by J. L. White
He blinks them back. “Yes, I’d like to. I was hoping you’d be all right with that.”
“Of course.”
I hug him and we hang onto each other tightly. “God, we must have kept missing each other,” I say. “I thought—”
But I don’t say what I thought.
He pulls back, a look of dawning on his face. “You thought I left you?”
“Just... for a moment,” I say helplessly, shrugging. “I kind of thought about before, you know?”
He looks confused. “But... for what reason? Why would I leave?”
“Well...” I hesitate, but realize I need to just come out with it. Maybe I should have a long time ago. “Because we’re competing against each other, and maybe that’s more than you want in a relationship. You wouldn’t be the first musician who felt that way.”
He sighs, and I instantly see I haven’t been imagining his unease since I won the second round.
“Look,” he begins, “I know I’ve been licking my wounds a bit. I mean, yeah, I’m not crazy about losing to anyone. But that’s not about you, sweetheart. You can understand that, can’t you?”
I sigh. “Well, yeah. I didn’t handle things too well when you beat me in the fall.”
He grins sheepishly.
“But, is this going to come between us eventually?” I ask.
He takes my face in his hands and kisses me. “If I’m going to lose to anyone, I’d rather it be you. Yeah, there’s that selfish part of me that hates to lose, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t hope I can beat you in some other competition someday.” I can’t help but smile. “Wouldn’t you feel the same way?”
God, I would.
“But I’m also so proud of you and so fucking crazy in love with your music.”
His words bounce around in my heart in recognition. Does he really feel that way about me and my music?
“God, honey, when you play like that you make me fall in love with you all over again.”
I smile broadly.
“Does that make sense?” he asks.
The giddiness in my heart breaks loose and I let out a little laugh. “I’ve felt that way about you for years.”
He smiles. “Really?”
“I don’t know how I feel about it being a new experience for you,” I tease.
He smiles and kisses me then, embracing me firmly. I kiss him back and we hold onto each other with relief.
I pull back and put my hand on his cheek.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter 22
Two months later, Erik’s mom is back at home and mostly recovered from her surgery. After seeing how Erik’s handled the results of the Hess Competition, she’s softened her approach towards me and has been more supportive in general. We’ve even discovered we have something in common: a mutual love of Nutter Butters. It’s not much, but it’s a start.
Meanwhile, our careers have taken a turn no one could have anticipated, thanks to the meddling of Sam and Jack.
I had forgotten all about the video Sam took of Erik and me playing together at the Rivers Paradise Resort, but she didn’t forget. After a bit of plotting and scheming, Sam and Jack convinced Chloe and Grayson to post the video to their YouTube channel. Five days and half a million hits later, they let us in on the secret.
Chloe was afraid we’d be mad, but after seeing so many views along with comments like “captivating” and “I couldn’t look away,” why would we be? In fact, at that point, Erik and I started to see a vision of something new.
Grayson and Chloe helped us start a channel of our own, and he helped us get some recording equipment set up so we could make more videos of our collaborations. We’ve posted clips of us playing individually, too. Our new videos have even more hits than the first, which suits me fine since the sound-quality of Sam’s “perfectly fine” phone video kind of sucked.
In the avalanche of emails we’ve received since then, we’ve secured one of the best managers in the industry and he’s currently arranging a ten-stop national tour that will culminate at none other than Lincoln Center.
But for now, Erik and I are enjoying a moment of solitude and normalcy. We’re walking along our old stretch of the Greenbelt, hand in hand. He’s come home with me to Boise and has managed to reconcile with my parents. Before we left the house, my dad even pulled me aside and told me how nice it is to have Erik be part of the family again.
We approach my favorite bridge and draw to a stop at the top. The river dances along below, and the trees rustle lightly as the spring breeze plays through. We lean on the rail, arms touching elbow to shoulder. I can’t help but smile.
I look over at him, the boy I loved who grew into the man I love even more. I nudge him slightly with my hip. He smiles, leans in, and kisses me oh so gently. My heart flutters around in my chest. We pull apart slightly, looking at one another and staying close. What a journey it’s been with Erik so far.
Unless I’m wrong, I have a feeling we’ve only just begun.
The End
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Nuclear Heat (Firework Girls Book 4)
Sam and Jack
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THE COMPLETE
FIREWORK GIRLS SERIES
ISABELLA AND SHANE
Forbidden Heat (Firework Girls #1)
CHLOE AND GRAYSON
Midnight Heat (Firework Girls #2)
ASHLEY AND ERIK
Eternal Heat (Firework Girls #3)
SAM AND JACK
Nuclear Heat (Firework Girls #4)
* * * *
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