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Ezra laughs and slips his hand into mine, pulling me along. “Come on,” he says. “You’re riding with me.”
The ride to the old bar is quick, and before I know it, the boys are busy hauling drums and sound equipment out of the back of Rock’s van, and not wanting to get in the way, I make myself comfortable at the bar.
In most cases, I wouldn’t even be allowed through the door of this place, but after putting up a fight the first night, the bar staff have become more than familiar with me and allow me to chill here where they can keep an eye on me.
I don’t get a chance to speak with Ezra before they start their set, but it doesn’t matter because I know afterward, he’s going to want to celebrate, and when he does, I’ll drop it on him then. Maybe we could go somewhere private, just the two of us. A motel or down to the lake. It’s not a cold night, and with the moonlight glistening off the water, it would be beautiful. I might get a mosquito bite to the ass, but it’ll be more than worth it.
The boys are in the middle of their second song, performing for the crowded bar of screaming women, when three men in business suits stride through the door. People don’t wear business suits around here, so there’s no doubt in my mind that these are the men from the label. The chorus of “Hypothetically Yours” fills the bar, and as the men take a seat to my left, Ezra’s eyes come to mine, a silent question lingering within them, wondering if I think these are the men they’ve been waiting for.
I nod and his face lights up like Christmas morning, and when he glances to Ax and nods, they both grin like idiots.
I watch the suits as they watch the band, and there’s no denying they’re impressed with what they see. Though, how could they not be? They’re incredible, and anyone with a single brain cell would be able to see it. They’re not the run-of-the-mill garage band. They have that spark that everyone looks for, the fire and drive to go the whole way, and what’s more, the moment they finish their set, the crowd is always begging for more.
By the time they’re halfway through their setlist, there’s a line outside the door waiting to get in, and girls are pressed up against the windows, peering in for just the chance at laying their eyes on Demon’s Curse.
The bar staff looks busier than ever, and the owner comes over to me, offering me complimentary drinks and fries to keep me happy. After all, he learned quickly that as long as I was happy and allowed to sit here to watch the boys, then they’ll continue to come back.
By the time the boys are wrapping their final song, I’ve never been more excited or anxious. Don’t get me wrong, I could sit here for the rest of my life and listen to Ezra sing, and I’d be the happiest girl who ever lived, but the thought of what we’re going to do tonight has me more than ready to get out of here.
I can’t resist him another moment. I know he’s been biding his time, trying to wait until I was older and our age gap didn’t seem so daunting, but I’m sixteen now. I’m a woman, and I’m sick of just trying to tell him with words how much he means to me. I want to show him. I want to feel him, and more than that, I want him to feel me.
The adoring fans scream for the boys, and I try not to let it affect me. There’s no denying that every bone in my body was infused with copious amounts of jealousy and a sick sense of possession the day Ezra Knight came waltzing through my front door. And despite the way he keeps his dark gaze on me, I can’t help but despise the beautiful women screaming his name.
The boys leave the stage and make their way through the rowdy crowd toward me, but the three men in suits intercept them, and when they offer the band to join them at their booth, I can’t help but watch with a stupid grin as they talk and shake hands.
It seems to last forever, but when they all stand and say their goodbyes, Ezra’s gaze shoots to me, and without a damn word spoken between us, I know exactly what just went down.
The suits make their way out of the bar, and the boys desperately try to maintain their professionalism, but the second the door closes behind them, the cheering begins. Axel throws himself onto the table, roaring with excitement as Ezra races to me, scoops me off my barstool, and spins me around. The atmosphere in the bar ramps up, and suddenly all these people we don’t know are celebrating with us.
“What’d they say?” I ask as he balances me back on my feet, his hands so warm at my waist.
“They want to see us again, but it looks like they’re going to sign us,” he tells me. “They want to talk between themselves, let it sit for a few days, and then they’re going to bring us an offer.”
“Holy shit,” I breathe. “That’s amazing.”
“No, Rae,” he says, his eyes dancing with undeniable happiness. “You’re fucking amazing.”
Ezra leans down and drops his lips to mine in a swift kiss that takes me by surprise. He’s done it only a handful of times, and while every single one has been incredible and cherished dearly, they’re not the type of kisses I’ve been holding out for, and he damn well knows it.
He pulls me into him, his arms tightening around my waist as he buries his face into the curve of my neck, breathing me in as though needing just a moment to center himself. He gently kisses my neck, and even over the sound of the busy bar, I hear his words clear as day. “I love you, Rae.”
“I know,” I murmur, pushing up onto my toes, needing to get even closer.
Slipping his hand into mine, Ezra drags me back over to the guys, and I cling to his side for the next hour as we celebrate their massive win.
Then before I know it, the bar starts clearing out, and the guys make their way over to the stage. They begin pulling everything apart as I try my best to be helpful, but aside from carrying the small things out to the van, that’s about as much help as I can be. Even after years of being involved with the band, I still can’t work out how a drum set is supposed to go together.
I stand out back with the boys as Ezra and Rock load the last of the drum set into the van, and as I watch him, that strange feeling of excitement and anxiousness increases, only now it’s definitely tipping toward the anxious side.
This is it. He’s about to say goodbye to the guys, hook his arm over my shoulder, and take me back to his car, and it’s there I’ll suggest we go somewhere private.
I love gig nights. We always get to hang out afterward. Sometimes we go to parties or the lake while the guys throw back a few drinks, and other times we chill in my room, just the two of us. But tonight, it’s all going to change.
Tonight, I’m truly going to make him mine.
I’m done waiting, and I think he knows. Besides, when you’re this in love with someone, why should you be made to wait? Why should he have to hold back all the time when we both know how right it really is?
The sliding van door closes, and I stand up a little taller, watching the guys pile into the old van. Ezra turns and flashes a brilliant smile, and as butterflies explode in my stomach, he makes his way over to me. His arm raises, and I prepare myself for how it will drop over my shoulder, only it falls lower, hooking around my waist and pulling me against him instead.
