She moaned into my mouth and then threw her arms around my neck. I lifted her up against the wall, pressing her into it, pinning her there with my body as I deepened the kiss, only to pull away and murmur against her ear, “That was a thank-you kiss.”
“I liked it.” Her chest heaved while her blue eyes searched mine. “It’s okay to be afraid, Braden. What’s not okay is letting that fear take away what makes your heart beat.”
“You make my heart beat,” I whispered.
She cupped my cheek with her hand. “I was talking about music.”
“Can’t it beat for both?” I asked.
She nodded, not saying anything, and then kissed me again.
Behind us, a throat cleared, and I broke away from her only to see a few of the high schoolers from before holding up their cell phones with grins on their faces.
I burst out laughing. “Ah, caught red-handed. Thanks, guys.”
They all chuckled and then went back to their business while I slowly let Piper go.
I hated every second she wasn’t in my arms.
Piper gave me a huge grin and then whispered, “Time for the rest of your surprise.”
“You naked?”
“Be serious.”
My dick strained against my jeans, reminding me that one of us, at least, was serious. “Coach…”
She just sighed like I was impossible, which I was because I was me, and she was her.
“Let’s go, Braden.”
I held out my hand. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
She took it and smiled. “How could I? It’s all I keep thinking about, holding your hand in one hand and trying to calm my racing heart with the other.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
She placed my hand on her chest and whispered, “What do you think?”
I stayed quiet, allowed my mind to wander as I registered the heavy thud-thud of her heart beneath my palm. And then I said, “I think I want it to beat for me more than I want anything else.”
Tears filled her eyes as she gave me a small nod.
We walked in silence out of the aquarium and then headed downtown. We covered all of Main Street until we hit one of my favorite restaurants. The Seaside Grill, home of the best fish and chips a person could ask for—and also a really cool place to hang outside with their outdoor patio, heaters, and firepits.
The minute she led me up the stairs, I paused.
The entire band was there.
All of Adrenaline, Ty, Will, Drew, and Trevor. And the guys from AD2 who were also going on tour with us, Demetri and Alec. Finally, Zane. They were without their wives and girlfriends, which was just about as easy as asking for world peace.
I gaped. “Are we having…bro night?”
“Huzzah!” Demetri lifted a cider and then said, “The wives did put forth rules, however.”
I laughed. “Let me guess, only chick drinks and bring home fries?”
“Basically,” Zane grumbled and crossed his arms, staring at his cider like it was going to attack him.
For the most part, none of the guys drank because it was too easy to make it a crutch on the road, and also because most of them had dealt with a lot of heroin and cocaine addictions over the years. Ergo, they just stayed clear of it entirely. The fact that they were out here with me? Miracle.
Piper let go of my hand and then pulled me in for a hug. “Have fun.”
“Wait!” I tugged her back. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“No girls allowed.” She crossed her arms.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m your ride, and this is my surprise, right?”
She nodded.
“Then you stay.” I grinned. “Hope you can handle a bunch of washed-up rock stars.”
“Heard that!” Alec shouted.
I always gave them shit, but AD2 had sold millions upon millions of albums. Even in their late twenties, they were still going strong. Adrenaline had just released a second album while Drew had done a solo release, the one I’d headlined for, and sold another ten million. Between them and Zane, it was like rock star royalty at that table, and I was the lucky one who counted all of them as mentors and friends—at least when they weren’t being dicks via text message.
“Come on.” I walked her toward the table and pulled out her chair.
“Holy shit.” Zane grinned from ear to ear. “Did you just grow manners?”
“Bro, yesterday I saw chin hair. He can finally get a beard too. Wild, right?” Ty joined in.
I glared at them both. “I have manners, and stop making it sound like you picked me up off the streets of Portland’s homeless section.”
Drew shrugged. “I mean, we did save your life. But yeah, sure, downplay it all you want.”
I gave him the finger.
Alec and Demetri eyed Piper up and down and then looked at me. I knew the questions were swirling between them.
“What?” I prodded.
Demetri was the first to flash a flirty grin. “So, how’s the kissing?”
Piper’s eyes went wide. “How’d you know?”
“Yes!” Demetri shot to his feet and held out his hand to Will, who was also my agent. He slapped a hundred-dollar bill into Demetri’s hand. “Pleasure doing business with you, William.”
“Bite me.” Will glared and then gave Piper a soft look. “Don’t worry, it’s the only thing we bet on.”
“Speak for yourself,” Drew said from his end of the table. “I saw sparks on day one.”
Zane just nodded. “He nearly combusted on the spot. It was cute. God, I hate how fast they grow.” He wiped fake tears from under his eyes while I tossed a fork in his direction. The bastard caught it with one hand and winked.
“Be nice.” I glared. “All of you.”
Trevor reached for his cider and tilted his head like he was trying to figure out how to ask a question. Finally, he just said, “How’s it been going?”
Code for: Are you going to be able to tour?
I took a deep breath and said, “Well this one over here”—I pointed to Piper—“just announced my name by the seals where a dozen of Seaside High’s finest were hanging out with cell phones. I didn’t shit myself or puke in the corner, so…I’m doing better. I guess.”
“Bro!” Trevor gave me a fist bump while Drew and Zane shared a look with Piper.
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I mean, we’re only what? Six days in? Hopefully, it just gets better and better.”
“Ask him about the dick on his vision board,” Drew blurted.
I glared. “For the last time, it was a music note!”
“Yeah.” Zane snorted and made air quotes with his fingers. “A music note.”
Piper burst out laughing. “I think the glitter was my favorite part.”
“Hold up,” Alec held out his hand. “Did you really force him to make a vision board…with glitter?”
“Yup.” Piper looked so damn proud, even I was amused. “And he’s doing a really good job. You know, when he’s not using his powers for evil like gluing glitter dicks.”
“And here I thought he was all grown up.” Zane sighed and shook his head. “You’ll have to be patient with our young Braden. He’s clearly still pubescent.”