Page 100

Chapter 31

Jason

♪Diamonds | Ben Howard

Ibought a ring. A very, very big ring.

Chapter 32

Sloan

♪Big Jet Plane | Angus & Julia Stone

Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? Saturday Night Live is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Jason said. He talked against my lips as he kissed me goodbye on my porch. His guitar case sat next to us and his hands twined in the hair at the nape of my neck. His eyes practically smoldered.

He did this on purpose, of course, because he knew how defenseless I was when he sucked me into that vortex of his.

I had to be strong. I had too much to do.

“If you want me to be ready to leave my whole life behind in less than a week, I can’t give you three more days,” I said, nuzzling his nose with my eyes closed.

It was actually a good thing he was leaving for New York. The man was highly distracting. I couldn’t get anything done when he was home—well, nothing that required clothes, anyway.

“I’m going to miss you,” he breathed.

“I’m going to miss you too.” I kissed him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “But mostly I’m going to miss being the other woman for a few days.”

He snorted.

“I’m going to frame it,” I said. “Maybe Kristen will put it in the Christmas calendar.”

Yesterday a picture of me and Jason holding hands at Trader Joe’s ended up on the cover of the National Enquirer. JAXON WATERS CHEATS ON LOLA SIMONE! was plastered all over the front. I’d been wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap and my tattoos were covered, so only I recognized myself. But it was still really funny.

“They called me a mystery woman,” I said, smiling against his lips. “I’ve always wanted to be mysterious.”

He chuckled. “I’ve always wanted two women. This is working out for both of us.”

I hit him, and he laughed, tickling me by nibbling my neck.

It had been three days since we made up, and things between us were on a whole new level. There was no more end date. We weren’t breaking up, we were going on his tour and then moving in together. The future of our relationship was clearly laid.

And we were ridiculously in love with each other.

He’d told me everything. About Lola, the song. Why he didn’t ask me on tour earlier. Everything. And I’d listened and understood and when it was over, I felt like we were allies against the world.

Zane idled in my driveway, waiting for him. I could tell he didn’t want to leave me and it made my heart happy, but I had to be practical. “Go, you’re going to be late for your flight. Text me from the car.”

“Look at me.”

I gazed up and drowned in his blue eyes.

He put his thumb over my lips, pressing them shut. “I love you,” he said. Then he moved his thumb, kissed me swiftly, and jogged down the steps with his guitar before I could reply.

My heart could barely take it. I don’t think I could ever get used to him saying that. I leaned on the door frame, Tucker at my feet, and watched Jason get into the car, smiling. I blew him a kiss as they pulled out of the driveway and my cell phone pinged with a text message from him before Zane’s Tesla cleared the end of the block.

Jason:I miss you already.

Ping.