The Happy Ever After Playlist - Abby Jimenez Page 0,46
the first day of our official relationship.
She followed me into my room and sat on the edge of my bed and studied the printout while I dug in my drawer for a shirt. “Wow. Do you even get a day off?” She looked up at me. “These concert dates are so close together.”
Tucker pushed his face under her arm and she hugged him, watching me pull the tee over my head. She really watched me. Her eyes were nowhere near my face. I smiled. She was biting her lip and one of those blushes I loved was creeping up her neck.
I looked at her too. She wore a white tank top and some pink shorts. Her hair was in a messy braid. She looked like she’d been ready for bed before she came over. The tank top was low cut. Damn. I’d probably have to sleep with a pillow between us so I didn’t press anything unwanted against her. It was definitely gonna be a problem.
“Tours are hard work,” I said, taking the packet from her and dropping it onto the top of Tucker’s crate. I got under the covers and held up her side so she could join me. She scooted in and put her head on my chest. I reached over, turning off the lights, then hugged her closer.
It wasn’t close enough.
I put my nose to her hair and breathed in, and she slid a leg up over my thigh and snuggled in to me. I wondered if she could hear my heart pounding. She had to.
I cleared my throat. “‘You never close your eyes anymore—’”
She hit me and I laughed, kissing the top of her head.
Tucker settled at the end of the bed and I shut my eyes, feeling a sense of calm, like everything I needed was in one place at the same time.
Chapter 18
Sloan
♪ The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald | Jaxon Waters
Jason picked me up right at 4:45 to drive us to Kristen’s to attend her trial by fire. I was hoping he’d get stuck doing some Jaxon Waters thing and have to cancel, but no luck. I argued we should take separate cars so he could escape if he needed to, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
My eyelid was in a full-scale panic attack. The finger wasn’t enough to hold it in place. I needed my whole palm.
Jason looked over at me from behind the wheel of his truck and laughed. “Come on, she cannot be that bad.”
“Jason, there’s probably a clone of her guarding the gates of hell.”
The creasing at the corners of his eyes made me smile despite myself.
“I just never know what she’s going to do. She’s always scheming. And the baby’s at his grandmother’s house tonight, so who knows what she’s got planned.”
“Schemes, huh?” He chuckled.
“Yes, she loves messing with me. I can’t explain her, Jason. She’s too weird.”
When we knocked on the door to Kristen’s tan stucco house, I gave Jason one more I’m-so-sorry glance, and he winked at me.
Kristen threw the door open, grinning right past me at Jason like a lunatic. “You must be Jason!” She bumped into me theatrically and dove right in for a hug with my date.
I shook my head at her over his shoulder, and she gave me crazy eyes.
When he was released from her clutches, Jason handed her the flowers he’d brought, and she gushed, ushering us inside, where Josh waited like an accomplice, holding two beers.
Stuntman Mike bounced off Jason’s shins, and he crouched and petted him.
Kristen leaned over and whispered in my ear. “He does smell like flannel.”
“You promised me you’d behave,” I hissed.
“What? What did I do?” she said, blinking at me with feigned innocence.
Jason stood and took the beer he was offered, shaking Josh’s hand, introducing himself. Jason didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable. Maybe he was used to overzealous, grabby, slightly inappropriate fans?
“Hey,” Kristen whispered, nudging me in the ribs. “I told Josh to ask him if he can spell ‘chlamydia.’ If he can, he’s gonna throw him out.”
I blanched and she practically skipped across the room and hooked her arm in Jason’s. “Let me give you the tour.”
“I’m coming on the tour,” I announced.
“Nope. It’s a one-person tour. We’re all booked up.” She slapped the flowers to my chest. “Put these in water, will you? And, Josh, can you show Sloan to the kitchen, where there’s a potato salad that needs putting together? Thanks.”
Jason looked thoroughly amused at my distress and allowed himself to be