As if sensing my intentions Layne cleared her throat, dropping my hand to put some separation between us. “It’s getting late. I should probably get going.”
Disappointment speared me. “Don’t you want to finish watching the movie?”
She shrugged. “I know how it ends.”
I looked at my watch. “Why don’t you just stay? I mean, you’re still planning to come over tomorrow to finish recording, right? It’ll save you a trip.”
“Yeah, but my mom needs the car tomorrow.”
“Oh. Okay, then I’ll follow you home,” I said, sliding off the bed.
“You don’t have to do that.”
I walked around the bed, picked up my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “I know,” I whispered into her hair. “But it’s late and I want to make sure you get home safe.”
She blinked up at me with those gorgeous brown eyes. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Who’s going to make sure you get home safe?”
I winked. “I’m okay on my own. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“But what if I want to?” she asked, softly.
Her words warmed my soul through, sparking indecent thoughts. I took her hand, trying to fight my grin. “Come on, Penny Layne. Let’s get you home before I change my mind about letting you leave.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Layne
“Thank you for tonight, Wyatt.”
He smirked. “You’re welcome.”
We stood on my dark front porch, much too close together. Wyatt insisted on walking me to my door again and this time I hadn’t really tried to fight him. I’d been the one to say it was getting late, but for some reason now that I was home, I found myself wanting to prolong the night.
Trying to think of something else to say, I swallowed my pride. “You were right about the song.”
Wyatt’s grin turned electric, his perfect white teeth glowing in the moonlight. “I’m sorry, can you say that again?”
I shoved his arm. “Don’t ruin the moment.”
“I can’t help it. This is momentous! I was right!” he shouted.
I covered his mouth. “Shhh! You’re going to wake up the whole neighborhood.”
“I’ll wake up the world if it means you’re going to record with me tomorrow,” he said, trying to speak around my hand.
“I am, but only if you keep your voice down.”
He laughed and pulled my hand away from his mouth, placing it on his chest instead. I could feel his heart thumping beneath it. Wyatt placed his hand over mine, his crooked grin growing. “If I only ever get to be right about one thing in my life, I’m glad it was this. You were incredible on that stage tonight, Penny Layne.” He leaned closer, his warm breath whisper-soft against my ear. “You were unforgettable.”
I shivered, my whole body buzzing to life as he placed a soft kiss on my cheek and turned to go.
“Wait,” I called after him, realizing I was still wearing his jacket. “Here,” I said, slipping it off.
Wyatt shook his head. “Keep it. It looks better on you, my little diva.”
I slipped the jacket back on wrapping my arms around myself to contain the fuzzy feeling humming in my chest. Wyatt Nash wanted me to have his jacket! It was almost as good as having his arms around me.
I watched his long legs carry him down my steps and across the yard. He was nearly jogging—or as close to jogging as his boot allowed.
“What’s the rush?” I called.
“I have a movie waiting for me,” he said as he stood next to Scarlet, the door already open.
“So, you like it?”
“That depends.”
“On what?” I asked.
“Whether the hero gets the girl.”
I grinned. “Well, I’m not going to ruin it for you.”
He winked. “Goodnight, Penny Layne.”
“Will you text me, so I know you got home safely?”
He winked. “I could get used to you worrying about me, you know?”
I laughed. “Goodnight.”
I practically floated into the house on cloud nine. Tonight had been one of the best nights of my life. I faced my fears, I sang on stage, and I loved every minute of it. I’d shared my music with the world and the world hadn’t rejected me—at least not the tiny part of it that existed at Journeys anyway.
I knew I owed Wyatt for everything I’d accomplished tonight. I never would’ve gotten on stage without him. I couldn’t explain it, but just being around him made me believe in myself. Knowing he was by my side gave me the confidence I needed to go after what I really wanted for my music.