horses too, because we have stables. And Piper wants goats for some reason.” She rolls her eyes and I look over at Piper.
“Have you seen them dressed up in pajamas? It’s adorable! I don’t know who wouldn’t want them!”
I look over at Cal. “You’re going to have your hands full.”
He nods and his eyes go wide. “Don’t I know it,” he says, tipping back his drink.
The band takes the stage again and just like that, the girls are back up and dancing. Calvin goes to dance with his wife and Preston joins his. I’m now sitting all alone and feeling a bit left out. I guess I’d better get used to it. It’s going to be this way as long as I’m with Luna, and it will be this way after she leaves.
I look up and her eyes lock on mine. She smiles and winks, licking her lips before belting out another verse. She’s so beautiful up there that it steals the air from my lungs. Suddenly, it doesn’t matter how alone I’m feeling right now, because I know that later tonight, I won’t be feeling this way. She’ll fix it all.
Nine
Luna
The band is on fire tonight and the crowd is eating it up. I’m absorbing their energy and using it to fuel the music. I sing every last song in our repertoire, and by the time we’re wrapping up, my fingertips are numb from sliding across the strings of my guitar. I say goodbye to the crowd and make my way backstage to grab my things.
“Luna. Drink?” Van asks.
I grab my purse and pull it over my shoulder. “Not tonight. I have to work at the store tomorrow, followed by a guitar lesson. Plus I’ve been working on a song and the next line is itching to get out.”
“A new song, huh? What’s it about?”
I shrug. “It’s not for the band. It’s just something that’s bugging me and needs to get out of my head. I’ll catch up with you at the label tomorrow?”
“Yeah, sure,” he agrees as I brush past him.
I make my way outside. I turn to the right then to the left, looking for Daniel, but maybe he hasn’t come out yet. I don’t want to walk inside for fear of running into Van, so I cross my arms over my chest to wait. Moments later, Daniel’s car comes to a stop in front of me. The passenger-side window is rolled down and he dips his head to look out it. “Need a ride?”
I smile and climb into the passenger seat. The moment the door closes, he hits the gas and we’re zooming off through the night. He takes my hand in his as he drives us to his apartment. Until last night, I’d never been to his place, but it’s nice and quiet and I know we’re safe there. The guys don’t know where he lives, so I don’t have to worry about them randomly showing up and catching us off guard.
He parks the car in the garage and we both get out and walk up to the elevator hand in hand.
“You hungry? I can order dinner.”
“I could eat,” I agree. “I’m in serious need of a shower after that show though.”
The doors open and he leads me inside. “You can get a shower and I’ll order us something to eat.” He pulls me closer, his lips softly brushing against mine. We finish our journey to his apartment and he unlocks the door, allowing me to walk in ahead of him. I shrug out of my coat and hang it up by the door, then head through the living room and his bedroom to the connected bathroom. I start stripping out of my clothes as the water warms.
He sticks his head into the bathroom with a stack of takeout menus in hand. He sees me half-naked and smiles. “Anything specific you want?”
I shrug. “Surprise me,” I reply, lifting my shirt above my head.
He tosses the menus over his shoulder as he stalks toward me. He pulls me against his chest and his mouth finds mine. He kisses me hard and fast, and when I try pulling away, his mouth just descends my body, kissing my jaw and neck, then moving down to my breasts.
I playfully push him back. “Oh no, I need a shower and food before any fuckery.”
I slip out of his arms and slide into the shower.
“Fine, I’ll order food,” he says, picking up the menus and leaving me alone in the bathroom.