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Rad’s fingers trace up and down my jean-clad leg from my other side, bringing me out of my swirling thoughts. Judging by the trembling of his fingers, he’s eager to lock me inside the house. How do I know? As soon as we left Dead End, he told me.
“I want to lock you in Callum’s house for a month straight to get reacquainted with every inch of your curves. My tongue will own every piece of flesh… inside and out. I’m serious, Pretty Girl! Don’t drunkenly giggle at me. Little Rad is going to punch a hole through my jeans if he doesn’t get a taste of his obsession,” he murmurs with a soft whine in my ear as we walk out into the night toward the SUV. The boys stand near the trunk, lifting their equipment in and securing it in place.
“Show me how much you missed me,” I murmur, kissing his cheek. I saunter off toward the others, who watch me with heated expressions. Even in a T-shirt and jeans, they look at me like I’m completely naked and spread out.
Once again, mother nature shows off, illuminating everything outside in a quick flash. Ten seconds later, thunder rumbles, vibrating the car as we pull into the driveway of Callum’s house in the middle of nowhere.
The dark trees swish in the wind, picking up speed ahead of the rain blowing in from the west. Rainy September days always mean the changing of the season is upon Illinois.
Thankfully, we’re heading home tomorrow evening. Home. What a strange sentiment. Our home is no longer in this town. Central City is just another city. Another stop along the way. No. Our home is nestled in East Point. Somewhere. They’ll still work on themselves in the band house for another five months. And I’ll be across the street with Ly. At some point, we’ll have to figure out living arrangements. I never intended anyone else but Lyric and I living in my home. It’ll burst at the seams with all six of us living there.
The future is unavoidable. Scary, even. Will things stay like this? With each of them looking at me like I’m that plate of nachos? Or will we fall into a weird pattern once the forced proximity implemented on us vanishes? Only time will tell where our adventure truly ends.
I take a deep breath.
Fuck the future. Live in the now.
And right now?
It’s just the five of us. Ly is at a sleepover until tomorrow morning.
Stay in the now. It’s something I’ve repeatedly told myself through the years after falling victim to memories assaulting my mind.
Water softly pelts against the glass when Kieran throws the car into park in Callum’s driveway, instead of pulling into the two-car garage. The dark house looms before us in all its empty glory.
“We’ll load everything in tomorrow,” Asher says, looking around the car for approval. “That way our things don’t get soaked. It’s coming down out there.” He eyes the heavy droplets dripping down his window with furrowed brows.
He rubs his chin in that calculating way I’m used to seeing on him. Except now, Asher isn’t using it against us to tear us apart. He’s using his brain to unite us as one.
“Sounds good,” Kieran agrees. “How are you feeling, River Blue?”
How am I feeling? I’ve drank my weight in tequila. Saw a boy from my past. Had a song dedicated to Lyric and me. Also, I sobbed in front of people. God, how embarrassing. I bet someone filmed it, too. My beautiful, snot-caked, tear-stained face will be on all the gossip sites by tomorrow. I can see it now.
River West fucking an entire band! Love declarations! How long will it last?
So, you know. Just fucking peachy. But instead of telling him the truth of how chaotic my emotions are whirling around inside of me. I simply say the first thing I imagined when the rain started falling from the sky.
“Like a dance in the rain,” I say, mesmerized by the brisk rain drenching every inch of the earth outside, puddling on the grass.
The rain comes down so thickly it’s like staring through static, unable to see your hand in front of your face.
“Must still be drunk,” Kieran quips with a smirk.
Assface.
I wrinkle my nose. “You know what they say about people who assume things…”
“Makes an ass out of you and me,” Callum snorts, completing my sentence.
Good boy.
“Exactly. So, no. I’m not drunk. I’m stone-cold sober,” I grunt, extracting myself from between Callum and a reluctant, clingy Rad.
“Pretty Girl, come back,” Rad whines, reaching for me as I plop on Callum’s lap and open the door. “I need to feel your skin against mine.” I raise a brow when he folds his hands together pleadingly. He even goes as far as pouting his bottom lip with a soft whine, trying to entice me back into the vehicle and near him.
“Calm down, psycho,” Callum murmurs jokingly, intently watching as I waver at the open door. I may be perched on his lap, but he doesn’t stop me when I look out into the wet world with wonder.
Little sprinkles mist, wetting my hand as I reach out, letting the cool rain soak my fingertips. Goosebumps rise across my flesh, and shivers run through me at the icy feeling crawling across my skin.
