Page 95 of Finding Storm

Treat me the same as before.

She’s silent next to me. Which isn’t like her at all.

I mean, it’s a good thing she’s not freaking out on me, going all fangirl. But her silence is equally unnerving.

I take another drag of my cigarette. I let my words out with the smoke, “Must be bad. You’re not giving me shit about smoking.”

She laughs softly. “Oh, I’m totally gonna give you shit. I just wanted to make sure you were okay first.”

“And why wouldn’t I be okay?” I turn my eyes to her, waiting to see what she says next. A lot depends on this.

“Well, you make shit music, so …” She grins, and my fucking heart soars.

Laughter bursts from me.

Relief. Elation. What-the-fuck-ever it is, it’s because of her.

This fucking girl.

She’s amazing.

She’s everything.

I tap the ash from my cig to the pavement. “So … you’ve heard my music?”

“Christ, no. I’m guessing no tambourines, triangles, or electric synthesizers were harmed in the making?”

I chuckle. “Fuck no. Just plain old guitar, bass, and drums.”

“Ah, well, bummer for you.” She grins and bumps her shoulder against mine.

I feel that quick touch of her body against mine, like she just put her hand on my dick. Heat suffuses in my groin.

I tilt my head her way, looking at her. “So, you’re not mad that I lied … about my name?”

Her brows draw together, confusion lying between them. “Why would I be mad?”

I shrug. Another drag of my cigarette.

“If it makes you feel any better,” she says, “I had no clue who you were when Pen told me. Still kinda don’t. My sixty-six-year-old grandmother knows who you are. Me, not so much. Not sure what that says about me though.”

“It means, you’re fucking awesome.”

“Ah, well, tell me something I don’t already know.”

She grins at me, and all of my remaining tension melts away.

How does she do that? Make me feel so at ease in my own skin.

Untangle the complicated and make it seem not so messy anymore.

“I’ve gotta say though, Storm is a pretty fucking cool name. I mean, it’s no Stevie, but no one can achieve that level of awesome.”

“Thanks. I think.” I’m smiling an honest-to-God smile. And I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever smiled this way with her. Because of her.

There’s a beat of silence between us. I feel a shift in the air around us. It makes me tense because I don’t know what’s brought it on.

“Storm?”