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I was staring at Hank hard as Drake broke away from me and headed for the stairs. He clapped his friends on the back, holding them for much longer than they would’ve ever done in the public eye. There was a bond between the three of them I was just now witnessing. A bond I had been blind to, because of dealing with my own confusion and anger over issues while under Drake’s employ. I stood there as Paul approached me from behind, his hand descending between my shoulder blades as I looked up at him.
“Ya thirsty?” he asked.
“Whatcha got?” I asked.
“Sparkling apple juice,” Elsie said.
“Then I’d love some,” I said, with a grin.
“Sparkling apple juice for everyone!” Stone said.
“I got pizzas comin’ for all of us to eat, too,” Landon said.
The smile on Drake’s face was one I would never forget. The joy in his eyes and the clarity of his words was something he would’ve never had if he had still been drinking. I smiled as my eyes studied him. Watched him interact with his bandmates and listened to him shoot the shit with people who loved him. People who cared for him.
People he trusted with the private little world he’d created for himself.
Paul handed me a sparkling apple juice as Elsie and Tammy helped hand them out. I took it from him and thanked him, then watched as he tipped his hat to me. I snickered, shaking my head as I took small sips from the plastic champagne glass. My hand migrated mindlessly to my stomach as Drake turned towards me, his eyes flickering up and down my body before he tossed me a little wink.
His little signature move that was reserved only for me.
I was standing in the middle of a place I thought I’d never be, surrounded by people I never thought I’d ever have. I was immersed in a place I called home, watching a man I would soon call my husband, surrounded by people I now considered my family. For the first time since my parents died, I felt at peace. Content.
I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, committing all of it to memory. The sounds and the smells, the laughter and the conversation. I memorized the way everyone’s voices sounded and the stories that were being tossed my way. I sipped on the sparkling apple juice as I dipped down for my purse, then made my way into the kitchen for some peace and quiet.
Then I pulled out my phone and called my boss.
“Hello, Mr. Hart. It’s Delia. Yes, I’m all right. I was calling to see if I could possibly have Monday off? Why? Well, I’m in the middle of celebrating an engagement. I wanted to surprise my—really? That’s okay? Yes sir, I’ll be into work on Tuesday. After lunch? That’s awesome. Thank you. Thank you so much. Yes, and—yes. Thank you. I’m very happy, too. I’ll see you Tuesday after lunch. Uh huh. You, too. Have a good weekend.”
“A surprise, huh?”
I jumped at the sound of Drake’s voice as he leaned against the kitchen doorway.
“Got until lunchtime Tuesday off,” I said, as I held up my cell phone.
“And uh—what did you plan on doin’ with that time?” Drake asked.
He pushed off the doorframe and started walking towards me. Stalking me, with his eyes on fire and electricity igniting the air around him.
“I don’t know. Figured I might rest. Eat. Lounge around. Take some showers.”
“Hmm. And when do you plan on—takin’ these showers?”
Drake’s arms cloaked my body, his face nuzzling into my neck as I giggled.
“Whenever you’re ready to take them, handsome,” I said, with a grin.
“You wanna take one now? We could sneak it while everyone’s occupied.”
I actually pondered the idea, thinking it over before the front door sounded out with a ferocious knock.
“Pizza’s here!” Landon said. “Come and get it!”
“Maybe after we eat,” I said.
His eyes grew dark as his hand rounded the globe of my ass. He squeezed it, shooting a jolt of heat up my spine as I gasped. His lips crashed down, encompassing mine as my back bowed and his arm supported the weight of my body against his.
I shivered, melting into him as people began to pile into the kitchen with hot pizza steaming up the place.
