Page 81 of Color of Love
“Oh yeah?” he asked.
“Dale’s back,” Dean muttered, putting his beer bottle down on the bar with more force than was necessary.
Shit. “Want me to pay him a not so friendly visit?” Blake asked Taylor.
“Not yet, he didn’t do anything really. He just showed up with a buddy, had a drink and left.” She shrugged nonchalantly, but the tightness in her jaw suggested she was more worried than she was letting on.
“Call me next time he turns up and I’ll swing by, just to let him know I’m around and keeping an eye on you, I’ll make my presence known.”
“Thanks, B,” she said and squeezed his hand before turning away and grabbing the microphone.
“There’s something bugging her, she won’t let me in,” Dean said quietly, his brows drawn in concern.
“She’s just a private person and probably wouldn’t want you to worry. We’ll keep her safe, try not to worry about it, man.” Blake clapped Dean’s back and Dean nodded.
Taylor announced Justine’s performance and a roar of cheers, applause and whistles went around the room, with Blake cheering the loudest. He watched his love take the stage and settle on her stool.
Christy and Dean tried to drag him towards the front of the stage, along with the rest of the crowd, but he stayed back at the bar with Taylor. Just because he was better with crowds didn’t mean he wanted to tempt fate. Besides he was a little on edge tonight, his stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation. His mind anxiously running through the speech he would deliver later, when he and Justine were alone, that ended with the question he’d been dying to ask for months. God, I hope she says yes.
Justine started her set with classic Wet Wet Wet and as soon as she opened her mouth and sang, goosebumps covered him. God, she was extraordinary. During the song, her eyes searched for him, a jolt moved through him as they connected, and heat soared across the bar between them, so thick he could almost reach out and grab it. She winked cheekily and he smiled.
Taylor moved beside him. Should he be concerned about her too? He felt they were close enough that she would be honest with him if anything more was bothering her. As he watched her, he noticed she wasn’t watching Justine, her eyes were fixed just slightly to the left of the stage, on Beau and his date.
“I’m so happy for you, B,” she said quietly, turning her attention back to him. “Everyone is finding their love.”
“It’ll be your turn soon,” he said. She laughed, the sound harsh.
“You’re funny. I didn’t know you were funny,” she deadpanned, and he snorted at her sarcasm. He watched her eyes flick back to Beau before moving away again too quickly. He wondered if that was the reason her light shined a little less brightly tonight. He opened his mouth to ask what the deal was with her and Beau, but then thought better of it. Judging by the way he had seen Beau watching Taylor these last few months, he would find out soon enough.
“This next song is for mi amor,” Justine said, and his eyes found hers again over the crowd. Everyone in the bar turned to stare at him but he didn’t care, he only had eyes for her. She began to play and after a few bars he recognized a Mötley Crüe song and laughed, shaking his head before mouthing te amo. She smiled and nodded back at him, and contentment settled in him, greeting him like an old friend.
What a life he had; a wonderful woman, his mental health healing, an amazing job and friends, a gorgeous fur baby and an actual baby on the way.
Had he mentioned how lucky he was?
The End.
