She did as he asked and listened as he flipped the lid of the oil, then closed it again. When he reached for her foot, it tickled, making her jump. “Relax, flower.”
Luke dug his thumbs into the soles of her feet again, and this time, she flopped her head fully back onto the pillow. “You are my hero,” she groaned.
Her arch, her toes, her heel. No part of her foot was left undone.
He carried on, up her calf, all the way to her knee. Strong drummers’ hands made light work of the tension in her muscles, leaving her feeling as melted as butter. When he was finished on the first leg, he silently began on the other foot.
The last thing she remembered was his softly uttered words wishing her a good sleep as his arms finally wrapped around her.
19
Luke twirled his pen in his fingers and stared at the white page with lyric ideas taking shape on it. While he was anxious to get onstage and perform, he was equally keen to get offstage, head back to the hotel, and call Willow.
He’d asked Neil about the possibility that he was using Willow as a stopgap to fill the holes left behind by all the other addictions in his life, because suddenly, he didn’t want to be without her.
Neil’s answer had been a series of questions. Like it always was. And while he always appreciated the point they got to at the end of their conversation, he sometimes wished Neil would give him a straight yes or no answer.
Luke ran through the questions and the answers he’d given.
What makes you think of her?
That had been an easy one. All kinds of things. He’d had an idea for a Shamaze video for her, the two of them setting up a baby drum kit. A house listing for a property just down the street from Nan’s that would be within their budget. Well, his budget, because even though she had a shit ton more money than him, he wasn’t letting her pay for their home. Sometimes, he just missed her presence. She calmed him.
Are you anxious when you aren’t around her?
No. He wasn’t. It had been a dream coming down to London for four days to promote the album that was threatening to break chart expectations the label had for the band. They’d performed on a live late-night TV show the day before. During the day, they’d appeared on Radio One and a breakfast television show. And tonight, they were going to play.
It was the setlist they were considering using for the tour.
And he couldn’t wait to get onstage.
He scribbled some more.
Sinking.
Didn’t realise you were
The life raft meant to save me.
Didn’t want to climb on board.
Drowning.
Lungs running out of air . . .
“You okay, mate?” Matt said, dropping to the sofa next to him in the dressing room.
“Just wishing Willow was here to see this tonight.”
“I know what you mean. Iz couldn’t get the time off work. And I think Jase is missing Cerys too, but she doesn’t want to leave the studio until the tour starts.”
Luke grinned. “What happened to us? There was a time when we’d all be pissed, high, and likely scouting for women to spend time with later. And now, we’re . . . oh, never mind. I see Alex and Ben are taking one for the team.”
Matt laughed as he saw Alex and Ben chatting with four women. “I thought there was something going on between Zoe and Alex at the release party.”
“Nah. Apparently, it’s a bet. You know how Alex likes making them. She’s coming on the tour with Cerys, and he’s made a bet with her or something.”
“For real?” Matt asked.
Luke nodded. “She told Cerys about it. Cerys told Chaya. Chaya blabbed to Iz and Willow. Now, they all know.”
“What’s the bet?”
Luke shook his head. “No idea. No one is telling.”
“You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“What you said. About what’s happened to us. Think of everything that has happened in the last twelve months. Iz and I got together nearly a year ago. Then, Willow made that video. We go to Detroit to record an album. Jase meets Cerys, and you multitask and make a kid in parallel.”
“I should be offended by the way you phrased that.”
Matt laughed. “But you’re not because it’s funny. Now, there’ll be ten of us on tour.”
“All that stuff with Izabel. How you feel about her. I get all of it. I get why you didn’t feel like you could tell me. I’d become a person I’m struggling to understand right now.”
“How’s therapy going?”
“It helps. A lot. Funny how your head can get so fucking muddled. Like, I thought I had everything straight. But every wire in my head was crossed.”
“And now?”
Luke huffed. “Long way from perfect, but it’s good that I see it. Here. What do you think of this?” He handed Matt the notepad.
Matt read the lyrics, then read them again, tapping his foot and nodding his head. “I have some music that I’ve been messing around with. Might work for this. Want to work on it after the gig?”
The final piece of his puzzle settled in his chest. Writing songs again with Matt. There was only one thing more important. “After a quick phone call home, yeah?”
Matt grinned. “Yeah. After a phone call home.”
It all felt . . . normal. “You and me? We’re good, right?”
Matt slapped him on the shoulder. “We’re golden, mate. At least, we are for now.”
“Guys,” the stage manager shouted. “I’m going to need you onstage in five.”
Luke waved acknowledgement, then turned to Matt, his chest tight. “What do you mean, for now?”
Matt grinned. “Seeing yours and Iz’s dad passed away, I figured I should probably ask you if you’d be cool with me proposing to Iz on our one-year anniversary.”
Where he would once have been furious, he found himself feeling happy. Happy that his best friend and sister had found something as strong as what he and Willow were building. “I’m glad she’s got you,” he said, pulling Matt into a hug before stepping back.
Matt’s smile dropped; his eyes filled with sincerity. “Honestly?”
“Yeah, mate. Honestly. You’re a good man and have always felt like the brother I never had. I like the idea of being your brother-in-law.”
Matt swallowed and ran a hand along his jaw. “You think? Because I sometimes feel like I got one over on the man, finding a girl who’s so much better than me, and yet I managed to convince her to love me.”
“She is better than you. Not going to argue with that.” Luke grinned when Matt frowned. “But yet, if she wants to, I’d be more than happy for you to marry my sister.”
“Did you just say marry your sister?” Alex said as he walked over with Ben.
“Who’s getting married?” Jase asked, joining them.
“I’m going to propose to Iz on our one-year anniversary.”
Luke noticed the way Matt looked at Jase when he said it. For some reason, Jase had always angered him more because he had slept with Luke’s sister first, but it was three years in the past. And for some reason he couldn’t put his finger on, it suddenly didn’t seem so wrong, to be lonely and want someone to love you.