish!” Her name came out high, but quiet. Like a prayer.
She pushed the plate of fries at him again. “Help me finish these fries, then come home with me.”
David stared at her. “Just like that?” Dazed didn’t even begin to describe his look.
She couldn’t help but smile at him. “Yeah, just like that. ’Cause I love your troublesome ass and want you back. Took you long enough to come around.”
He dug into the fries and his hands still shook. “I’m not always the best listener.”
“So I’ve noticed.” She stole a fry from the plate. “Let’s not do that again, huh? We got issues, we talk about them, okay?”
The tension that had been in David leaked out. “Shit, yeah. These past few months have been hell.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “Did we just get back together?”
“How about you pay, and I’ll show you?”
Didn’t have to ask him twice. David slipped out of the booth and headed to the bar. The fries were mostly gone. She downed the last of her beer and slid out of the booth. When David returned, she beckoned him with a finger, then did what she’d been wanting to do since she’d seen him standing there on the sidewalk—she pulled him into her arms and kissed his damn mouth. David gave a surprised grunt, but soon their tongues were tangling, his hands were on her hips and hers raked through his hair.
A flash went off, then another. Well, that would keep Adrian and Marcella busy. And happy.
Mish broke the kiss. “You think you can be a little less dense and a little more humble?”
He huffed a laugh. “Anything for you, princess.”
She let that one go. Because she’d be a princessanda queen tonight. She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
They went out into the cold October day, leaving a wake of social media fodder behind them. They didn’t even make it back to her apartment before her phone rang. Adrian’s name flashed across the screen.
“I guess the photos have gotten out.” She took the call. “Hi, honey.”
“Thank fucking god,” Adrian said. “Ray’ll be pleased.”
Mish laughed loud, and it felt good, especially when David gave her hand a squeeze. “Yeah, I bet. And Zav will be smug like he planned it all along.”
“Eh, but also secretly relieved.”
So true. “What about your boy toy?”
“Dominic is already planning to accost you two for a double date sometime.”
“Oh, do we get to be voyeurs to your teasing Dom with food?”
There was a croak on the other end. “Am I that bad?”
“Honey, you’re that good.” She paused. “We can talk about all of this later, though.”
“Almost home, huh?”
She grinned at David. “Goodnight, Adrian. And thank you.”
