Page 146 of Finding Storm

Jake chuckles. But his eyes fill with some unnamed emotion. “Don’t worry about the album,” he tells me, his voice sounding rougher than it did a moment ago. “Or your boys or anything. It’ll all be okay. Just go to Arizona, to your girl, and be happy. Okay?”

“Okay.”

And then I do something I’ve never done before. I hug Jake.

I was never what you’d call an affectionate teenager. I’d take a hug but never give one.

It was always Jake showing me affection and me taking but never giving. God, I was an asshole.

Jake stiffens in surprise at first but immediately hugs me back. And he hugs me tight.

My eyes start to sting.

“Hey! No hugging without me.” Tru jumps up from her seat and comes over, fitting herself into the hug.

And before I know it, they’re all here—JJ, Billy, and Belle—hugging me.

And I’m about to start fucking crying. For fuck’s sake.

“Okay, let’s break this up before I start crying and ruin my makeup,” Tru says. She cups my cheek and kisses it. “We’ll come to Arizona to see you real soon. I want to meet Stevie.”

They all walk me to the door. JJ giving me shit for moving to be with a girl I’ve known for a few weeks.

He doesn’t get it now. But he will when he meets his girl.

They walk out with me to my car. I hug them all again.

“Drive safely,” Tru tells me.

“I will.”

I turn to Jake. “Will you tell Tom and Den for me … that I’m moving?” It was hard enough, telling them. I don’t want to have to do it another two times.

Jake nods in understanding. “I’ll tell them. Just expect a call from Tom, either yelling because you left without saying good-bye or blubbering. Probably the latter. He’s a needy bastard like that.”

He chuckles, and so do I.

Then, I hug Jake one last time. I hug him tight.

“Love you,” I tell them all.

Then, I climb into my car to the resounding sound of, “Love you,” from them all.

Seat belt on, I start my car. I give them all one last look. Then, I put my car into drive.

Destination: Cavallis’ B&B, Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Well, not quite yet. First, I have a couple of other stops to make. I need to go and see the guys before I go.

I’ve literally just pulled out of the gates to Jake and Tru’s house when I see Raze, Cash, and Levi waiting up front. They’re all leaning up against the hood of Cash’s car. Raze’s motorbike is parked up beside it.

Bringing my car to a stop, I put her in park and get out.

“What’re you fuckers doing here?” I ask, walking over to them. “I was just coming to see you before I left for Arizona.”

“I bet he was going to your place first,” Cash says to Raze. “He’s always liked you best.”

“That’s ’cause I’m prettier than you two ugly fuckers.” Raze grins at Cash.