Between The Raindrops

by K. Pinson

  About ten minutes later, a younger brunette girl comes around the bar and hugs Tracey. So that must be her and I was definitely right. She’s going to making good tips tonight. I walk over and introduce myself.

  “Hi! Glad to have you tonight. I’m Nevaeh.” I hope that I come off friendly. Sometimes I still have issues with that. Tough girl exterior and all. She smiles largely and I envy her perfect straight teeth.

  “I’m Kristyn Chenault. Pleasure to meet you!” Her voice is so bubbly. I just want to squeeze her.

  I quickly show her the ropes while Tracey checks the cash register and makes sure we are all ready to go. Kristyn gets the hang of everything right away and I know that tonight is going to run smoothly. I’m anxious to let the crowd in and start my shift. I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that it’s about to be an unforgettable night.

  When we are finally ready to go, we make it just on time for the doors to open. That’s nothing new though. She and I both are the world’s biggest procrastinators. Our manager is certainly used to that. He doesn’t give us much grief because he knows we always make it happen. We work over the hours we’re scheduled and we pull in a pretty young and fun crowd during the night shift. I’m surprised he didn’t tell me about this band that was coming to play. He usually asks me to check out all of the live music before he approves them. I told him about how I used to drum briefly and how I was in a band. He doesn’t ask too many questions and I don’t divulge too many answers. I’m grateful that nobody really that I work with feels the need to question me at all about my past. I’m no fool. I’m sure all of them have seen it in the media. I’m just lucky like that I guess.

  Tracey goes to open the doors and let everyone in. I hear a mic check, but don’t glance up to see. I really need to focus on getting my normal drink mixes lined up and ready to go. I know it’s going to be a rush to the bar as soon as people are let in. That’s usually how it goes. We don’t allow anyone younger than twenty-one in here just to keep things easy. All ID’s are checked at the door.

  No more than five minutes do I have a line at least thirty-people deep. I sling drinks as fast as I can. Luckily, most order easy drinks and it doesn’t take much preparation. I only get a few people that are extremely picky with how their drinks are prepared. When the line for drinks start to die down, I notice all of them make their way to the stage. Fighting for front row seats. I’ve never seen more young girls in here than now. It’s usually mostly men. Sometimes with their girlfriends, but that’s about it. The anticipation for the band is growing with every screaming fan girl. I’m actually really excited to hear some new music.

  When the deep voice speaks into the microphone, announcing the band and the crowd goes wild. My vision blurs and the noise is drowned out by my own racing heart and crazy thoughts. I know that voice.

  “Jamison?” I whisper to nobody but thin air. Sure enough, all of my boys are on stage. They must have changed their name. And didn’t Stacey say they were semi famous? I’m so happy for them. I can hardly keep my smile from growing right off my face.

  The outside noise slowly filters back in and I’m left dizzy by the stimulation in the room. The audience is going absolutely wild over Jamison. Girls are practically throwing themselves on stage. I can’t say that I blame them. He looks amazing. He has his hair in its usual curly mess. His outfit is simple, like he always has been. He doesn’t flaunt that he has money. He’s just not like that. He rocks a raggedy pair of jeans with holes littering them, a pair of dirty converse and a black button up shirt. They play a full set and time flies by quicker than me batting an eye. I enjoy every second of their music. Some songs I remember playing with them and lots of new material was played as well. It has a more refined and fresh sound. They honestly sound more mature. I can tell they’ve had some professional help. When the band gets ready to leave the stage, the crowd of course begins to shout encore. I’ve seen it done at numerous concerts that Ryker snuck me to throughout my teen years. My heart was beginning to race. I really wanted them to play more, also. I found myself shouting encore and not paying any attention to the bar I was supposed to be tending. Luckily for me, everyone in the bar was mostly focused on the band too. They drew the attention of almost every person in the room. They were absolutely captivating. After five minutes of shouting for the band to grace us with their presence, Jamison finally enters from stage right with an acoustic guitar in hand. I’m shocked, I’ve never heard him play acoustic. He always liked to rock out behind an electric.

  One of the roadies rushed out onto the stage and set a stool right in front of the mic stand for him to sit down on. The light hits his amber eyes just right and I can see them shining all the way where I’m standing. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do when they finish. I’m not sure if I should try and say hey or if they’d hate me for ditching them. I have missed them all, but mostly Jamison. As if that isn’t obvious. I’m shaken from my thoughts as soon as Jamison adjusts the microphone and starts speaking to the crowd.

  “How are ya’ll doing tonight? You ready for me to get all girly mushy and sing you a love song?” Resonating yes’s echoes throughout the bar. I’m pretty sure no female could say no to a love song from Jamison. Love. Him saying that shouldn’t cut me as deep as it does. I should be happy that he’s found someone to write love songs about. I honestly never thought he’d settle down with anyone. That’s wrong of me to think. He’s very lovable, just unapproachable. He doesn’t really open up to anyone. He never has. I’m the same way, which made us work uniquely.

  “I’m going to tell ya’ll a little story before I start the final song of the night. Is that ok?” As if it would matter what the crowd said anyway. Jamison always does what he wants.

  “I was sitting in a smoky room in Las Vegas with the rest of the band. I had two different girls, one on each arm. I was surrounded by media, producers, strippers and other musicians. It was some type of introduction for me and the band for joining K.N.P. Records. I mean, I was a little drunk, but overall having a really good time. But no matter the people around, this song just kept calling out for me to leave that room and go write it. I had been trying for months to force myself to not be alone. I never wanted to be left to my thoughts. I went through a bit of a dark patch for a minute there. I lost someone very close to me.” My heart begins to race. I’m not sure if he’s talking about me, but a part of me thinks he just may be. The crowd stares up at him and I feel compelled to do the same thing. I’m glad he can’t see me.

  “So I went back to my hotel room. I left the gorgeous ladies behind, the booze, and the band. I just needed a couple hours of silence by myself. I grabbed my acoustic guitar. One that never sees the light of day. I usually just use it to plot out melodies and get them on paper before adding all the riffs from my electric guitar. I don’t like acoustic, only because it makes me feel vulnerable and exposed. But for you all, tonight I’m willing to make an exception. This is the first time on our tour that I’ve played this song. It’s about the love I lost. She’s the reason for our name change. She’s the reason I decided to accept this record deal, in hopes that I’d find her. That she’d come home.” The awe’s of the girls throughout the crowd bring tears to my eyes. I find myself leaving the bar area and heading closer to the crowd. I dare not go into the pit, as I know I’ll never make it to where the stage is anyway. There are far too many people and the crowd is tightly packed together.

  “Nevaeh is my Heaven. N.I.M.H. If you’re out there, Kit, come home.” My mouth drops. I honestly don’t know what to do. My mind is going crazy. I never told Jamison my real name. He must have saw me on the news. Him not hating me makes me want to jump up for joy, but it also makes me want to run for the hills. I don’t know if I can handle all of this right now. My wounds still feel kind of fresh. Jamison doesn’t say another word before diving into the most beautiful love song I’ve ever heard. It’s all about a broken boy meeting a broken girl and two halves making a whole. I find myself swaying from sid
e to side. I’m lost in the words. They wrap around me and carry me seamlessly through the crowd. I drift until I’m right in front of Jamison. His eyes are closed and he’s entranced in the song. His lip looks as if it’s almost caressing the microphone. As much as I love seeing him in this zone, I only wish his lips were caressing mine instead.

  “Jamison...” I mutter. His eyes flutter open, almost as if he heard me whisper his name. When his gaze meets mine, the words on his lips fall off and his guitar falls out of his hands with a crash. The audience all stare at me, wondering what the big deal is I’m sure. The butterflies in my stomach begin going crazy and I can hardly stand to be here anymore. My face feels hot and my whole body on fire. Before I change my mind, I turn around and dart through the crowd. Pushing past people as I go. I don’t want to be stopped. I’ve got to get out of here. When I finally reach the exit, I glance back for only a second and notice Jamison hot on my trail. I push open the doors and run out into the night air. I run and don’t look back this time. I don’t know where exactly I’m going, but anywhere that I can breathe again is a start.

  I don’t make it very far before arms wrap around my waist and halt my movements instantly. I attempt to kick backwards, but it does no good. He anticipates exactly what I’m going to do. He wraps his arms around mine, so that mine are in the shape of a cross and I’m unable to move them. He places his legs on either side of mine and presses into them as hard as he can with his calf muscles. I feel completely helpless.

  “Where do you think you’re going, Kit? Please don’t run away from me again.” He whispers in my ear and my whole body shivers against his. Those very words alone make me never want to run anywhere, unless it’s right into his arms.

  I turn around slowly and tuck my head underneath his chin. I make it a point to get as close as humanly possible to him. I squeeze him with all of my might. Just to make sure he’s real.

  “Gah... I missed you, baby.” He has no idea how much I missed him, too.

  The rain is coming down evenly around us. It doesn’t bother me, though. I honestly don’t feel an ounce of cold. He warms my body right up. I didn’t expect for this to happen. I can’t say I even anticipated ever running into him again. I’m not complaining though. I didn’t realize quite how much I needed for him to be in my life until this moment. For the most part, I am healed. But I can use someone to be there for me, too. In return, I will be there for them. I bury my head deeper in his neck and relax against him. I breathe in his familiar scent and everything feels right.

  I have so much to tell him. I want to explain why I left because I finally know the reasoning now. It wasn’t for my parents or even for myself, it was for my sister. I wanted her name to remain untarnished because in my eyes, she was always the perfect one.

  After all of the belongings got separated and the house was sold, my mother sent me Heaven’s diary. I read an entry a night to feel a little bit closer to the person that she really was deep down inside. I realize that she is not actually perfect and she never really wanted to be. She just wanted to be accepted. I understand that feeling all too well. I only wish that I would have known how she felt because I could have related to her and helped her fight off her demons.

  I want to tell him about Ryker because I know that he would understand. I know that he wouldn’t be jealous or judge my past relationship. Jamison and I are just honest with each other about everything. That is what I love the most. I know that I can tell him old memories and be happy about my past for once. Honestly, he and Ryker probably would have been friends in life.

  Finally, I want to tell him that I’ve always loved him. From the moment that he took me under his wing, beside that dumpster, I knew. I wish that I would have just realized it from the beginning and put my want to not ruin a friendship behind me. But I couldn’t. I needed to experience this journey. I am a better person because of it. Just like I am a better person because of him.

  I know that it’s not necessary to tell him all of these things at once. I have a feeling that we will have a lifetime to spend together. Even if we don’t, we will make the best of the time that we do have. I will no longer shelter myself from feeling. I refuse to one day die and to have never truly lived.

  As the cold water gathers around me, washing away the past and clearing a path for the future, I fall in love completely with a man who has always appreciated the real me. Love for myself is realized and in that came the capability to love someone else fully and whole heartedly. It is only then that what I deserve forges its way into my life with full force. I stop thinking and instead, I kiss him with every ounce of excitement for what lies ahead and let go of every doubt of life I want to leave behind.

  Between the raindrops is where I let it all go and allow every insecurity to be revealed. Between the raindrops is where I become me, the version I am meant to be. With this man and a new found appreciation for myself; I now have my forever. I won’t take it for granted. Forever can’t be measured in time; minutes, hours, or even days. But forever is measured in every single moment that takes your breath away, every laugh, smile, and memory you hold dear. Forever doesn’t have to last a lifetime, it just has to be worth a lifetime. Forever is going on every single day.

  Jamison and I will not dwell on the past and we will not make an outstanding amount of plans for the future, but instead we will live in the present. We will love in the present.

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  This is by far the most difficult section of the book to write. I could fill up a novel on all the people that I want to thank. This journey hasn’t always been easy and I’ve consistently wanted to give up throughout. But then I remember why I started to begin with and that was to tell a story. One that I felt passionate about. One that I felt needed to be told. SO I will continue to do that. I wouldn’t be able to withstand all of the negative comments and drama that this book world sometimes holds without all of the amazing, positive and supportive people that I know I would never have in my life if it wasn’t for this crazy world. I love each and every one of you more than you can ever possibly understand. My readers are my rockstars. They are my friends.

  I want to thank my fabulous editor Anna Gorman-Coy, who not only works quickly and proficiently, but who is patient and understanding. Thank you for not giving up on me. After the millions of times I changed the deadline and pushed back the date. Self doubt can be a bitch. I’m thankful to you for helping me to push through it.

  I want to thank all of K.Pinson’s Beta Babes and lovelies. <3 You girls are the glue holding me together. I love the encouraging thoughts and am beyond appreciative for the feedback that I get from you all. I trust you girls with my book babies! I know you’ll be honest and I can’t ask for more than that.

  To the two amazing characters you see at the end of this novel, for winning a fabulous contest on one of my favorite blogs EYeCandy Book Store, Tracey Kruger and Kristyn Chenault! Hope you enjoy! <3

  I want to thank all of the amazing authors that have been involved in my life and supported me for trying to pursue this writing career. You girls inspire me every single day to push forward. I wish each and every one of you the greatest successes in life and with your novels.

  I want to thank my family and my friends. For listening to me ramble about the different characters and stories constantly invading my brain. For allowing me to be my crazy self and loving me anyway.

  I want to thank my bloggers. These girls do work! I have too many favorite bloggers to name, but I hope that I tell you all on the daily how much I appreciate, support and love you all! I would be NOTHING without you...and no matter where the wind blows me...I’ll never lose sight of that.

  I want to thank Faith Wright for being my best friend. For having faith in my ability as both as an author and a person. She pushes me to be a better person and to succeed...and hopefully I will do just that. I love you Chicken Nugget.

  Last, but certainly not least, my amazing boyfriend Michael Colunga. Yo
u have been in my corner since day one. Always being interested in what I’m working on, my ideas and even helping me to come up with better ideas that I never would have otherwise thought of. You are the half that makes me whole. I would be lost without you. I am so thankful to you for coming into my life, at a time when I needed someone the most. I’ll never deserve you, but I won’t let you go either. I’m selfish like that. I love you.

  With all of you, I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Also if you’re reading this, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW at the retailer of which you’ve purchased the novel. Thank you so much.

  About The Author:

  *24 years young.

  *Lives in Michigan, born and raised.

  *Has a slight addiction to lip-gloss, Oreos and Marilyn Monroe. Not in any particular order.

  *Has a fond appreciation for reading all fiction novels. Especially romance, psychological thrillers and anything that gives her the feels.

  *Loves her friends and family with all of her heart.

  *Has an amazing and supportive boyfriend, Michael.

  *Refuses to give your stereotypical happily ever after.

  You can find more information about K. Pinson, also known as Kate Lynne for the erotica genre, at www.facebook.com/AuthorKPinson or www.facebook.com/EroticAuthorKateLynne

  Tweet her @KatelynnPinson

  Email her at authorkpinson@live.com

  More stories can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-books and Kobo under K.Pinson and Kate Lynne.