“I think I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album once you’ve remixed all of the songs,” I told her as I glanced over. I pinched her chin between my thumb and forefinger.
Her gaze wandered toward the windshield before turning back to me again.
“I was thinking of remixing the songs and putting out the album on my own.” She paused. “Once I finish this album. Then I could releaseBroken Kissesindependently.”
Her voice held a cautious enthusiasm.
“I’ll be the first one to buy it,” I said. “And make sure to put it out on CD so I can get an autographed copy.”
Her smile widened as she sat back in her seat.
“Home sweet home,” she sang as we pulled into her driveway.
I got out and retrieved her suitcase from my trunk before opening her door for her. I trailed behind her as she searched through her shoulder bag for the key.
“Whoa,” she blurted as we entered the house. Warm air shrouded itself around us. She scrambled to input the code for the alarm while I fully entered the hot ass house. I placed her suitcase on the floor by the couch before turning back to face her.
“Did you leave the AC off?”
“I didn’t think so,” she answered, her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
It was almost as hot inside as it was outside.
“Where’s the thermostat?” I asked.
“Down the hall.” Lena pointed.
“Wait here.” I searched for the thermostat and cursed when I read that it said it was ninety-three degrees inside. I punched a few buttons. However, the screen kept reading that the air conditioner was on, but nothing was kicking on.
I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Micah. He responded after a minute and informed me that there had been a power outage the day before. It lasted a few hours, but it likely threw some shit out of whack in the house.
I rounded back up to the living room to let Lena know what Micah told me. I called a local electrician I knew, but he was booked for the remainder of the day. Lena’s place wasn’t the only home affected by the outage.
“You can’t stay here,” I told Lena.
“I’m sure it’ll kick back on soon.”
I gave her a look. “Cin, it’s ninety-three degrees in here. Your ass is not staying here.” I went over to the couch to grab her suitcase to take back out to my car.
“I guess I can get another hotel or something.”
I paused at the door. “Don’t even try that shit.” I placed her suitcase down and moved in front of her, cupping her chin between my fingers. “You’ve finally admitted to being mine. I’m not letting my woman sleep in a hotel while I have a perfectly fine bed and house.”
“You’re asking me to stay with you?”
I grunted. “Did you hear a question in what I just said?” I didn’t wait for her answer, as I went over to pick up her suitcase again.
I paused at the doorway, glancing over my shoulder. “You’ve got ten minutes to get whatever else you want to take with you.”
With that, I had Lena move into my house.
Chapter 21
Gabe
“Do you need to answer that?” Lena asked, glancing at my cell phone on the table.
It was three days after our return from New York, and we’d gone out for a late-night dinner. Lena had spent much of her day writing music, and I’d put in extra hours at the office. I reviewed each of Eli’s previous fights along with the exhibition in New York. Those two losses didn’t sit well with me.
