by Yessi Smith
It makes my heart ache as it drums loudly in my ear. I take in his chest. It’s broad, the light brown skin pulled back, his muscles twitching and dancing under my scrutiny.
He places both hands on the bed to ease himself down and I ignore it – the long veins that travel the length of his arm, the extensive tattoos that create this beautiful chaos. It somehow makes perfect sense.
I pull the sheet to his chin and angle my head to the bathroom.
“Be right back,” I say.
He closes his eyes and I scurry away. Scared. Scared of these emotions I have no control over. Not when it comes to Brandon. I turn on the hot water and when it turns warm, I take a small wash cloth and wet it. I wring it out. Satisfied, I go back to Brandon and sit on his bed where two bottles of water rest on his night stand.
A lazy smile tilts his lips up but he keeps his eyes closed.
“You have some blood on your face.”
He turns from me and groans. Stifling a giggle, I grip his shoulder and guide him to his back. He really is a big baby.
“I’ll be gentle,” I promise. “I just want to clean it off.”
His eyes search mine and he seems to find whatever he was looking for. “I trust you.”
I trust you. Those words circle in my mind as I carefully clean him up. They’re just words, but hold so much weight, so much power.
To someone like me, who doesn’t trust easily, they’re everything.
“I trust you, too.”
Chapter Nine
Maria
He follows me even in my sleep. His fingers brush featherlight touches across my face. I part my lips and sigh.
His sweet lips touch mine. I wrap my hands around his neck and deepen the kiss.
“Ow,” he hisses out.
Dragged out of my haze, I pull away from Brandon. “Shit. Your nose. Are you okay? No, wait, this is your fault.” I scowl and he smirks. “You kissed me.”
“It was well worth the pain. How’d you sleep?”
“Better than I’ve ever slept,” I admit.
He tucks me into his chest and I stay there, happy to feel his warm skin against mine. “Me too, but we should probably get up and give Gabe a rest from Ada.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter. “I’ll start coffee before she wakes up. Nothing worse than hearing her scream for milk before I’ve self-medicated with caffeine.”
He chuckles and it’s so light and warm, I wiggle even more into his side.
“Never pictured you as a cuddler,” he teases.
“You got me a camera.”
His hands still on my back and I feel his body tense beside me.
“Royce told me,” I say when he remains quiet.
“Are you angry?” he asks.
“I should be. You’ve done too much for my family and me, but the camera.” I let out an exasperated huff. “I haven’t even seen it and I already know I’ll love it. I can’t believe you got me a camera, Brandon. Thank you.”
The tension from his body melts away and his fingers start their seductive dance over my skin. “You’re welcome. Mind if I shower?”
It’s such an odd question, yet it endears me to him even more. “Go ahead, but be careful with your face. You’re kind of a wuss.”
He pushes me away from him and when his cold, cold feet touch my back, I squeal. I leave his room with my middle finger waving in the air and his laughter trailing behind me.
While he showers, I make coffee and then rummage through his kitchen. Finding everything I could possibly need, I start cooking breakfast. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, potatoes, sausage. I make everything I can make that’ll pass for breakfast. The wafting aroma wakes my brother up and he tip-toes out of his room.
He kisses my cheek before he pours himself a cup of coffee and refills mine.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask him.
He stands in front of the stove with me and flips the bacon over. “Not bad. She didn’t wake up until four.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “You shouldn’t be the one having to wake up and feed her.”
“Neither should you, but you do it every night. I was thinking, maybe I can help out and she can sleep with me a couple nights every week.”
I shoot him a sideways glance and ask, “What’s gotten into you? Don’t get me wrong, I love everything you’ve been doing, but why now?”
He shrugs. “You gave me enough money for diapers and wipes the other night but I was gonna steal them anyway because, hell, Maria, it’s not like we have money to waste. Brandon stopped me and he told me whatever I was stealing wasn’t worth getting shot for. He grabbed my bookbag and went to the counter with it. When he saw what was in it, he told me to grab whatever else we needed. I dunno.” His voice breaks and he coughs to clear it. “If he hadn’t been there, I would’ve stolen everything and Mr. Mendes would’ve shot me. I saw him bend behind the register, but I thought he was full of shit and when I went to the cash register I saw his gun. He would’ve shot me that night. For wipes and diapers. And I don’t want to leave you because I’m too stupid to listen to you.”
My chest squeezes and tightens around my heart and I swear I can hear it the moment it cracks open. I take his face in my hands before I bring him in for a hug.
“You’re not stupid, Gabe. Hard headed, yes, but never stupid.”
“It’s not like you’ve had it any easier than me,” he whispers into my hair.
Bacon crackles in the background but I leave it, not caring if the food burns. He and I will eat it anyway. And Brandon, well I guess I can make him unburnt food next time.
Yeah, next time.
“I don’t want to make things harder for you. If I can help, I want to. Okay?” he asks.
“Sure.”
He pulls away and when we both turn back to the stove, he bumps his thigh with mine.
Gabe, Ada and me? We’re going to be just fine.
Chapter Ten
Brandon
Blinding spotlights shine down on us like the sun. I take it in along with the welcoming cheers from the crowd.
Every show, we cast our hearts out into the arena, our music speaking what we’re incapable of saying, and this is our reward.
It’s not the fame. Hell, it’s not even the money.
It’s this. It’s them. The fans standing on their feet. Clapping. Screaming. Wanting more.
I give it all to them. A man hungry for their love. Starving for an endless night without a finale. Where I don’t have to go back to my empty hotel room.
Only this time, it’s not empty. And if I can convince Maria otherwise, it’ll rarely ever be empty again.
I want to wake up to her every day like I did this morning.
I want to brush the dark tendrils of hair from her face and trace a finger over her cheekbone, across her chin and to her mouth. I want to watch her wake up slowly.
It’s a scene I want to repeat over and over again.
From my periphery, I spot her blending into her surroundings as she photographs our show. I scream a final good night into the microphone and hold a hand up in the air. Maria lifts the camera to her face and from here, I know she nailed the angle.
Gorgeous and talented.
And mine.
Along with her pain in the ass brother who’s been watching our show from backstage, just like I promised. And her little sister who stayed in my hotel suite with Leah. Pretty sure I won’t have a problem convincing Leah to add babysitting to her list of duties. And although I know she’d do it with only a few sarcastic remarks, I make a mental note to increase her salary.
Royce bumps my shoulder when I give our audience my back. “You gonna go get your girl?”
I turn my head to follow his gaze to Maria, who’s camera is pointed at us.
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Long strides carry me to her as I edge farther away from the roaring crowd. I offer her my hand when I reach her and she takes it. It feels right, like this is where she belongs. Her lips s
pread and a soft sigh hits my face.
“That was amazing!” she shouts, hugging her arms around my neck.
Snaking a hand around her waist, I pull her closer to me. “You or me?” I whisper, nipping at her ear.
“Me, obviously.”
With her ear between my teeth, I tug and she slaps my shoulder.
“You weren’t too bad yourself, Rock God. But I need to get out of these shoes. They’re killing me.”
“Death by shoes doesn’t sound as exciting as death by multiple orgasms. Maybe you should hold off on dying until I have you beneath me.”
Against my neck, I feel her lips twitch. “Finally!”
She skirts away from me and does this weird little celebratory dance. The sides of my lips kick up even higher.
“There’s one condition before you can have all of this.” I wave a hand around my body.
She throws her brows to her hairline. “You want to get to know me even better?” she gripes.
“Oh for shit’s sake, Maria,” I grumble. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel this… whatever it is we have. It’s something more than just sex or…”
“Brandon…”
“… whatever. I know you don’t think you have the time or space for me but…”
“Brandon…”
“… what about us? It’s crazy. I know it is. But would it be that awful to travel with us as a photographer?” I rush out. “I know you probably think the road isn’t a life for kids, but we can make it work. Or at least, you could give it a try. We could homeschool Gabe and I dunno, we can be a team with Ada and Gabe and when our relationship works out – because I swear to you, Maria, we will work because I won’t stop trying, and you’ll come to love me as much as I know I can love you, we can show them what a family can look like. It’d be just like any normal couple, except…”
“Except you’re Brandon Wright,” she cuts me off.
My chest heaves as her words thunder in my ears. And damn it, I want to shake her, yell at her. I’m more than the music, more than the fame. I thought she’d at least know that by now.
I know she’s scared and I get it, I really do. She’s scared, but so am I. Sometimes you have to push past that fear and reach for more.
“You’re this stranger who came into my life and made me want to hope and believe in silly dreams.” She reaches for me and caresses a cheek with her soft hands. Her eyes search mine and I hope mine show her everything she needs to know. “You’re this incredible, beautiful man who reminded me what it’s like to have butterflies fly in my belly, and I don’t know how to say yes or no to you anymore. Do you even know what you’re asking, Brandon? You’re not asking me out on a date, but to take on my family, my responsibilities.”
“I’m asking you to be by my side with two kids I already care about. They’re not a burden and neither are you.”
That beautiful smile I seem to work so hard for reaches her eyes and it fills me.
“You want me to travel with you? With the kids?”
“Yes.” I bob my head. “Or if you want to stay here, stay, and I’ll fly you guys out to shows and come visit when I can.”
“But either way, you want me? You want us?” She sucks in her bottom lip and bites down.
My chest tightens and again, I nod. “All three of you.”
Tears brim from behind her eyes but when her lips spread even wider, it hits my chest and I swear my heart sings.
“Do you think we met by accident?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. “I think you were sent to me, Brandon. You forced me to find the silver lining. No one ever meets by chance or luck.” She presses her lips hard against mine and says, “You were sent to me so I could start a new life with you. I want to give us a chance and see how perfect we turn out.”
I pull her tight against my chest and rest my chin on the top of her head. Her heart beats against mine and tonight... tonight life gives us our fairytale.
‘I want to give us a shot.” She tilts her head up to look at me. “Lets see how perfect we can be.”
Also by Yessi Smith
Life’s A Cappella
Our A Cappella
Love, Always
New Forever
Life Interrupted
Pieces of Camden
Quietly Making Noise
About the Author
Yessi Smith lives in South Florida with her husband and two sons. She is also owned by a neurotic Border Collie and “ferocious” Rottweiler.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Human Resource Management and has held several jobs, from picking up dog poop to upper management positions. And now she hopes to leave the business world behind so she can live full time in a world that does not exist until she places her fingers on a keyboard and brings them to fruition.
If you'd like to hang out with Yessi, join her in her reader group on Facebook.
The Song
By Rachel Van Dyken
Chapter One
Gabe
I pounded the keys so hard, I was pretty sure my fingers were going to come off, all ten of them. I pounded the piano again, and again, and again.
Then checked the clock.
An hour? It had only been an hour?
What the hell had possessed me to say yes to my wife?
Other than the fact that she took off her shirt and dared me to look away, which worked for maybe a second before I was kissing her, throwing clothes all over the floor even when she tried to cover herself up like she wasn’t worthy of my mouth on each perfect breast.
I listened for a noise, for anything really, I’d be happy even if it was screaming, cursing, but nothing.
Nothing.
I pounded the keys again, my mind completely numb. I hated feeling like I couldn’t control things, and though I’d like to think I’d come a long way since college — I still had OCD tendencies when it came to the people I loved.
I still wanted to make things better.
Shittttt.
I banged on the keys a few more times, then heard a soft knock, I rammed my knee into the piano as I jerked around, only to see Zane Andrews leaning against the wall with a worried expression.
“What?” I shot off the bench. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I started moving past him, he stopped me with his arm and shoved me back. “Zane, swear I will physically—“
“—dude, stop.” He rolled his eyes, he was only a few years younger than me but looked like he could be my brother, minus all of my piercings and tattoos. Okay so a brother who didn’t have a fascination with ink and trying to hide from his adoring fans.
I’d gone dark for two years.
And the minute I’d stepped back into the limelight as Gabe “Ashton” Hyde, the world started spinning again — out of control, in the best way possible, because I had Saylor, my wife along for the ride.
“Is she okay?” I asked again.
Zane leveled me with a glare and sighed heavily. “I literally just walked in the door, you haven’t been answering my texts, everyone’s worried about you, and from what I just heard on that piano, they have a reason to be.”
I balled my hand into a tight fist. “Everyone, huh?”
“Will,” He fired off the name of my new agent. “Demetri, Alec,” AD2 two of my best friends and tour mates from a few years back, “Wes…” his voice trailed off.
I hung my head.
“Me.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “Look, this is normal, everything about what’s going on upstairs, completely and totally—“
“—GET IT OUT!”
“Normal.” He winced.
I cringed. “That’s not normal, man.”
“It says so on the Discovery Channel.” He smirked, and then winced when I punched him in the shoulder only to have my wife scream more expletives with my name peppered in between.
“Damn,” Zane looked up at the ceiling. “Your wife hates you.”
“I can’t do this, I ca
n’t just sit here. I’m going to go crazy and lose my mind and then my son or daughter is going to grow up without a father.”
“Really, man?” Zane stepped further into the room. “She requested a water birth, there’s a doctor, two nurses, and a freaking midwife upstairs, I think she’s going to be okay, plus she’s a nurse, she knows her own body.”
“Stop repeating what she said last night.”
Zane chuckled. “Yeah, okay, but still. She’s going to be fine, and the minute the baby is getting ready to make his or her appearance, she’s going to call you upstairs, punch you in the throat, then push out little Gabe Jr. Cake.”
I sighed, but not in relief.
She’d been having contractions for the past few hours and all I kept thinking was that it wasn’t normal, something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Maybe it was me.
“I just,” I hung my head as shame washed over me. “I’ve lost so much—“ My voice cracked. “Selfish huh? To be so worried about her, when really I think I’m worried about me. I can’t live without her. I won’t.” And that’s what scared me the most.
On good days I knew she’d want me to go on, to live my life.
On bad days, I realized that I couldn’t live — without her in it.
“Okay you’re depressing as shit,” Zane ran a hand through his hair. “I dropped by to see if we could work on the new track but from the sound of whatever crap that came from you and that poor abused piano earlier, you aren’t capable of doing anything but worrying.”
I slumped down by the piano just as another knock sounded on the door. Wes didn’t even ask to come in, just waltzed right in like he owned the place and smiled his perfect smile, the one that made millions of women melt every Football game when he attempted to beat the Bellevue Bucks, and throw more touchdowns.
“Uncle Gabe! Uncle Gabe!” Jill came running toward me so fast she nearly knocked me backward off the piano bench. “I lost a tooth!”
I chuckled and returned her tiny hug. She was literally one of my favorite people, even over Wes, I told him often. He agreed it was only natural since Kiersten his wife, was perfect.
