Who else has clouded your skies?
I’m too selfish to hold back,
The indecision that I lack,
Your pain met mine, and I came undone.
All these things I would become.
Kissed me through the clinic doors,
Loved you just a little more.
I’m swimming, let the water take me.
Show me all of you I’ve yet to see.”
My jaw trembles as I bring my eyes up from the notebook to him—I didn’t want to miss a single moment by getting lost in his face. Warren plucks a few final notes, the song slowing as it comes to an end as he repeats the chorus. I wipe a tear off my cheek and shake my head slowly in happy disbelief.
Whatever magic this evening holds is tangible. I wish I could bottle it.
Warren doesn’t look up as he rests the guitar beside him on the stage. He closes the notebook in front of him, keeping his eyes on the floor.
I will never be able to convey the way this moment has undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my life. Not to Lane and Emily, not to Willow, maybe not even to Warren. If there was any doubt before, I know for certain now that he has my whole heart. I won’t be bold enough to ask for it back.
“Warren, I don’t know what to say. I loved it.” I throw my arms around his neck, leaning on my knees in front of him. “It was perfect. This night was perfect. Thank you.” I kiss his cheek, and he guides me into his lap with hands on my hips.
“Not too cheesy?” Warren speaks into my hair.
“Oh, so cheesy. Unbelievably cheesy. But I love it… I can’t believe you wrote me a song.” I sit across his lap, and he tilts my chin up with his thumb and fist.
“I’ll write you a thousand crappy songs if you want.” He kisses my bottom lip swiftly.
“Not crappy. Not even a little. I love you. Far too much. It is worrying, honestly.”
He laughs as he tucks a curl behind my ear. “I love you too, dove.” He pauses, focusing on the hair he holds between his fingers. “Last first date?” he asks, eyes heavy and sincere.
I don’t hesitate for even a second. “Yes.” There is a bigger promise there, and I’m completely fine with it. “Let’s go home.” I bring a hand along his jaw and kiss him.
“Yes,” he repeats eagerly.
I stand and offer a hand to pull him up. He walks the guitar back, picks up his backpack, and leads us to the exit in pitch black. Then, it’s as if we hadn’t been here at all. This stage might not even exist soon. The moment is ours, existing now solely in our shared memories. It’s so much more precious this way.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
As soon as the elevator doors shut, Warren pulls my back to his front, guiding us into the corner next to the buttons. I look up at him over my shoulder and spot the camera pointing out above our heads. He moved us out of view.
“Warren, what are—”
He interrupts me by wrapping his arm around my hips, using a firm hand on my stomach to pull me closer against his body. His other hand comes over my shoulder, the back of his fingers trailing down my neck, collarbone, then down to the edge of my dress. He brushes the velvet edge and uncurls his hand, sliding it into my bra, rough hands finding my bare breast.
I press the back of my head into his chest as his hand plays with my nipple, hard and aching between his thumb and finger.
I moan, raising my hand to the back of his neck so I can hold myself steady as I tremble from wanting. A string of kisses is placed behind my ear as the elevator door chimes, opening to our empty floor.
Warren slides his hand out and twists me around to face him. He kisses me so deeply I forget where we are until the doors shut and the elevator starts moving again.
“We missed our stop,” I say, inches from his mouth. He licks my top lip and brings me back for more. I giggle as shivers run up and down my body. “Hey, wait… Someone might be getting on.”
