my favorite person in the world.
“So.” Braden smirked. “Movie? Lunch? Vision board?”
“Hey, you owe me two more things on your board.”
“Come here.” He motioned, then drew a heart on his board and put an arrow through it. Then he wrote love. He jotted down a few of the lyrics from his new song. “Done.”
Tears filled my eyes. “You know you’re pretty romantic for a redhead.”
“I’m insulted.” He put a hand to his chest. “Hair has nothing to do with romance. Everyone knows it’s about the six-pack.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let it go.”
“I’m not Elsa. Sorry, not sorry.”
I burst out laughing. “All right, let’s go, Romeo. You still have work to do.”
“Work?”
“Write.” I grinned. “And I’ll job search.”
He hesitated. “Job search?”
“I can’t live here forever,” I joked. “I mean, that’s crazy. I need a job, I’m sure something will pop up in LA.”
His face fell. “Yeah, you’re really talented.” His smile returned but it was different. “I believe in you.”
“Thanks, Braden.”
“If I finish another song, can I lick your—?”
I threw a pillow at him.
“Hey! I was going to say hand!”
“Lies,” I deadpanned.
“Fine, I was going to say something way more…pink. Aw, you’re blushing, how adorable.”
“Braden,” I warned.
“Fine.” He offered a shrug as if to show he didn’t care. “But when I finish my song, I get rewarded, right?”
I tilted my head. “You want me to make you a cake?”
“Um, depends. Are you popping out of it naked?”
“Nah, too messy.”
“Well damn, there goes that fantasy.”
“I’m a crusher of dreams.”
“False.” He grinned. “You’re the starring role in mine.”
I didn’t know what to say. When I realized I had rolled my lips inward, I forced myself to relax.
He gave me another sly smile. “I get to kiss something. Promise.”
“Promise.”
“And, Piper?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s going to be about you.”
“What is?” I said, curiosity piqued.
“My new song.”
My jaw dropped. “Braden, you don’t have to—”
“I can’t help that you inspire me. Now go job search, and I’ll write about this sexy girl in a pantsuit.”
“Sounds kind of anal.”
“Hey, that’s an—”
“Out!” I pointed to the door.
His laughter followed him the entire way to his bedroom.
Chapter Thirteen
Braden
I’d never had a partner before, at least not the sort who took care of me the way Piper did. She randomly dropped off a sandwich when I was writing in my room. Minutes later, a Coke Zero was set on my desk. Hours after that, she came in with another snack and asked how I was doing. All I kept thinking, while my heart was panicking, was how did I ask her to stay without making it weird?
I was torn between trying to write music and attempting to figure out ways to make her stay.
It was more than a crush to me.
More than a one-night, or technically, a multiple-orgasm stand.
I just wanted her, but how did you tell a girl you’d only known a little over a week that you wanted her to stay with you?
I sure as hell couldn’t ask her to move in unless I played it cool. Like she could stay with me until she found something solid. But then once she did find something solid, she’d leave.
And asking her to be my roommate meant she’d want to pay me, and that just made me want to fight.
And then there was the tour.
I was technically supposed to be on it in less than ten days if things went well.
Which meant no more Piper, no more laughter, no more sandwiches. And damn, the woman made a good sandwich; she always put in extra mustard like she knew it was all I wanted.
I sighed when my text alert went off.
Mom: You doing okay?
Me: If falling for a beautiful girl and plotting world domination is okay, then yes?
Mom: You already dominate my world.
Me: I’m blushing.
Mom: I miss you.
Me: I miss you too. I promise I really am doing okay. I just really like this girl, and she may be leaving. I know kidnapping’s illegal, but…
Mom: Ha. Don’t end up on the evening news. And if you like her, you could always just…ask.
Me: Ask?
Mom: Ask her to stay. Sometimes the simplest way is the best way.
Me: Ugh. How did you get so smart?
Mom: I’m a mom, it’s in the job description. Tell her how you feel. Honest moments are the best ones, the ones you want to keep, the ones that mean the most.
Me: I love you so much.
Mom: I know.
Me: Arrogance becomes you.
Mom: Says the guy who flashes his six-pack on a regular basis on stage.
Me: It’s in the job description.
Mom: Cute. Can we facetime