to know who watches the games from here.”
“You know the band Mystical? They played in a few opening acts on our first tour and their drummer is from Chicago.”
“Wow.” I am completely stunned as I look out through the wall of windows and watch the stadium seats filling up and the teams on the field warming up. I’m in complete awe. “This has to be at least one of my top ten favorite days, ever.”
Zack laughs behind me. “I have one more surprise for you,” he says as he finishes typing on his phone.
“There’s more?” I ask.
“Yeah, we have some company coming.”
Before I can ask who, the door to the suite flies open. In walks Jake…covered in purple and yellow with a braided Vikings hat on his head. My jaw drops, again. Behind him are Garrett, Chloe, Chase, and Darren.
“I thought it’d be more fun for you to watch the game with people who actually like the sport.”
“I just…I can’t believe you did all this for me.” I turn towards Zack and wrap my arms around him.
“Too much?”
“No way. If you can pull off surprises like this, I say keep ‘em coming.”
By half time, my team is getting creamed, but I don’t care. I’m having a blast watching them play. Based on their voice levels, Jake and Garrett have had a couple beers too many and Zack is sitting with his arm around the back of my chair while we watch the half-time show. I am still in shock. I look around and smile as Darren and Chase give each other shit over the last play before half-time. They’re still arguing about the call twenty minutes after the play. Zack and Garrett are talking about the upcoming shows and a song they are working on for their next album.
I am…completely content. I feel more alive than I have in a long time, almost as if I can physically feel a sparkle of energy returning to my body and soul. I am becoming me again; the old me, who loved life and loved experiencing new things. That’s who I was, and I don’t realize until now, how much I have truly missed that excitement of experiencing life, until I look around and see this small group of people who have brought so much fun and energy into my life over such period of time.
And I have Zack to thank for it. I sigh contently and lean my head on his shoulder.
“Having fun?” He asks me softly, turning from his conversation with Garrett.
“Yeah. I’m really…..happy.” It’s completely true and freeing to say it out loud.
Zack presses his forehead against my temple and whispers, “Me too.”
When I turn my head slightly to the right so I can see him, he pulls back just a bit. We are so close together, it would take a simple movement from either of us and our lips would be touching. I feel my palms begin to sweat a little bit as my gaze falls down to Zack’s lips. He has really nice lips. They’re full and soft-looking. They look completely kissable. I want to feel them on me. I suck in my top lip and bite down gently as I think about what they might feel like pressed against my lips. Or on my neck. I know my face is flushed but this time it’s not from embarrassment at all, it’s from pure desire.
I want him.
I pull my eyes from his lips back to his eyes to see Zack with the exact same expression on his face I must have. I know there are other people in the room. I also know they’re not being quiet because Jake and Chase are always loud. But in this moment, I hear nothing. It’s just me and Zack and I can practically feel the tension crackling between us.
“SHIT!” We both jump in our chairs at the scream. I turn my head and see Jake clenching his cell phone on the countertop of the bar. Everyone’s eyes are on him and a tension that has nothing to do with the feeling I felt for Zack a brief moment ago fills the air.
I look back at Zack and know whatever we just had, is gone.
Chase instantly lowers his head and pounds his fist on the countertop. He glares at Zack. “Ethan’s coked out. Again.”
“Shit.” I hear a few other curse words muttered by the guys and watch as they all huddle around the bar. I want to go to Zack, to put