Page 112 of Finding Storm

I might not know where this thing between us is going.

Her life is here. Mine is in LA.

But I do know how I feel about her. And she feels an awful lot like she’s mine.

Beck sighs and pockets the money. “Fine. I’m taking you on your word. Stevie is sweet and trusting. She comes off as tough, but she’s not. Not really. She hurts. And if she hurts, I hurt whoever made her cry. So, you ever do anything, on purpose or not, and I will beat the crap out of you. And I’ll also stuff this money where the sun don’t fucking shine.”

Nodding, I say, “I accept that.”

Because if someone ever hurt Belle, purposefully or not, I’d do the exact same.

The back door bangs open. I turn to see Stevie. My face breaks out into a big smile at the sight of her, and I was just with her literally minutes ago.

I’m so screwed.

“You got your car back then.” She’s smiling back at me, but it’s missing that Stevie spark. It has been since the conversation of my car being fixed came up.

We were living in a bubble until that point.

Now, my car being back and working has put an end date on this thing between us. But I really don’t want there to be an end date. I just can’t figure out how to keep Stevie and go back to LA. And I have to go back for the guys. We made a pact in the beginning. If one of us goes, we all go.

There’s no Slater Raze without the four of us.

And I’ve been writing songs since I got here, and I haven’t written anything decent in a long time.

It’s because of Stevie. She fucking inspires me.

And this is different material. Really good music.

The boys will love it.

But for them to hear it, I have to go home, and right now, that feels hard to do.

But I know I have to leave here at some point.

I love the guys, the music. So do Levi and Cash.

But we could go on without it.

Raze couldn’t. The band is his life.

And he’s my best friend.

So, I have to return there.

I just don’t know how to do it. Go back to LA and keep Stevie. I don’t know how to get everything I want.

But right now, I have her, and I’m going to make the most of it.

I grab hold of her around the waist. Swinging her around, I plant a kiss on her lips.

Beck mutters something about, “Don’t need to see this shit,” and disappears inside the house.

“Come for a drive with me?” I say, pressing individual kisses to her mouth.

“You’re offering to drive me?” She blinks dramatically, and I chuckle.

Stevie has been driving me everywhere since my car has been out of service.