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My eyes snap over to Christian. “You mean…”
He shrugs, giving me an asshole smile. “Get your girls, and we’ll talk about it over a drink.”
The two of them head through the curtain toward the bar area. Once they disappear, I close my eyes, tugging on my lip rings with my teeth while I take a deep breath and let it out.
But the high only lasts a few more seconds before the emptiness hits again. The same one I’ve been battling since letting CJ go. I drop down on an extra speaker, tugging at the knot of my tie until I can breathe. I keep my eyes down, listening to the music, trying to shut her out of my brain.
Like it’s ever worked before.
I leave Callie, Jordan, and Felicia at the bar after the Nymphs and I finish talking with Christian. If everything goes well, the Nymphs will be touring with Of Men and Wolves next year for their first North American tour.
Fucking incredible.
Walking down the street toward the brownstone, I’m paying more attention to my shoes than anything around me. So when I finally look up, I freeze, realizing there’s a gorgeous blonde waiting at the bottom of my steps.
“Charlie?” I say.
She doesn’t move, her eyes red-rimmed from the tears still staining her cheeks. Even a mess she looks beautiful. I’ve missed her so goddamn much. I don’t even think. I walk straight to her, and I grab her face in my hands.
“Baby,” I whisper, dropping my forehead to hers. “What are you doing here?”
She shakes me away, putting a distance between us. It nearly kills me to let her. Then she’s looking behind me, as if she were expecting someone else. “You alone?”
I give her an unsure tip of my head. “Yeah, Callie and Jordan hung back with her friend Felicia who’s in town.”
She presses her lips together. “The redhead?”
My brow draws in. “You were there tonight?”
She nods, her lower lip wobbling. “Drew was nice enough to point out your girl to me. She’s pretty. Not who I’d expect you with but—”
“My girl…” I trail off, trying to piece together what the hell she’s talking about, but Charlie’s not finished yet.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m so sorry I pushed you away. I never would have if I’d known…” She licks her lips and takes a tentative step toward me. “I love you. I know it’s the wrong time to tell you, but I love you. I’m never going to be able to stop loving you. I’ve always wanted you, and I’m yours. All yours. I just wish I could take back everything—”
I’m on her. My hands on her neck, my lips on hers. I kiss her like I wanted to the second I saw her again, standing at my door two weeks ago. I kiss her like we just graduated, like we’ve just promised each other forever. My tongue strokes hers, and she melts against me, moaning into my mouth, and I have to force myself to stop. To stop before I make her prove to me every one of her words.
Then I pull back enough to see the tears in her confused eyes. “Drew’s a fucking idiot. He was pointing out Callie to you because last week I told him she was my girl so he’d quit hitting on her.”
Charlie lets out a soft, disbelieving laugh. “Really?”
“I’m yours, baby.” I kiss her. “I’ve wanted you for so long, I don’t even know how to want anything else anymore.”
She smiles at my words. “I told my parents about you.”
My lips tip up. “That I’m a grungy rocker-wannabe who fakes it in a suit sometimes?”
She nods. “Exactly.”
I kiss her again, but then I stop and let my hands fall away from her.
“This is really what you want?” I ask her.
“More than anything.”
There’s no doubt in her eyes anymore, and I smile.
“I love you, too,” I tell her. Then I head up the stairs.
