An electric current ran through my entire body. The news I needed to share, to scream. I grabbed her by the arms, unable to keep it in any longer.
“There was a scout here tonight, Mare.” My voice trembled as I spoke. “And they’re interested in me. They offered me a spot on a small tour with a few other singers. Can you fuckin’ believe it?”
Her mouth fell open as she stared at me.
“Chase,” she said. “Oh my God. That’s incredible.”
I picked her up and spun her around in my excitement. When I put her down, her face had changed.
She asked me a question that hit hard.
“What does this really mean?”
CHAPTER 31
Maryellen
Ihated myself for asking Chase that question at the bar last night. Once I quickly changed the subject back to his performance and his offer, he seemed to forget my concerns. His buzz from his night hadn’t worn off, and he kept going on about how psyched he was about his talk with the music scout backstage.
But my concerns hadn’t worn off either.
They were for me, for him, for us.
I knew he was excited. He had every right to be, it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Yet, I don’t think he had stopped to think about how it would affect any part of his future.
He was a Parker. I forgot he didn’t have to think about his future.
I watched him sleep next to me. He was peaceful and beautiful at rest. The crazy long eyelashes that curled along the top of his cheeks when his eyes were closed made me incredibly jealous. There was a sprinkle of pale freckles across his nose I had never noticed before. And of course, that damn stubble of his that somehow was always at the perfect length. My hands itched to touch it, but I didn’t want to wake him.
“It’s amazing how you can wake me just by admiring me,” he mumbled. “Your eyes literally pierce through me and stir my insides. It’s a skill.” He stifled a laugh against his pillow.
He hadn’t opened his eyes yet. I reached over, encasing his body with mine while still under the covers.
“Mmm,” he hummed against my arm. “You feel amazing. Your skin is so warm.”
He spun toward me, our bodies flush against each other, as his eyes slowly opened. In the morning light, the green speckles of his dark irises were brighter.
“Morning,” I said. “A girl could get used to this, ya know. Waking up in your arms is quite addictive.”
He nuzzled his head into the crook of my shoulder, avoiding the light streaming in his face from the open curtains. “Why are the shades open?”
“You don’t like the morning sun? I love knowing it’s a new day.”
His head shook against my chest. “Nope, I’d rather my watch tell me it’s a new day, especially on a weekend. It’s so bright. As far as you waking up in my arms…” He pulled away and looked up at me. “It could be arranged on a daily basis, if you wanted.”
I tried to hide my stunned face, since the proposition was one I wasn’t expecting.
The only logical thing to do was to change the subject back to him.
“Tell me more about this offer the scout made. Is it like a weekend thing around here, in the city?”
Now it was his turn to go quiet. He pulled himself up to sit against the headboard and refused to look at me.
The tables had turned.
Reaching out, I pulled on his chin and forced him to look at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
