Stopping in front of her, I cradled the sides of her neck in my palms and kissed her, shutting her up mid-verse.
John, on the stage, made a whooping sound mid-song.
“You came,” I said, my face hovering over hers, our lips an inch apart.
June’s eyes were ocean moons. “I choose you, too.”
I huffed a relieved laugh. “I love—”
“I want you to know,” she intercepted, “what you’re getting yourself into, Ange—”
I drowned the rest in another kiss. I missed her taste.
“Ladies and gentlemen, seems like our lead guitar is having a moment off-stage. We know you didn’t choose to attend this concert, but we’re up here, anyway, and appreciate you listening,” John rasped into the mic, mocking real bands’ lead singers.
I heard it in the background, as if coming from afar. I was too consumed by June.
“Angelo,” June said in a hear-me-out tone as soon as I let her breathe.
“Okay, give me all you’ve got,” I challenged, grinning into her face. My hands gripped her biceps as if she’d bolt. Her palms were clenched into fists, resting against my chest.
“First of all, you’ll want kids at some point.” She highlighted thefirst of allandkidsby tapping her fists on my chest.
“I wantyou.” I highlighted the last word by inching my face closer to hers.
“But you will.”
“June, you’re only forty. My mom had my youngest brothers in her forties. Besides, I want you regardless of anything else.”
“And I’m difficult, remember? I really am.” She tapped my chest again, as if ensuring I was paying attention.
“I don’t want it any other way, June the Prune. I want you as you are. And you’re not as difficult as you think you are,” I teased.
“Or as you thought I was?” She huffed a dry chuckle and looked away. “So, you love me because I’m challenging?”
I laughed, my hands now cupping both sides of her neck. “See how challenging you are? No, I love you because you’re amazing and unique, and kind and caring, and doing a shitty job at hiding it.” I grinned. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I love complex things. All my life, I uprooted myself from my circle, my comfort zone, and my country.” I brought my face closer to hers again. “Whatever you are is what I want.”
She sucked her upper lip in, a gesture that was as familiar to me now as the pink glow that I was sure spread on her chest and neck, which I couldn’t see in this light.
“Is there more? Because with those guys over there, it’s hard to hear.” I hinted with my head toward the stage at my back.
“There is.”
On the stage, John introduced the next song. “Folks, joining us is Background Noises’ rhythm guitarist and background singer, Amber … Sorry, I forgot her last name.”
June’s eyes darted toward the stage.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, our lower halves pressed together. “So, you drove all the way here just to warn me?” I drew her attention back to me. “BecauseI choose you, toois all I needed.”
“I came also because I wanted to be in your world. You’ve been in mine.” She was looking at me now.
“How did you know where to find me?”
“You weren’t home or at your workshop, so I called Jerry.”
Jerry had just gotten his sin of telling Amber where to find me expunged.
John, Davey, and the others were now maundering different chords while trying to decide what to play next.
