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PROLOGUE - COLE
Since I was ten-years-old, I’ve been passionate about music.
From the moment I picked up my first guitar and learned to read music, I knew I wanted to be a musician. Lyrics and melodies filled my head, and from that point on, every memorable moment of my life became the inspiration for a song. No songs that would ever be performed for an audience, but ones that documented our lives. So, when anyone asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, the answer was simple.
I wanted to make music. And be a rockstar.
The other thing I’d always wanted was the man making his way over to me as I sat on the stool strumming my guitar.
Patrick Griffin was the love of my life. From the moment we met on the first day of second grade when we were seven, there was something charismatic about him that drew me in. It didn’t take long for me to figure out I needed to talk to him every single day of my life, and we’d become inseparable. Years later, and he still made my heart race.
“Cole? Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got some things I need to say.” The tone of his deep voice that never failed to soothe me and his determined focus said he had something on his mind.
“O-kay,” I drew out slowly, wondering what the fuck he was talking about. “Right now?”
He smiled at me like he couldn’t hold in whatever it was for one more second. “Yes, right now. It can’t wait.”
I glanced over at Adam and my bandmates, who appeared to be as surprised as I was, but were clearly enjoying my embarrassment.
Patrick took my breath away every time I looked into his warm brown eyes. I couldn’t be held responsible for the way he affected me when he aimed that sexy-as-fuck gaze at me. The same one that instantly made me hard and made it nearly impossible not to touch him. And when he wore those dark jeans that wrapped lovingly around his muscled thighs, I was toast. He knew the power he held over me.
“Cole,” he said, taking the guitar out of my hands, then handed it off to someone. Don’t ask me who took it because I wasn’t paying attention to anything but him. And he was making me nervous.
“Patrick? What are you doing?”
He looked at me like I was the best thing to ever happen to him.
Like he’d give up all his Super Bowl rings and awards for me.
Like the world could fall away, and he wouldn’t notice.
Like he was right now.
“I should have done this a long time ago.”
“Done what exactly?” I could hear the quiver in my voice as I looked at him.
“I should have told the world you were mine long ago. I should have gotten down on my knees and thanked my lucky stars you shared your Spicy Doritos at snack time when we were seven.”
I smirked at the memory. “Spicy Doritos, huh?”
He nodded with a big grin on his face. “And I should have told the world how much I love you. I should have asked you to be my prom date in high school, and I should have asked you to be my homecoming date when we were in college. I should have kissed the fuck out of you the night I was drafted into the NFL. And most of all, I should have told the world how in love with you I’ve been since we were fifteen and figured out what I felt for you was more than friendship.”
My eyes teared up at his declarations and leaked out of my eyeballs with every beat of my heart. His regret for what could have been was heard in every word.
“Patrick…”
He lowered himself down to one knee in front of me and took my hand in his. “Cole Jo–” I slapped my free hand over his mouth, making Adam cackle.
Shit, I forgot they were here.
I gave him the stink eye I’d perfected after spending years avoiding the use of my horrendous middle name. But his warm eyes and laughter under my palm told me he was unaffected by my glare. Patrick’s lips pursed into a kiss as he covered my hand with his and carefully peeled it away.
“Let me start again from the beginning,” he said, low enough that only I could hear him.
CHAPTER 1
COLE
