“We’re a new punk rock girl group,” Ella said without missing a beat. “Josie and The Hostile Pussycats.”
I snorted, and Cash nearly choked on his coffee.
“Oh my God!” the mermaid squealed. “I’ll look you guys up on Spotify.”
“Thanks, ladies.” Dallas laughed as the two girls scampered off into the crowd.
“Josie and the Hostile Pussycats? Really?” I swatted Ella’s arm.
“Ow!” Ella recoiled. “Fine, you can be Josie.”
Dallas sneezed, narrowly avoiding spilling his drink.
“You okay, Dal?” I asked. I started digging through my purse until I found my mini-pack of tissues, passing them to him.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks,” he said. “I think I’m just a little run down from the tour. I’m sure I’ll be good as new in a few days.”
Jax put his arm around me, rubbing my arms to warm me. Ella flashed me a knowing smile, and I took a deep breath, Jax’s delicious scent mixing with the sweet smell of the coffee. I allowed myself to rest my head on his shoulder, vaguely aware of the conversation the others were having beside us. The band began to play a slow melody, a twangy version of an Ed Sheeran song.
Jax kissed the top of my head and softly sang the words in my ear, causing my insides to turn to mush.
Without thinking, I covered his hand with my own, our fingers intertwining for one sweet moment. Maybe Jax and I were a bad idea, but I had to admit, I loved this song.
“Okay, how does this feel for the second verse?” I looked down at the notebook I’d been writing in as I strummed the guitar in a slow, melancholy rhythm and began to sing. “I wonder if you ever wonder about the man that I’ve become. If you ever think about the dreams I dreamed or the battles that I’ve won.”
Jax nodded his approval. “Perfect.”
“I was thinking something like this for the chorus.” I changed keys, my eyes closing as I half-spoke, half-sang the words. “Do you think we ever look up at the same midnight sky? Do you ever think about the guy…” I pursed my lips in thought, trying to find the right words.“...do you ever miss the man…”
“You let become a stranger.” Jax finished for me, the emotion in his eyes illuminated in the soft glow of my living room. “Damn, Liv. It’s like you’re inside my head. You’re taking all these feelings I’ve had about my mom for so long and turning them into something beautiful.”
He looked at me with such intensity, I felt as though my insides might catch fire.
“I can’t explain how or why, but you understand me in a way nobody has before.” He gently brushed away a piece of hair that fell into my eyes. “It feels good to get all this out… cathartic, even. Like I can finally let go of some of this anger and hurt I’ve been holding on to for so long.”
Goosebumps rushed over my body. “I’m glad.” His eyes locked with mine, and my heart began to race, pulsating so hard I could hear it thudding in my ears. I focused on placing the guitar in its case in order to stop myself from kissing him like I had the first night we’d written together.
“What do you say we break for dinner?” I stood, motioning for him to follow me to the kitchen.
“Let me take you out,” he said, falling into step behind me.
I laughed. “We’ve existed on going out and take out all week. Let me cook for you.”
“How can I turn down an offer like that?”
“You can’t.” I tossed a smile at him over my shoulder.
“I think we should turn this into a little game,” he said as I flicked on the kitchen light. “Make it a little more interesting.”
“Uh-oh.” I started rummaging through the cabinets, plucking out everything I needed to make a pot of spaghetti. “Another round of Never Have I Ever?”
A mischievous grin spread across his face. “I had something else in mind.”
I paused for a moment and crossed my arms, leaning against the counter. “Like what?”
He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and started scrolling. “We take turns picking a song with the sole purpose of trying to make the other person dance. The first to dance to three songs loses.”
“I can take you downandmake dinner at the same time. I’ll even let you go first.”
