Page 28 of The Way Love Heals

Brittish circled her finger around the rim of her glass as she eyed me. I leaned over and pulled her chair next to mine. The way her eyes ballooned as she placed her hand over her heart caused me to laugh.

“Why you looking like that, Brittish?”

“Because you could’ve warned me that you were about to jerk me around like that. If you wanted me closer, all you had to do was ask.”

“Well, I made it happen. That’s even better, ain’t it?”

With a playful flit of her eyes, Brittish took a sip of her drink before nodding toward mine. “You’ve barely touched yours.”

“I know. I’m taking it slow. I’m a lightweight if you couldn’t tell. That’s how you ended up talking me right out my boxers the night we met.”

“I did not! It was you who coerced me to come with you.”

“See.” I picked up my drink, took a sip, and winked. “It was the liquor talking.”

“So what about the other day? What was your excuse then?”

“Nothing is ever an excuse with me, Pretty Lady. I’m always going to keep it real with you. The other day was about me showing you appreciation for being understanding, for listening. You’re allowing me to slowly let my guard down and be comfortable with you, Brittish. You’re helping me see a different side of myself, one that feels secure growing out of my comfortability. I don’t think you understand how hard it is for me to freely touch you. It almost feels like I’m doing something wrong, but you immediately give me reassurance that everything is going to be fine.”

I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it before leaning over and doing the same to her lips. Even in the dim lighting, I could see her cheeks become rosy. She briefly glanced away and sipped her drink. I picked up my phone and quickly snapped a picture of her.

“Look how beautiful you are,” I said, sliding my phone over to her.

Brittish carefully studied the picture and smiled. “That worked on me.” She gazed at me and admitted, “Everything you do works on me.”

“That’s been the goal all along.”

The host came over the microphone, gaining everyone’s attention. He’d ordered everyone a round of shots, so the servers and bartenders went around placing them on all the tables. My brow raised. Brittish snickered and elbowed me.

“Don’t punk out on me, Nyle. I said drunk karaoke, not sober.”

Picking the glass up and handing it to me, Brittish waited for me to toast with her. The burn cascading down my throat traveled through my nose as well. I just knew I was about to be on my ass.

Ten minutes later, and I’d polished off my drink. I had to order some wings to put something else on my stomach. When my eyes grew heavy, and I couldn’t keep my face from snuggling in Brittish’s neck, I knew I was feeling good. She didn’t seem to mind. Her hand went straight to my head, and she started massaging my scalp.

“Alright. Don’t put me to sleep in here. I’m already worn out from today, and messing around with you has me feeling good,” I warned.

“You better not fall asleep on me. We only have two more sets before it’s our turn.”

“You might be going up there by yourself.”

Brittish tapped the back of my head, and I lifted it up. She gave me a look that let me know she wasn’t playing with me, so I sat up and tried to shake off my tiredness. Time went by quicker than I thought. Before I knew it, Brittish was pulling me up onto the stage. She had picked out a song but wouldn’t tell me what it was, but the moment I heard the beat, my skin prickled with goosebumps.

The first note escaped Brittish’s mouth, and everyone in the crowd went wild. She failed to tell me that she could sing. What I heard in the truck was a stark difference than what I heard then. I stood there, stuck and mesmerized as she sung to me. I clung to every word and note, knowing each one was meant for me. Just like that, she was able to get me to drown out everyone in the room and captivate me.

“If we’re on the road to love, I want to enjoy the ride. If it comes with bumps and wrong turns, tell me you’ll stay by my side. I don’t mind following you because my heart believes you won’t lead me astray. It’s been so long since anyone has made me feel this way.”

Her eyes never left mine. Brittish held my gaze as she poured her heart out through song. I didn’t even realize it was over until the room erupted into applause and screams, bringing me back to life. Blushing, Brittish did a cute little bow, grabbed my hand, and led me off the stage. We were stopped many times by people praising her. She humbly ate it up.

As we neared our table, I tossed a one-hundred-dollar bill on it and kept walking. Surprisingly, Brittish didn’t protest. We exited the building, and when we made it to my truck, I trapped her body with mine. I told myself it was okay as I lifted her chin with my fingers and rested my forehead against hers.

For a moment, we stood there without saying a word. Even though we were silent, I felt our hearts speaking loudly for us. Every time Brittish exhaled, I inhaled until I crashed my lips onto hers. She threw her arms around my neck and pulled me in closer. I could never get enough of kissing her. From the pillowy softness of her lips to the way our tongues danced to their own rhythm, it was addicting. I had to will myself to pull away before we ended up in the back seat of my truck.

“Now, why you ain’t tell me you could blow like that?” I asked in between pecks before stepping back and raising a brow at her. “So you were bullshittin’ with me in the truck, huh?”

Brittish snickered. “Maybe, and you never asked. You assumed from the performance I gave on the way here that I didn’t have it in me.”

“Nah. That’s something you tell people. Your voice is just as beautiful as you, Brittish.”