Now what?
My brain scrambles for something to say.
I don’t know what to do with my hands. Or my face.
Desperation kicks in, and I stick out my tongue, cross my eyes, and cant my head to the side.
Chase blinks like I’ve been possessed by a five-year-old child.
I maintain the ridiculous expression and extend my right leg until it’s horizontal, then stretch it skyward, as vertical as my flexibility will allow. Balance is on my side, and I hold the position.
A beat.
Then, finally—beautifully—he laughs. A genuine burst of amusement.
“Jesus,” he says, grinning wide, showcasing a row of perfect white teeth, looking as stunning as I’ve ever seen him.
Dropping my leg, my face unfurls into a bright smile to match. “There it is.”
“What, a smile?” His eyes gleam against the lamplight. “It doesn’t take a circus act to get me to smile, Annie.”
“I don’t know. It felt like extreme measures needed to be taken.”
A slight headshake. “You smile, I smile. It’s as simple as that.”
His words are a shimmer-dusted arrow to my heart.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and glance down at the floor. “Yeah. I guess I haven’t been doing that much lately.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Chase winds around me and takes a seat at the edge of the bed. “Any contact with Alex?”
My heart stutters. “He texted me in the beginning. A lot. But it’s been radio silence since the tour began.” I swallow, watching his muscles ripple and flex as he leans back on one hand. “He’s in Thailand now.”
“Thailand?”
“We were supposed to go together. I figured he’d cancel the trip, but some pictures popped up on Instagram. Bangkok, Chiang Mai. He looked happy.”
He hesitates. “Are you?”
I chew on my cheek, then offer a small nod. “Yeah. I’m happy.”
Stormy hazel eyes roll over me, toes to top. I’m not convinced he believes me.
But I’m telling the truth. I’m happy. On cloud nine.
Finally, fully alive.
And as soon as I can forgive myself, the peace will come too.
Chase clears his throat. “You can use the bathroom to change. Then we can order food, watch TV. Whatever you want.”
“I think I want to pass out if that’s cool.”
He glances at the time: 10:23 p.m. “It’s early for you.”
“The travel and performance highs are catching up to me.”
“I get it,” he says. “Tomorrow’s a big day.”
