Sam and his crew were waiting there with the camera. They hadn’t seen me yet when I heard someone call me.
“Psst. This way.”
I looked to the voice and saw the face I’d missed so much smiling at me. His hair looked lighter, his face, thinner. The blue T-shirt matched the color of his eyes, as he held out his arms.
Dropping my carryon and my violin, I flung myself at him.
“You feel so good, Pix. Are you really here?”
Pulling away to look into his eyes, I nodded. “Hide me for a minute?”
He placed me on my feet, took my hand, and bent down to grab my violin case. “Follow me.”
We snuck around the corner into a hallway, away from Sam and his crew, and I kissed him, hard.
“I’m so happy you’re back,” he murmured against my lips as his fingers tangled in my hair. “Missed you so much.”
Smiling against his mouth, I whispered, “I’m a mess—”
“You’re perfect.” Then he didn’t let me talk anymore as he covered my lips with his again.
Somehow, kissing Josh felt even better than I’d remembered. Maybe, because it was the first time that I’d ever kissed him, knowing that it was right—that it would be forever. No flukes. No ex-boyfriend. No week-long rules. No boundaries. Just us, together, finally.
* * *
Much to my delight, and to Sam’s dismay, Josh had no desire to go to the fraternity formal. Instead, we dressed up and let Sam snap some pictures, then took advantage of Sam’s generosity and spent the weekend in the hotel room he’d provided. Sam had tried to talk us into going to the formal so that he could get some footage, but we were too focused on each other and being alone. He must have sensed our urgency to get naked because he finally gave up and had the limo bring us to the hotel.
As we rode up the crowded elevator, I glanced at him at the same time that he was side-eyeing me. The ding of the elevator reaching our floor felt like a restart for us.
In response, we raced to the room. Within half a minute of locking the door behind us, his tux was off and my hands were on him. Finally. Naked Josh had been all I’d thought about on the trip back.
Hurried, desperate, our hands flying all over, I somehow landed under him on the bed, naked except for my heels. Without small talk, without any talk, Josh tore open a condom and settled between my legs. He said one word to me. “Please?”
And I said one word back. “Yes.”
Once he was inside of me, we both let out a sigh and smiled at each other. Now that we were back together, we could breathe again.
“Hi, Pix,” he said, studying my face, touching my cheek.
“Hunkarama,” I moaned as he pressed into me again. “Ah, I missed you.”
Everything felt right again—like the stars were back in alignment, the moon was in retrograde, whatever—because I knew in my heart that Josh was my forever.
Hours later, finally spent, I wrapped my body around his and rested my head on his shoulder in a state of post-orgasmic bliss. “I’m so glad you picked me,” I murmured, kissing his chest.
“As if there was a chance I wouldn’t. When I saw you on that screen, my whole world opened up again.” He released me and laid on his side, mirroring me. His eyes seemed bluer than I’d remembered. His smile wider. “How long do I have you?” he asked quietly.
“Um,” I heard my voice shake. “Forever?”
He squinted, confused.
“I’m not going back to Vienna.”
When Josh bolted upright, I appreciated that the sheet fell to his waist, giving me the view I’d so missed. “Why not?”
I couldn’t tell from his tone whether he was surprised or angry. I sat up, twisting my hands in my lap. “I decided not to. I got another job offer.”
“What?” He ran a hand through his hair. Crawling behind him, I pressed my bare chest to his back and wrapped my arms around him. “Where?”
I kissed the back of his shoulder. “Charlamagne.”
I’d made the decision the second I stopped recording the video for Josh and knew it was the right one. Following my own path meant going after what I wanted, and mostly, I wanted Josh.
He stiffened in my arms, and I held my breath. Babbling to cover his silence, I tried to explain the events of the last couple of weeks. “Um, I sent the Charlamagne symphony orchestra a video audition, got references from Vienna and Dr. Goodson, and begged them for a chance. They had an opening…”
I waited, but Josh said nothing. I thought his silence meant that my secret surprise wasn’t appreciated. That he didn’t want me to be with him permanently.
Rambling to fill the silence, I continued, “I’m making the move to Virginia. I think I want to apply to grad schools to get my Masters in music therapy. I remember telling you about my childhood and how music always soothed me. I mean, I don’t know, maybe I can help someone through music too.”
Finally, Josh turned to look over his shoulder at me. His eyes danced. “You’re really staying?”
I gulped, still unsure of his reaction. “Well, yeah...”
“But you love New York.”
“I love you more. I want to be with you.”
He pulled me into a hug—a hug so strong that it felt like he wanted to smush me right into his heart. He buried his face in my hair, his nose in my neck.
Then I realized that he wasn’t upset; he was happy. My burly, hot superhero was laughing.
“I only have one problem,” I whispered, weaving my fingers through his hair.
He took a long second before pulling away, his bright smile lighting the room. “What’s that?”
“I have no place to live.” I lifted my eyebrows. “Rachel said Sam’s moving into Mill Street soon for the summer.”
He rested his forehead against mine. “I know a great apartment at Campus Apartments. We get to keep it until graduation.”
“Yeah?” I feigned shock. “Maybe there’s room for me?”
He rolled his eyes. “You, your nightlights, your throw pillows, your flowers…”
“You love my stuff.” I playfully smacked him. “After graduation, I’ll have to find a place in Charlamagne.”
“Hmm.” He squinted, pretending to think. “I know of an apartment there too.” He traced a finger down my arm.
“I couldn’t take your place from you. You have the job—”
“We could share it. I mean, technically, I could move back home but maybe I’ll spend a lot of time there. Teach you to drive. You’ll need to be close to your work.”
“You would do that for me?” I asked. “You’d want to?”
Holding my cheeks, he looked into my eyes. “Don’t you know? I would do anything for you. I also love you and yes, I want you near me. All the time.”
Letting out a long breath, I wrapped my arms around him. “I love you too. And I want to be near you. All the time.”
He returned my embrace. “Damn, you’re a dream come true, Pix. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You were you,” I whispered. “And you let me be me. That’s all.”
“That’s all,” he repeated, his lips finding mine again. “Forever.”
“Forever.” The word never felt so right, in every way.
Epilogue
Josh
Oliver and Taryn sat across from us at Luke’s Diner, cashing in on the meal we’d promised them for helping me and Violet move our stuff out of Campus Apartments and down to the Charlamagne apartment.
Of course, while Ollie, Taryn, Vi, and me had moved furniture out of the rental truck, Sam had spent the day with Sierra, who probably needed oxygen at this point, giving her tips and encouraging her about her fledgling YouTalker channel. Rachel had gone with him, telling me that the four of us needed alone time to rebond and work out our issues. My entire family, not just Sierra, had been smitten with Sam. He was a sport about it, and I couldn’t love the guy more. And of course, the girls loved Rachel. Charlie, apparently, had asked to dye her own ha
ir red.
I held Violet’s hand under the table as we ordered four lunch specials and waited to see what would arrive. Lunch special could mean anything, depending on Luke’s mood.
“How does it feel to be college graduates?” Ollie asked, looking around the table. “I feel like such a loser.”
Taryn put her arm around him. Her blond hair was longer than I remembered and her skin more tan. She and Ollie looked like they were born from the sand of the beach and couldn’t be happier about it. “Aw, don’t worry, Nerdilicious. You’ll get there soon, and when you do, we’re going to throw a huge party.”
He kissed her cheek. “I can’t wait.”
I peeked at Violet. She gave my hand a squeeze. I couldn’t say it wasn’t awkward to be coupled off this way, but I could say the four of us seemed happier than we ever had.
Violet grinned at Taryn. “I hope that party’s in San Diego though. I’d want to come out and visit.”
Taryn gasped. “You would? I’d love that so much.”
The two of them had had a long talk after the graduation ceremony. Violet hadn’t told me much, except that they’d cleared the air and decided to move on. They missed each other, I knew, and I was glad they were repairing their friendship, especially since the four of us were going to be forever. “Josh,” Vi had told me when I asked her if she and Taryn were okay, “since we’ve been together, I barely remember my life before you. Everything’s about the future now, not the past.”
The pathetic, love-sick idiot still lived inside of me. “I love you,” I had said, hardly believing that she was mine and that she wasn’t going to disappear.
After lunch, we drove Taryn and Oliver to the airport for their flight to California and then dropped Sam and Rachel at the train station to go back to NJU. I couldn’t have been happier to say goodbye to the crew.
“Home sweet home,” I said, pulling into a spot in front of our apartment.
Technically, the apartment was Violet’s now, and I was living back home with my family. My job with Charlamagne Parks and Rec started in two weeks, and Vi was rehearsing with the symphony orchestra and applying to graduate programs. Even though we weren’t living together, I had no doubt that I’d be spending most of my time there, with her. It was where I belonged, where we belonged.
“I know it’s mean, but I’m glad they’re all gone,” she said, reaching around my waist as we walked to the door. “I think we need to have a nice, quiet night together. Just you and me…maybe wine…Netflix…kissing…”
“Hmm,” I murmured, finding my key. “That sounds amazing.”
“Have I told you how ridiculous you are, Hunkarama?” She pressed her body against my back, squeezing me as I fumbled with the keys. “I can’t wait to get you naked.”
Damn, I needed to get her inside. Once I managed to concentrate to open the door, I closed it behind her, pulling Violet into my arms and kissing her in the entryway. She pressed me back against the stairs until I was sitting on them, with her straddling me. I couldn’t imagine a life better than the one I had, better than the future that we’d planned together. “Have I told you how happy I am that you’re here?”
Chills traveled up my spine as she kissed down my neck. “About eight thousand times.”
“For the eight-thousandth-and-first time, I’m so happy to have you here.” When our lips met again, I loved the intent—the intent to get naked as quickly as possible. Netflix could wait.
After crawling up the stairs while making out, we reached the door to the apartment and stepped into the dark living room, our lips never leaving each other. I spun around and pressed her back against the wall. “Violet,” her name came out as a moan.
Then the lights turned on.
Temporarily blinded, I jumped when voices yelled, “Surprise!”
Without turning to look, I leaned my forehead against Violet’s. We smiled at each other, eyes wide.
“Ew, they’re making out!” Charlie.
“They are?” Grannie.
Violet and I turned to the group, our cheeks touching, until Violet slid down the wall and onto her own two feet. Charlie giggled, hiding her eyes with her hands.
“Violet Grace!” Violet’s mother looked mortified, but Vi’s father chuckled. That they’d made the trip meant a lot to me, and I could imagine Violet too. Violet’s mom turned to my mom and apologized. “I didn’t raise her that way.” My mom just shrugged. Our parents were like night and day, but they’d have to get used to each other because Vi and I were in it for the long haul.
Sierra walked closer, recording us with her new, Sam-approved device. “Is this how it’s going to be with you two from now on? I’ve seen my brother making out way too many times for us to have a normal relationship.”
“Aw, stop! They’re cute!” Amelia grabbed Dom’s arm and gawked at us. “We wanted to wait until you were officially moved back to celebrate your graduation. Are you surprised?”
Dom chuckled. “I’m pretty sure they are.”
Violet looked back to me and blushed. “Do you believe this?” she whispered.
I shook my head, still holding her close. Over her shoulder, our families, including Elmo, stared at us from in front of a banner that read Happy Graduation! Food had been set up, along with a cake and a peach cobbler.
Violet wiggled out of my grasp and turned to walk to the group. “Oh, what a surprise! This is the sweetest thing. Thank you so much. We were just saying how we wanted to party tonight, and now the party came to us.” She spun around to me. “Ready, Hunkarama?”
I almost said no and kicked them all out. But Violet tilted her head and caught my gaze. She winked at me, and I saw her. All of her in that simple gesture—sexy, sweet, snarky, smart. Everything Violet.
And I fell in love even more.
I winked back. “Oh, I’m ready, Pix. Bring it on.”
THE END
Sneak Peek of Taking it Back (Mill Street Series #3)
Chapter 1
Sam
For the first time in six years, I had nothing to do. Actually, I had a million things to do, in theory, but nothing to actually do for the moment.
I paced my new housing assignment, an apartment that I’d be sharing for the rest of the semester with Josh King, a football player. After my latest stunt, a jump off Sheridan Hall that had landed me in the emergency room, the New Jersey University powers that be moved me off the main campus, into the slot vacated by Josh’s prior roommate on the outskirts of the university. I’d promised to behave—and to plug NJU to the sixteen million subs on my YouTalker channel.
They say first impressions are everything. Unfortunately, the one I’d made on my new roommate made me cringe. After walking in on him naked and making out with his “she’s-not-my-girlfriend” girlfriend, I’d apparently wreaked havoc in their lives. She’d left, he’d followed her, and then he’d returned angry and gone to bed.
It was also Saturday night, and I was bored. Which was why I was walking in circles in my new living room. To make matters worse my crew was missing in action, I had no equipment with me besides my phone, and my father had somehow gotten wind of everything, as evidenced by his ten text messages glaring at me.
Ignoring my father’s messages for the moment, I group texted my crew—Shane, my assistant and manager, Tomas, my social media and events guy, and Cody, my editor and techie.
Me: Where you kids at?
They responded immediately.
Shane: It’s Saturday night. We’re drinking.
Tomas: Meet us at The Study.
I tossed around the idea. The Study was loud, crowded, and the food sucked. Luckily, the university crowd was used to me being around there though, and besides being asked to take a selfie once in a while, or a random clip of me showing up on social media, everyone pretty much left me alone. Still, I wasn’t sure I was in the mood to deal.
My phone chimed.
Dad: Your mother needs to hear your voice.
Ever since I’d started my �
�Samsational” YouTalker channel, my parents begged me to stop, claiming I was stealing years off of their lives and giving them grey hair. I’d promised them I’d go to college when I made my first million. I’d made more than that years ago, and finally had to own up to my end of the bargain. Unfortunately, I was way better at being a YouTalker than I was at being a college student, but come hell or high water, I’d get that degree. Because no matter how much money and success I got from YouTalker, my parents wouldn’t be happy until I was holding that damn college diploma.
I called my mother’s number, but my father picked up on the first ring. “Are you okay?” he asked, without offering a greeting. “How’s your ankle?”
I wedged the phone between my shoulder and ear and eyed my skateboard, debating a trip to The Study. I’d probably need a drink after this call. “It’s okay. Please don’t worry. I swear I’m fine.”
“You can’t keep breaking bones, Sampson,” Dad said. “Your mother almost had a heart attack when she saw you jump off that building.”
“I just sprained my ankle. It barely hurts. I’m skateboarding so it’s not that bad.” I lied for the sake of their sanity, knowing my parents would never stop worrying about me. After six years of risking life and limb for the sake of my YouTalker viewers, two of those years at NJU, they should have known better than to worry. Nothing broke me permanently, in a physical sense at least. “Why are you guys even watching my channel? I thought you’d decided that it wasn’t good for your health.”
Dad sighed into the phone. I was familiar with the sounds of his exasperation. “It’s terrible for our health. I just want you to be a normal college student. Is that too much to ask?”
Being normal sounded like a dream, but normal wouldn’t get me ratings and advertisers. “I gotta go, Dad. Tell Mom I’ll call tomorrow.”
Jittery, I kicked up the skateboard and darted out of the apartment, right past my new, top of the line, luxury sedan. With so much of my YouTalker work requiring me to be hunched over a laptop or in a soundproof studio, whenever I could get outside, get moving, I did. My hands shoved in my hoodie pockets, I controlled the board with my lower body, ignoring my aching ankle as I made my way to North Campus and Mill Street, toward The Study.
Making the Move: Mill Street Series #2 Page 24
