My Cone and Only (King Family #1) - Susannah Nix Page 0,67

strings as I cleared my throat. “I wrote this one a few weeks ago. It’s called ‘Bright as the Sun.’”

I didn’t look at Andie as I started playing. The only way I could get through this was by hiding myself inside the music and shutting out everything else. My eyes fell closed as I sang the first verse. The words came out a little strained at first, but got smoother the farther into the song I got and the more I was able to lose myself in it. By the end, I’d almost fallen into a sort of trance. I had to shake myself out of it as I sang the last words.

My awareness snapped back to where I was with a daunting jolt, and the silence that fell in the aftermath of the final chord sucked all the courage out of me. I stared down at my fingers where they hovered over the guitar strings, afraid to look at Andie and read her reaction.

Over the nervous thumping of my heart, I heard her draw in a shaky breath. Curiosity won out over fear, and I lifted my eyes.

The awed look on her face knocked me back. She wasn’t just pleased or impressed—although she sure seemed to be both those things. She was teary. Affected enough that she had to reach up and wipe her eyes.

The woman who almost never cried had been moved to tears.

By a song I’d written.

Holy hell.

When she blinked at me, I saw every emotion I’d poured into that song reflected in her eyes. It was as if she understood exactly what I’d been feeling when I wrote it. As if she’d felt it along with me as I performed the song.

Wordlessly, she got to her feet and came over to sit on the couch next to me. She laid one hand on my shoulder and pressed the other against my cheek.

As she gazed into my eyes, something sliced through me. A beam of pure, bright energy that burned away the last of my doubt and apprehension. I knew in that moment that Andie was seeing me—all of me—in a way I’d never felt seen before.

The real wonder of it was that she liked what she saw.

She tilted her head and pressed a trembling kiss to my mouth. “That was incredible.” Her voice cracked a little, and she cleared her throat as she drew back.

A smile tugged at my lips. “So you didn’t hate it?” I might be a glutton for punishment, but I was even more of a glutton for praise. It made me want to lie on my back and roll around like a dog begging for belly rubs.

“Are you kidding?” Her cheeks turned pink as excitement animated her features. “I’m so mad at you right now!”

I stared at her in confusion. “Why?”

“Because you’ve been hiding all that talent from everyone!” I grinned as she punched me in the shoulder. “What are you doing playing other people’s music when you can write a song like that?”

“Oh. Well.” I shrugged, tongue-tied with giddiness.

“Will you play me another one?”

I licked my lips at the prospect of earning more compliments. “Um, sure.”

Andie scooted to the end of the couch, pulling her legs underneath her as she leaned against the armrest. Enthusiasm radiated off her in energizing waves.

Raking my hair out of my face, I sat up a little, repositioning my guitar across my lap. I played another song that was more up-tempo than the last, even though it was about my family. This time I stole a few glances at Andie while I was singing. The rapt expression on her face bolstered my confidence, and after that song I volunteered to sing another. And another. The more I played, the more I relaxed, and the more natural it felt to be sharing this part of me with someone.

When I’d sung six songs in total, I finally put my guitar back in its case. “That’s enough for tonight. You’ve probably got the gist by now.”

As soon as the guitar was safely out of my hands, Andie launched herself at me, pushing me back on the couch as she covered my face with kisses. My hands sank into her hair, but I couldn’t stop smiling enough to kiss her properly. This loose feeling in my chest made me feel so light I could have floated off the couch if Andie hadn’t been lying on top of me.

Propping her head on her hand, she pressed the tip of her index