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His breath was hot against my skin. “I can’t wait.”
Goosebumps broke out of my skin. No one had ever made me feel the way Tommy did, and no one ever would. Despite what had happened, our falling out, breaking up, and all the things in-between, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I love you.” I surged forward to claim his mouth.
Tommy gripped my head in his hands, his chocolate-brown eyes searching my face. “I love you, too, Bug. Always.”
Always and forever.
Chapter Thirty-One
Tommy
Five years ago
Blake chewed on his bottom lip, shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and furrowed his brows. It was when he dragged a hand through his blond hair, grabbed a handful, and let out a low whine when I finally gripped his head between my hands and stared into those scared green orbs. I wanted to soothe that worry line from his forehead, kiss away all his fear, and keep him safe. Take him as far away from his mother as I could.
“I love you, Blake Duncan.” I watched the fear in his eyes fade to happiness. “You’re going to go inside that room, talk to your mother, and tell her how it’s going to be. That you’re not going to cover her for anymore. You’re leaving Canfield, just like you’ve always planned, and going to California to achieve your dreams, and you won’t let her hold you back anymore. That doesn’t mean you don’t love her; it just means it’s time for you to put yourself first. You’re an adult, just like she is, and it’s time she started acting like it.”
Blake’s brows dipped. “But, Tommy—”
“Nope.” I popped the ‘P’. “No buts about it.”
He nodded. “You’re right.” Blake squared his shoulders and took my hand from his face to link our fingers together. “I can totally do this.”
Spoiler alert, Blake could totally not do that. The moment he walked into his mother’s hospital room, everything that came out of his mouth was nothing we had talked about. When Monica told him she loved him, promised to stop drinking, get a job, and thanked him for all he’d done, I knew Blake was never going to tell her how he felt. Not unless he had no other choice. A choice I was going to have to make for him.
“You’re mad at me,” Blake murmured as we stepped out of the hospital and into the early evening. “Tommy, I’m sorry. I love you, but I love my mother, too. I want to tell her how I feel, but not yet. She’s going to have a long road ahead. I can talk to her when she’s healed.”
I stopped abruptly, and when he realized I wasn’t next to him, Blake turned to stare at me.
“So, you lied to me.”
“What? No, I would never lie to you.”
“You stood there and told me that you weren’t going to let her push you around anymore. You fucking lied. You’re going to give up everything for your alcoholic mother. A woman who doesn’t love you enough to stop drinking.”
Blake’s chin began to quiver. “She’s sick, Gretzky. She has a disease.”
“Well, maybe I’m sick of you saying one thing but doing the exact opposite.” I stormed past him, my hands balled into fists, and headed toward the parking lot.
I heard the sound of feet against pavement. “Tommy, please, don’t do this to me.” Blake jumped in front of me.
“Move out of my way, Bug.” I snarled and gritted my teeth.
He raised his chin. “You want to hit me, fine, do it. Use me as your personal punching bag. But remember how much you mean to me. How much I love you.”
“I don’t want to hit you. I would never do that.” I was desperate for Blake to achieve his full potential. “I love you, too, but I’m pissed at you right now,” I warned. When I saw the tears begin to well in his eyes, I reluctantly yanked him against me. “I know you’re scared.”
Blake pressed his face into my shoulder. “I am. I’m terrified of my mother never getting her life together, that Mulligan will never be the band we know it can be, but mostly, I’m terrified that I’m going to lose you.”
“What?” I gasped as he clung to me. “You’re the jelly to my peanut butter, Bug. You won’t lose me.”
He sniffed as he met my eyes, tears spilling onto his cheeks. “Promise? Even if I screw it all up, never leave Canfield, and end up taking care of my mother for the rest of my life? That no matter what, we’ll still be together.”
“You’re stuck with me.” I watched his lips curve up. “I promise that you will never lose me. Never, ever.”
Blake managed a small smile. “Thank you.”
