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But now he’s here, in ripped jeans and a tee shirt, his hair a bit longer than I remember, his smile wide, that dimple in his cheek, and I lunge at him.
Wrapping my arms around his neck I glue my body to his, and instantly his arms wrap my waist as well, holding me close, his head going into my neck and breathing deep like he missed me as much as I missed him.
Impossible, I know, since he was out there living life while I rotted away, but it’s a lovely fantasy, I suppose. Riggins Greene missing me.
“God, I missed you,” he says into my neck as if hearing my thoughts, and my chest hitches as I try not to cry, something I also told myself I wouldn’t do.
He pulls away, just enough to see my face, his looking concerned before he pulls me back in, holding me closer, tighter than before.
“Stell, what’s wrong?”
“I just,” I start, sniffing into his neck. “I just really missed you.”
“I know. Me too, Stell. Felt like half of me was gone.” We stand like that for what feels like an eternity, a dangerous act considering we’re in prime position for my parents to catch us, before he steps back, grabs my hand and we start the familiar walk to his truck.
Except his fingers stay twined with mine as we walk.
“STELLA BELLA!” I hear and before I can process it, the door to Riggins’ truck is opening, Reed standing there and pulling me into his arms.
“Reed!”
“And it’s your birthday!” he shouts.
“So I hear,” I say
“And we’re headlining a tour next year!” The shock from those words settles somewhere in my gut, the surprise tearing through me, both excited and proud and terrified and sad.
They’re going to leave again.
Leave me in this town I hate when they’re not here.
“No way!” I say, my eyes moving to Riggs, now behind Reed, arms crossed on his chest, face guarded. “That’s amazing!”
“You’re coming with us, right?”
“Well, I…” I start, looking back at Riggs, who is smiling now, his dimple out. “I wouldn’t want to mess with your experience, be the annoying little sister type when you guys are being big rockstars.”
This has been my refrain for some time, ever since he left and started telling me stories from the road, ending them withI can’t wait for you to come next time. I always tell him I don't want to insert myself, to be a burden. Riggins looks to Reed with a,can you believe her bullshit?kind of way.
A deep, loud laugh comes from behind Reed, and I see Beckett with a wide, joking smile on his face,
“You’re fucking with us, right? Sometimes, I think you’re more of a part of this band than Wes is.” He pulls me into him, and my arms barely reach around his wide chest as I do. I melt a bit when I feel his lips press to the top of my head, the closest thing I have to a big brother.
“Hey!” Wes says, coming out from behind Reed’s house where I know further back a bonfire has already started.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” Beck says, and Wes just glares at him.
“Happy birthday, Stella,” Wes says, tugging me from Beck and into his arms.
“Thank you, Wes. I think you’re a vital part of Atlas Oaks, by the way.”
“See! Stella thinks I’m an important part of the band, you guys!”
“Alright, alright, let’s get inside; we’ve got a lot to do to get ready,” Beckett says.
“Get ready?” I ask as Riggins puts an arm around waist, tugging me in close. I look up at him and he looks down at me and suddenly it doesn’t feel like it did before he left. It feels… different, the way he’s looking at me.
“What, you think we could come home, and you could turn 19, and we wouldn’t throw a party for you?”
