“They sound very supportive.” I envy him for that and for the fact that he’s always known what he wanted to do with his life. “I bet they’re proud. Do they come to watch you play?”
His smile falls, and he looks away. “My mom does when she can. She’s an ER nurse, so she stays busy. But when I first started playing…yeah, they were always there.”
“And your dad? What’s he do?”
He sucks in a breath, his eyes slowly drifting back to me. The pain etched on his face is deep, and my chest tightens.
“He died a few years ago.”
I choke on my water. “Oh God. I’m so sorry.” I knew there was something strange about how he avoided talking about his dad during Christmas, but I wasn’t prepared for him to tell me that. I reach my hand across the table and stroke his. He squeezes mine back, his eyes turning cloudy.
“Car accident almost three years ago. It was hard. Fuck, it still is.”
“That’s awful.”
He gives me a sad smile. “Anyway, yeah, they were both really supportive of my dreams.”
I can tell he’s getting uncomfortable with the conversation, so I steer it away.
“How about Travis? How’d you meet?” That question has him grinning again, and the tightness in my ribs eases.
“He moved into my neighborhood when we were in elementary school. He invited himself over and pretty much never left. We both loved music, and when I got my guitar, he’d come over and listen to me play. Even when I sucked and wanted to quit, he’d push me to keep practicing. Then one day, he started singing.”
“That’s incredible.” It’s obvious they’re like brothers. Now I know why.
He tells me how they met Liam and Tanner and Loose Threads was created, and I listen intently, fascinated by the whole thing.
The waitress deposits some mozzarella sticks on our table, and he pushes them my way, letting me get first dibs.
“Once we formed the band, we all moved into Travis’s and started playing any and every gig we could. Most of them were just parties for people we knew or had heard about us from word of mouth, and we’d play in their basements and backyards for a few bucks or a case of beer.”
I interrupt him. “Wait. You all lived in that house together?”
He nods. “Yep. Four guys, and at one point, Tanner’s girlfriend was staying there, too. Eventually, it got to be too much for everyone, always in each other’s space. We were fighting constantly, so we had to split.”
“I bet you guys were wild.”
His eyes sparkle in the glow of the string lights, a smile creeping up his cheek. “Barbie, you have no idea.”
When we makeit back to my apartment, I sigh, disappointed the date’s over. I’ve been having the best night. At dinner, the conversation flowed smoothly. He asked me about Brown and crocheting and gave me his full attention while I rambled on and on about yarn and patterns. He never once appeared bored.
Chad and I dated for two years, and he didn’t ask me a single question about my hobby. He thought it was weird.
I expect him to tell me goodnight here, but he jumps out, opens my door, and walks me inside. We step on the elevator. When the doors close us in, I’m instantly aware of tension, thick and hot in the small metal box. My skin buzzes. Aware of how close we are. How good he smells.
He’s staring straight ahead, rubbing my hand with his thumb, seemingly unbothered. Meanwhile, my pulse is thundering, and my heart is beating in my ears.
The doors part, and a fresh wave of cool air hits me. I suck it in. My stomach turns with anticipation. He didn’t kiss me on New Year’s, and I was so disappointed. I’d told myself tonight I wouldn’t be shy about it. It’s just a kiss.
When we reach the door, I fumble with my keys. “I guess this is good night.”
“I guess so,” he says, stepping back and releasing my hand.
My stomach dips. He’s not going to do it. I take a breath, working up my nerve. He stares at me, waiting, a barely there grin on his lips. He probably knows what I want, but he’s going to make me say it.
I bite my lip. “Good night kiss?”
His eyebrow twitches in surprise, but he wastes no time pulling me into his chest. One hand slides to the back of my neck with a firm but gentle grip, while the other cups my cheek. Ever so slowly, he leans down and presses his lips to mine.
