CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
I’m so mesmerized by the view that I don’t realize there’s a man standing below me until he speaks. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, throw down your long hair.”
“Go away, Smitty.” I can’t be mad at him; he’s too goofy.
“What’re you doing up there? How come you’re not down here with your boyfriend?”
“I’m just taking a break.”
He walks up a couple of the stairs, stopping at the one just below where I am. It puts us at eye level. “You really like that guy, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.” It feels good to admit that out loud to someone, even if it’s only Smitty.
“I’m happy for you.”
“Are you?” I look at him, trying to read his thoughts. He sounds genuine, but you never know with him. He likes to tease and mess around.
“Yeah, sure I am. I mean, if it doesn’t work out, and I’m not seeing anyone, maybe we can go out again; but, hey, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I roll my eyes. Typical Smitty.
Another voice comes from a spot below where Smitty is standing. “Hey, man. You moving in on my woman?” Sam is there, looking flushed from his win.
I hold out my hand toward him. “Come up here and see what you did.”
Sam climbs the steps, slapping Smitty on the back pretty hard on his way up. “Sorry, man. Looks like I got the girl.”
Smitty shrugs him off, smiling good-naturedly. “That’s fine. You two look good together, and everyone knows Em has a soft spot for guitar players. Have a good one.” Smitty wanders back into the crowd and picks up a cup of beer.
Sam stands next to me, putting his arm around my waist and looking out over the group. “What’s he talking about?”
“Oh, he’s just being a fool. He used to tease me about going into the bar in town to listen to the music. He tried to learn to play guitar, but he was all thumbs.”
“You still have feelings for him?”
I laugh. “No. I never really did. He was just . . . there. Besides, he’s just messing around. He’s dating a girl in town named Tanya.” I point to the crowd below. “Look.”
“What are we looking at?”
“We’re looking at your people.” I fold my arms over my waist, feeling very content.
“My people?”
“Yes. Every one of them was listening to you play, and they were loving it. They’re your fans. They get you.”
He looks down at me. “I don’t give a damn what they thought about my song; I only care what you thought.”
I look at him so he knows I’m being honest. “I loved it. Really, it was amazing. It helped me paint that tree. I thought I was going to have to run, but the music helped me through it. I had no idea you were so talented.” I pause to take his hand. “And I know you’re angry with your father for forcing you to play all those years, but he was right about one thing: you have a gift from the heavens, and it would be a crying shame not to share it with the world. It was really brave of you to stick it out. I know performing in front of them wasn’t easy for you.”
He shrugs. “It was no big deal.”
“Please. You aren’t fooling me for a second.” I sigh and shake my head. Men. “You were scared shitless. You almost took off.”
He laughs good-naturedly. “I can’t put anything over on you, can I?”
“Nope.”
“That was a nice save, by the way. Making everybody look over at that tree. Good call.”
I shrug. “I do what I can. Some people call me an artist, some people call me a superhero. I don’t like to put labels on it.”
He turns me around so we’re facing each other and wraps his arms around me. “I like this place. I hope you’ll let me stay for a while.”
I want to shout and cheer, but I remain cool. “Well, you can stay, but I don’t know about that other riffraff over there.” I tilt my head toward the band’s bus. I smile so he knows I’m mostly kidding.
He rubs my back for a few seconds and then pulls away, resting his hands on my shoulders as he looks into my eyes. “If it’s okay with you, they’re hoping to stay for a couple weeks too. Your moms invited them. They’re not going to stay forever; it’s just so we can jam a bit and see where it goes.”
I sigh, knowing I have no choice. I’ve been outvoted by my moms and Sam has asked; there’s no way I can say no to either of them. And I’m not even sure that I want to anymore. “That’s fine. Whatever.” I break away and start walking toward the house, but his hand on my arm pulls me back.
“Will you do me one favor?” he asks.
“Maybe.”
He tugs my arm. “Hmmm. Maybe? That’s not good enough. What if I promise to love your body all over tonight, at least two times? Will you do me a favor then?”
How can I say no to that? I try not to grin but fail. “Okay, yes. I can try.” Ugh, I’m so easy. But he does have a way with those hands and that tongue of his, so I can’t be blamed.
“Would you just hear them out? I’m not saying that you should believe them, or that what they’re going to say makes any sense . . . I just want you to give it one fair chance so you won’t have any regrets later.”
He’s looking at me with what could be love in his eyes. Amber’s glancing up at me from the crowd and looking so hopeful. Rose is staring at me too, giving me a thumbs-up. It’s like the whole world is conspiring to make me a better person, to force me into letting go of my bitterness and turn the page.
“Fine. I’ll do it for you.” And for them. And for me.
He pulls me into a big hug and kisses the top of my head. I’m thinking about begging him to come to the bedroom with me now, even though the party is only half over, when there’s a commotion out in the driveway that grabs our attention.
Sam pulls out of our embrace, and we walk over to the edge of the porch to see what’s going on.