After we push through the doors, we stop in the lobby, our eyes still dancing with mirth.
“Thank you both,” I say. “That was…that was fucking fun. I never knew meeting fans would be a such good time.”
“Right? They’re usually tamer than that. But I like the feral ones too,” Kas says.
“Come here,” Mitch says, holding his phone up. “Let’s get a pic. It’s been a while since we’ve taken one together.”
I stand beside Mitch with Kas on his right. He snaps like ten pictures before I tell him to cut the shit because my face hurts from smiling so much.
They both give me a long hug, rocking me side to side when I tell them I’m going to head back to Tourneville.
“I’m glad you two came,” I say honestly. “Come visit again, yeah? I’ll show you where I lived before I moved to Cali.”
“We’d love to see it,” Mitch says, squeezing my shoulder. My skin crawls from his touch, and I step away from him—I’ve reached my limit for touch for the day. I wish I could be normal and not feel like every touch I don’t see coming is almost vomit-inducing. “And we wanna meet thisfriend that’s not really your friend because there was no way you had friends before us.”
I bark a laugh to cover how I moved back. “Yeah, keeping telling yourself that. How long will you two be in town?”
“Another few days. We’re going to do the tourist thing before we head back. If you’re free, catch up with us one more time, okay?”
I nod and give them a two-fingered salute before I head out, feeling lighter than I have in years.
Connecting with my bandmates was better than I thought it would be. They still accept me and think of me as one of them.
As I get into my car, my phone pings ten times, and I know it’s Mitch, sending me each photo individually. “Dick,” I mumble with a smirk.
I find the best-looking one and send it to Jaxon with a message that says, “We had a great time.”
His message isn’t long in coming, and that lightness in my chest spreads throughout my body.
Jaxon: I knew you would. I’m really happy for you.
Me: Thanks. Can I see you this weekend?
Jaxon: I can do you one better. Do you want to hang out tomorrow? I’m off.
God,I might float away from the weightlessnessI feel.
Me: Name the time and place.
Jaxon: My house at six am.
That’s usuallywhen I wake up and do yoga, but I can skip it for one day, especially if I’m hanging out with Jaxon.
Me: I’ll be there.
Then,being bold, I send a follow up text.
Me: I can’t wait.
EIGHTEEN
JAXON
“Ready?”I ask Wesley, shouldering my pack as I step outside.
He eyes it warily but nods. “I guess. It’s kinda early for shit that requires a backpack.”
“Not really,” I say with a smile as we walk over to my car. “We’re going hiking.”
