Her forehead wrinkled. “Can’t or won’t?”
“Both,” I admitted. “I kind of promised Gabe he’d be the first one to hear all of my songs. I haven’t played anything for him yet.”
A slow, knowing grin started to spread over Jodi’s face. “What’s the title of the song, at least?”
“Confused.”
“Hm.” She looked upward as if she were contemplating something. “You’re confused about your feelings for Gabe?”
I nodded. “Pretty much. Everything with him feels so damn intense. Like colors are brighter, the sun sits a little higher in the sky, smells are more potent. Did I tell you he took me on a hot air balloon date?”
“You did.”
“Yeah, and I’m terrified of freaking heights.” Sighing, I shook my head. “I feel like I’m in new territory.” I snapped my fingers. “Oh, that’s a good title.” I retrieved my pen and notebook from my bag, quickly writing down those two words ‘new territory’ and scribbling a few lines that popped into my mind before I lost them.
“Sorry.” I bit my lip, giving Jodi a sheepish look. “I kind of get anxious that if I don’t write a title or line down as soon as it comes to mind, I’ll forget it forever.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry about me. Shit, the way I’ve been experiencing pregnancy brain, I need to start carrying a notebook around.”
We both laughed.
“I’m glad to see you’re writing again, though. You look excited. A lot different than the demeanor I saw when you first arrived in Texas.” She paused and gave me a considering look. “Hell, to be honest, you look a lot happier than I can ever remember seeing you, save for when you’re performing.”
I shook my head and stared down at my shoulder bag. I couldn’t look Jodi in the eye because she studied me too intently. I wondered what she saw but didn’t want to ask.
“Anyway, how did you leave things with Gabe?” she asked.
I shrugged. “We’re fine, I guess.”
“You guess? Does he know you’re over here?”
I wrinkled my forehead. “No, why?” As soon as the question was out, a banging sounded on Jodi and Micah’s front door.
“That’s why.” She laughed as she got up from the couch. She waved for me to follow her.
My eyes widened in surprise to find Gabriel standing on the other side.
“I have a key, but I thought I’d respect your home by knocking first,” he said to Jodi.
“’Preciate that,” she responded.
“Is she here?” he asked.
Jodi laughed and shook her head. “If she wasn’t, I might’ve cursed your ass out for banging on my door like that,” Jodi said as she stepped aside, opening the door even more.
Gabe’s eyes landed on me and narrowed. “You weren’t home.”
His voice was so deep and full of emotion that I couldn’t identify. But it was the word home that almost had my knees buckling. It sounded so right. As if with him indeed was my home.
I swallowed as he entered the house. Before I could say anything, the sound of another car pulling into the driveway caught my attention.
“Looks like mine is home, too,” Jodi said.
Gabe stepped forward and took my face into his hands. He stared down into my eyes, searching. He didn’t say anything.
I lifted onto my tiptoes and brushed my lips across his. “I believe you,” I whispered, low enough for only him to hear me.
His lips tightened, but he leaned in, kissing me deeper. I quickly lost my balance and had to hold onto his shoulders to keep steady, lest the intensity of his kiss knock me over.
