“Zeke? I’m home.” The front door slams behind me and my bags drop to the floor with a thump. With a relieved groan, I slip out of my Converse high tops and socks, needing to feel the cool wood beneath my feet.
I pad along the hallway, then pause, my eyes darting left and right. “Whoa.” The walls are lined with framed platinum records, the photos of each rock band signed in heavy black scrawl. Leaning closer, I inspect the images, marveling at the insane talent gracing these walls. But it’s not the musicians I’m looking for, it’s the love of my life. The man who, for the past four weeks, hasn’t let a day go past without telling me I’m his.
A secretive smile forms when I spot him in the photographs. He stands proud in every one, a testament to his hard work and self-belief.
Needing to see the person behind the picture, I hasten toward the living room, then stop.
“What in the ever loving—”
“Siren.”
My nickname on his lips is heaven. My gaze searches for him. With a squeal, I launch myself at him, thankful when he catches me. Strong arms wrap around my small frame, lifting me off the ground in a crushing embrace.
“Thank fuck you’re home,” he grumbles into my hair. “Four weeks has taken fucking forever.”
“I know,” I breathe, my eyes squeezed shut, too scared to open them and find this all a dream. He sets me down, though I keep my arms locked around his neck. I’m not letting go any time soon.
“Look at me.”
“Promise you won’t disappear?”
A low rumble sounds from deep within his chest. It’s enough to make my eyes pop open because I don’t want to miss Zeke’s grin.
Damn. He’s beautiful.
“Ain’t going anywhere, that’s a promise.”
“Good.” I sigh with relief. “Don’t get me wrong, the tour was amazing and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I’ve been counting the days until I saw you again.”
Zeke cups my face, his thumbs tracing soft lines on my cheeks. “Me too.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “I like what you’ve done with the place. The hallway’s the holy grail of rock gods. Drake’s going to lose his mind when he sees it.” I roll my eyes. “If it gets him out of the mood he’s been in for the past month, it’ll be worth it.”
“What’s his deal?”
“I think he’s having girl trouble. The poor guy’s never had to work for it before, he’s at a bit of a loss.” I wave the thought away, not wanting to focus on Drake right now. “But I’m glad you’ve finally moved in. It must feel good.”
He looks away, embarrassed. “Figured it was time.”
“To unpack the gazillion and eight boxes downstairs? Uh, yeah. It was time.”
“Unpacked yours too.”
At his words, I spin on my heel and search the room. Zeke’s right, the apartment is now a combination of his masculine touches and my eclectic taste. The mixture seems so disparate on the surface yet somehow makes perfect sense when merged together. It feels like home.
My lungs fill in happiness. “Wow, you have.”
When my gaze lands on Mom’s acoustic guitar taking pride of place on the left wall, I gasp. Shifting closer, tears blur my vision when I recognize what’s hanging from the headstock. “Sweet Artemis, you found my dreamcatcher.” The back of my hand wipes away the dampness trailing my cheeks. “When I was younger, I used to have it above my bed to keep bad dreams away.” Turning to face Zeke, I smile. “Thank you.” I raise my arms in the air, gesturing to the entirety of it all. “It’s perfect.”
But when I look over his shoulder at the far wall, they drop to my sides. The tears that moments before were a trickle now become a deluge. Staring back at me is a portrait of my mother. “Jeanette finished it,” I sob. “I remember her mentioning she was working on it a while ago, but I didn’t know she’d finished.” Trembling hands cover my mouth, stifling the cries. “Look at Mom. See that light in her eyes, the knowing tilt of her lips?” I point to her mouth. “She used to wear that exact expression whenever I played guitar.”
Zeke shifts to where I stand, a blubbering mess in the middle of the living room. He holds me close. “Jeanie did a good job.”
Pulling back slightly, I smile through my tears. “She did, didn’t she? I love remembering Mom as she was. Don’t get me wrong, I still love her now, but it’s different, you know?”
Zeke watches as a tear spills from my eye and tumbles down my face. “I know.”
“How did you get the painting?”
“Hello,” calls a familiar cheerful voice from the entranceway. “Anybody home?” Jeanette strolls into the room like she’s let herself in a million times before. She pauses upon seeing me, and an ecstatic grin forms. “Wil, honey!” She rushes forward, oblivious to Zeke’s hold as she wraps us in a bone-crunching hug. “You’re back.”
Zeke grunts. I laugh. Jeanette’s smile widens.
After releasing us, she shifts back. “Well, don’t you two look perfect together. Pretty as a picture.”
“Jeanie, what are you doing here?”
She glances between Zeke and I. “Didn’t Hero tell you?” After crossing her arms, she gives Zeke a pointed stare. “You didn’t tell her?”
“Was about to,” he grumbles.
“Tell me what?” I demand, beyond impatient.
Giving up all pretense of annoyance, Jeanette faces me. “The art exhibition was a huge success. Did you hear?”
I shake my head. “No, sorry. I was on tour, remember?”
“No matter. Every painting sold for well over the asking price. Can you believe it?”
“Really? Holy Eirene, that’s amazing! By who?”
Jeanie shrugs. “No idea. It was an anonymous buyer.”
Zeke shifts on his feet.
My eyes dart to him, but he refuses to meet my gaze. “Huh.”
“Enough money was raised to give the whole nursing home a facelift. It’s still a work in progress, but when it’s finished it’s going to be state of the art,” my friend gushes, oblivious to the sound of my elbow hitting Zeke’s stomach. He coughs but other than that is silent. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Absolutely,” I agree. He still won’t look at me.
“But it wasn’t enough for Hero, here, and since you gave him guardianship of Dawn while you were away, he moved her somewhere even more comfortable.”
“He did?” I narrow my eyes, put out that the decision wasn’t run past me first. Yes, I trust Zeke with my life, so of course I trust him with my mom’s welfare, but a heads-up would have been nice. “Where to?”
“She’s next door,” Zeke rumbles. “Figured you’d want her close by.”
“She’s….” If a cool breeze picked up right now, I’d be on my ass. That’s how shocked I am. “Mom’s next door? Now? She’s”—I point vaguely over my shoulder, hoping it’s in the direction I’m referring to—“over there?”
He swallows, then nods.
Shaking my head, I try to take it all in. “But who’s looking after her?”
“Me!” Jeanie claps her hands in excitement. “Isn’t it great? I’m employed full-time to take care of my favorite patient. There’s a night nurse who takes over for me each evening, and another on call in case either of us are sick. But it’s a live-in position, so I’m here full-time.” She smiles at Zeke, her appreciation obvious. “Hero’s been more than generous with the salary and benefits. It’s a dream job.”
“Holy shit,” I breathe, trying to wrap my head around it all.
“Anyhoo,” Jeanette singsongs. “I just popped in to give the daily update on Dawn. She’s had a good day. We were out on the balcony enjoying the sunshine this morning. She loves watching the water.” My friend grins. “She even ate half of her lunch. Moving has been a big change, but I think living here agrees with her.”
I’m speechless. There are no words to be found.
“And now you’re home, I’ll make sure to knock before barging on in.” She winks. “You two need your privacy, so I won’t intrude.” With a quick hug and a wave, she disappears.
Well, then.
It takes a while to process everything Jeanette said, and even then, my mind is a whir of noise. Zeke has taken all my troubles, all my stress, and with the snap of his fingers, erased it. I’ve spent so long caring for myself, fighting my own battles, and keeping one foot in front of the other. The thought of no longer having to do it by myself is humbling. It really is. I now have someone to share my life with, someone to share my hopes, my failures, and every moment in between. How did I get so lucky?
Two large hands tip my head back. The chaos quietens. “You okay?”
“You did all this, didn’t you?” Zeke’s caramel eyes search my face. “You got my house sold, you unpacked my stuff, you bought all the portraits, and moved Mom next door.” My voice catches. “You did everything.”
He leans forward, his lips brushing against mine. “Did it for you.”
“I love you so much,” I whisper.
“Love you too, little siren.” His mouth presses against mine once more. “Always.”
The End
Turn the page to find out about Drake and Harper’s story in When Stars Fall, Book #3 in the Rising Star series!