ping-pong table.
After Keane wins, we start again. But before our second game is over, Dax holds up his phone and says he’s been advised it’s now his turn to assume the large stage in Reed’s living room, along with his choice of musicians.
The three Goats powwow to figure out which friends they want to invite onstage with them as part of their “supergroup.” When they’re done, our large group meanders toward the house—with Fish and me, yet again, holding hands.
“Don’t judge this performance too harshly,” Fish says. “This is just gonna be a sloppy jam session with no prior rehearsals.”
I look at him and pointedly roll my eyes. “Your sloppiest jam session will undoubtedly be the best thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”
We make it into Reed’s large living room, and Fish pointedly leads me to the front of the stage. “Watch the show from here, okay? I want to be able to look down while I’m playing and see you.”
“I’ll be here.”
As he strides away he shouts, “See you on the flip side, cutie!”
And I reply with an enthusiastic, “Break a leg, Matthew!” That’s what I’ve yelled at his retreating form in a weird, high-pitched, giddy voice. But what I’m thinking as I watch his cute butt and perfect shaggy hair gliding away is: Holy shit.
It’s official. Matthew Fishberger is a swoon factory. A smoke show. A stone-cold fox.
Or, I suppose . . . a rock star.
As I watch Fish performing with his band and an array of guest musicians and vocalists—including Aloha and 2Real!—I feel the need to change my panties. Even among the megawatt stars surrounding Fish on that stage, he’s a star. Mesmerizing. Drool inducing. Panty melting. Glorious.
I love every subtle nod of Fish’s head and shake of his sexy hips as he masterfully plays his instrument. I love the way he sings the most tasteful, perfect harmonies. The way his tattooed forearms flex as he manipulates the strings of his bass. I love the way his lips rub against that mic, making me imagine what it’d be like to kiss him. And last but not least, I’m losing my mind over those beaming, heated smiles he keeps sending me throughout his performance.
I’m standing at the foot of the stage, as directed, immediately underneath Fish, dancing and singing with Georgina and her new gaggle of friends—Kat, Violet, and a few more—and, through it all, I feel like I’ve been transported to another dimension. A dream world. A perfect fantasy.
Unfortunately, though, all good things must come to an end. Much too soon for my taste, the group ends their short set, making the crowd cheer like crazy and then converge on the band as they descend from the stage. I’m expecting Fish to stop and take a moment to chat with the partygoers who’ve crowded him and his friends—to revel in the praise he so rightly deserves. But, no. The minute Fish steps off the stage, he bolts from his adoring friends and beelines straight to me.
As he closes in on me, he opens his arms, inviting me to hug him, and, without hesitation, I do. Indeed, I fling myself into his waiting arms like a missile, and he wraps me in a warm embrace. As I crumple into his chest, I babble stupidly about how amazing that performance was. How talented and charismatic he is. How good he smells. I blurt, “This is the best day of my life.”
“What?” Fish says, not catching my words in the noisy room.
I look up from his chest and realize what I just said. “I . . . said I’m having a blast.”
He smiles. “Me, too.”
We stare at each other for a moment, heat coursing between us. Attraction. Electricity. His eyes drift to my lips, and I can’t help thinking, “He’s finally going to kiss me!” It’s what I’ve been dying for him to do since we walked away from the ping-pong table earlier.
But, no.
Despite the fact that I’m nonverbally screaming at him to kiss my lips, Fish leans down and softly kisses my cheek. Which isn’t a terrible thing, for sure. In fact, when his lips meet my skin, every nerve ending between my legs jolts with extreme arousal. But I can’t deny I want more.
Fish presses his lips against my ear, in order to be heard above the dance music that’s suddenly piping through overhead speakers, and my body jolts at the intimacy of his voice in my ear. “I can’t tell you how amazing it felt