Lead (Stage Dive, #3)(99)
“I love you too,” I sniffed, any chance at decorum long gone.
He shook and I shook, and I’m not even certain how we stayed upright and intact. We clung together, swaying on the dance floor while the band belted out a classic love song by none other than guess what band?
“Christ,” he muttered. “We need to get out of here. That guy can’t do me for shit.”
At which point I lost it, laughing my ass off.
Life. What could you do?
Jimmy fit his mouth to mine and all humor fled, replaced by raw hunger. God, I’d missed him. It might have been only a couple of days but it felt like forever. The taste and feel of him, the scent of his skin. Each and every thing about him, both the good and the bad. His tongue slipped into my mouth and my eyes basically rolled back in my head. Heaven. We made out like we were alone and not being perved on by a hundred or so guests at a wedding. I kissed him good and hard until my lips lost all feeling and my brain turned dizzy oxygen starved circles inside my head.
“You really love me?” I asked again, as he rested his forehead against mine.
He grunted.
“Say it.”
A rare smile. “I love you, Lena.”
“About f*cking time, Jimmy.” I grinned.
He laughed, then kissed me some more.
And that’s the story of how my sister married my idiot ex-boyfriend while I went home with the most beautiful man on the planet, Jimmy Ferris, the lead singer from Stage Dive.
EPILOGUE
What was meant to be an engagement party for Mal and Anne had degenerated into some sort of bizarre hedonistic musical bacchanalia. Instruments, gifts, vegetable pizzas, and drinks were strewn here there and everywhere. The happy couple had disappeared into one of David and Ev’s spare bedrooms a while back. Killer the puppy was chasing Ben the bass player through the condo while Lizzy lay on the couch laughing.
It was pretty funny given the size differences.
Jimmy and David were playing guitar while Jimmy sang “Ain’t No Sunshine,” the sad old Bill Withers song. I sat on the floor opposite, snapping off pictures of him on the Nikon. My boyfriend, the most fascinating of subjects. And god save my panties when he went into crooning mode, because they never stood a chance.
He’d finally dared confide in his brother about learning to play guitar. David had been nothing but supportive, helping him practice songs. They’d been talking about the chances of Jimmy playing some rhythm guitar, back up his brother during the upcoming tour. He seemed more confident in his role, happier with having more to offer the band.
“All good?” asked Ev, hanging out on the floor beside me.
“Very good. And you?”
She smiled. “Just swell, thank you for asking.”
Over by the balcony doors, Nate and Lauren were slow dancing, lost in each other. Ah, love. So lovely and shit. The world was a glorious place.
“We going to be planning your and Jimmy’s wedding next?” Ev sucked down some of her beer.
“Nah, I don’t think so. We’re good as is.”
“We’re what?” asked Jimmy, the song having finished. He held out a hand to me and I waddled over on my knees. All the grace.
“Ev asked if we were getting married next.” I carefully placed my camera on the coffee table before climbing onto his lap. That he wanted me there, all over him, was both a duty and a privilege. Well, mostly a privilege.
“You wanna?” he asked, cocking his head.
“Someday.”
“Sounds good.”
“Jimmy.” I leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “I think I just came.”
One hand slid into my hair while the other grabbed hold of my hip. “Did you?”
“I mention a one day major commitment and you’re cool with it. I feel like I can have whatever I want with you these days. It’s starting to make me a little overexcited.”
He turned his head, kissing me gently on the lips. “I like you over excited. Keeps things interesting.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.”
He nipped at my bottom lip.
I grinned, ducking back to evade his teasing teeth.
“Animal.” I laughed.
“Yeah. I am. That a problem?”
My fingers slipped into his hair. “Nope. I like you as is.”
“Love you, Lena,” he said. He said it all the time to me these days. I never needed to doubt. My things had been moved directly into his bedroom upon our return and Jimmy had set about letting it be known far and wide that we were together. I didn’t eavesdrop in on his conversation with Liv Anders when he broke the news to her. I trusted him. After the way he’d taken off from LA to get to my sister’s wedding in time, she apparently hadn’t been surprised.
She had my sympathy. I knew what it was like to love him and lose him.
But I wouldn’t be giving him back.
Amidst much laughter and puppy barking, Mal and Anne finally emerged from the bedroom. Anne’s face was flushed and Mal was still putting his rhinestone-covered, white satin, Elvis-style jacket back on. My mind was still coming to grips with exactly why he’d felt the need to wear it. Obviously the whole wedding in Vegas idea had been embraced wholeheartedly and then some.
“The king lives!” He cried, hands high above his head. “So, Benny boy.”