Page 94 of Finding Storm

“Love you!” she calls before shutting her car door. “And bang the rock star!”

I close the back door to the sound of her engine starting and car reversing off the drive, still chuckling to myself.

“So, you think Pen gave the game away?” Gran asks as I walk back into the kitchen.

I glance at the door to the dining room and sigh. “Yeah, I think she did.”

“That girl.” Gran shakes her head, smiling. “She always was overexcitable. Means no harm though.”

“No, she doesn’t,” I agree.

I wouldn’t be friends with her if she did.

“What do I do now?” I ask Gran. “Do I go in there and play it cool, wait and see if he says anything to me? Or do I just tell him I know who he is and get it over and done with?”

Gran shrugs, wiping her hands on a towel. “I’d just go in there and play it by ear.”

“Play it by ear. Right. Got it.”

I walk over to the door and pause.

I wipe my hands on my thighs, smooth my ponytail back, take a deep breath, push open the door, and walk into the dining room.

The now-empty dining room.

“Hey.” Stevie’s sweet, soft voice comes from my left.

I turn my head to look at her. “Hey.” I smile, but it’s weak as fuck.

A mix of feelings hits me in this moment. Disappointment because she knows who I am even though I knew this was coming. I guess I just didn’t want it to come so soon. I wanted a little more time. Happiness at seeing her because I’m always happy when I see Stevie. And anxiety at what’s to come.

I don’t think things will change. I don’t think she will change or treat me any differently.

But then what the fuck do I know?

I didn’t know everyone had been lying to me for years.

So, how would I know how this girl, who I’ve known for a day, is going to react toward me now? Now that she knows who I am.

And there’s no doubt in my mind she knows.

It was written as clear as day all over her friend’s face back in the dining room.

And the discomfort I saw in Stevie’s eyes as she stood beside her just confirmed it for me.

I move my eyes from her and stare across the street. I take a drag of my cigarette and let the smoke out through my nose.

Stevie comes and sits next to me on the wall outside the B&B where I parked my ass ten minutes ago. I’m also on cigarette number two. But let’s not share that with her.

She’s so damn short.

Whereas I’ve got my ass resting on the wall, legs stretched out, feet resting on the pavement, Stevie had to hop up on it, leaving her legs dangling, not touching the floor.

God, she’s so fucking cute.

Please don’t let this go to shit.

Please don’t change.