The Girl in the Love Song (Lost Boys #1)(79)
Tonight, I wanted to show him that trust. To show him my body, to feel our skin touch in a hundred places
We don’t have to have sex for me to show him that I’m his.
The night was warm and my window already open. Miller crawled through and hopped down off my desk.
“Hi, you,” I said, my voice a little breathy.
He froze when he saw me. His blue eyes were liquid and soft, drinking me in. “God, you look so beautiful…” he said and then covered his face with one hand. His shoulders began to shake.
I hurried to him. “Miller? Hey…”
Wordlessly, he folded me into his embrace and pressed his face to my neck. Hot tears were absorbed in my skin as I held him tightly and stroked his hair.
After a while, he pulled back and turned away, wiping his cheeks in the crook of his arm.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I said softly, my heart bracing itself. “What happened?”
“A record exec wants to meet with me,” he said gruffly. “In Los Angeles.”
I stared, my jaw falling open. My hands flew to my chest. “Oh my God… Oh my God, Miller, are you serious?”
“Gold Line Records contacted Evelyn through her vlog.” He shook his head, disbelieving. “They’re even going to pay for the flight and hotel.”
God, my heart was breaking for him, even as it soared with joy. He suddenly looked like a little boy, wanting the new life that has been offered to him but not yet letting himself believe it was his.
“Of course, they will,” I said, my throat thick. “I knew this would happen for you. I knew it.”
“I didn’t. I still don’t. It doesn’t feel real.”
I took his face in my hands. His beautiful eyes were a salty storm of hope and fear, searching mine for the truth.
“It’s real,” I said. “This is the first step. Your big break.”
I could see him struggle. “This doesn’t happen to guys like me, Vi. I’m going to screw it up. Or they’ll take one look at me and realize they’ve made a mistake.”
“They won’t,” I said as a sharp prick of anger at his father bit me. For leaving his beautiful son and condemning him to a lifetime of uncertainty. “This doesn’t happen to just anyone. But you have a gift, Miller. They’re going to hear you and they’re going to love you. Just like everyone else.”
Just like I do.
Miller was quiet for a few seconds, then sniffed a laugh. “God, I’m a fucking mess.” He looked up at me, a faint smile touching his lips for the first time. “Come here,” he said as he pulled me in close again and held me tight. “I knew if I told you, it wouldn’t seem so fucking crazy.”
“It is crazy,” I said, laughter bursting out of me. “It’s out-of-this-world-level crazy, but I’m so happy for you. And you can be happy, too. Okay?”
He heaved a steadying breath. “I guess. It’s just…a lot. I’m freaking exhausted.”
“You look it,” I said, brushing the hair out of his eyes. “You want to sleep with me?”
Miller smirked. “That’s a loaded question.”
I grinned and tugged him to the bed with both hands. “I meant to just sleep. Although I’m flexible on that point.”
He laughed tiredly as he kicked off his boots. We lay down face to face, our hands entwined, our gazes roaming and tracing and memorizing.
“Who else knows about this?” I asked. “Did you tell your mom?”
He nodded. “She didn’t believe it either. Not really.” His eyes darkened. “Chet—that asshole—is hurting her.”
“Oh shit,” I breathed. “Oh no. God…what can we do?”
“He’s gone until tomorrow, but I’m going to have to stay home most nights from now on.”
“To protect her.”
He nodded.
“God, Miller, please be careful.”
“I will. If he tries anything, I’ll have his ass arrested since Mom won’t. But I’ll be in LA for two days and she’ll be alone.”
“You’ll come back with a record contract and kick his ass out for good.”
“That’s the plan, impossible as it seems.” Miller’s eyes widened. “Oh, shit. June 4th is your birthday.”
“Last I checked,” I said, grinning. “And it’s Prom too, as a matter of fact. Which reminds me, I know I promised River, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all go in a group…”
Miller was shaking his head against the pillow. “That’s the weekend of that meeting. Damn, I don’t want to miss your birthday.”
“Neither do I, for multiple reasons,” I said with what I hoped was a seductive smile. “But you have an excuse. The best excuse. Overkill, really. Most guys would’ve come up with something less outlandish than a record deal with Gold Line Records.”
“I don’t have a deal. Not yet. I don’t know what’s going to come of this, if anything, but I’m going to take care of Mom. And you.”
“You don’t need to—”
He silenced me with a soft kiss and then rested his head heavily on the pillow. “I will. Don’t argue with me, Vi,” he mumbled with a smile, his eyes falling shut. “Too tired.”