Page 36 of Clueless
“It’s not that.”I covered my hand with his before leaning in to kiss him good-night.“I’ve had a wonderful night, thank you.”
“Grace, come on.You’re not leaving, are you?”
I nodded.“I need to, but please don’t think it’s anything you said or did.I just need a little time alone to figure things out, that’s all.”
He reached for my hand, his eyes pleading.“Don’t leave like this.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said, curling my hand around his face.“I don’t know why I started pushing you like that tonight.It’s not like me.I’m not the type who likes to rush into things, but with you I can’t seem to help myself.”
He stood, wrapping his hands around my head as he pressed his lips to my forehead.“And maybe that’s not a bad thing.Please, don’t let it be a bad thing.”
“I’m not saying it is.Just that I need to figure out what it is, why I feel this way when I’m around you.”
“And when I’m with you,” he said, taking my hand and placing it on his chest.“My heart races.I feel good.Excited.Turned on.”He lowered my hand to his flat stomach.“And my gut clenches when I think I’ve said or done something wrong and you’re going to walk out on me again.”
I loved how vulnerable he was willing to be with me.It was a quality I’d always wanted, but never found in another man.“I’m not walking out on you,” I whispered.“Just saying goodnight, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He brought my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips against my palm.“Promise?”
How did he put the squeeze on my heart with innocent questions like that?“I promise.”
ChapterTwelve
Taz
I’d been in the studio all week, laying down tracks with the producer everyone wanted to work with: Austin Keller.He’d been challenging me on everything.Making me shout, growl, grunt, and throw things.And he was loving every minute of my meltdowns, claiming that’s how epic music was made, by going into the darkness to get to the light.
I didn’t know what the hell that meant, but by the end of day five, I felt like I’d worked an eighty-hour week swinging a hammer and hanging drywall.
“Let me take you out for a beer,” Austin said, slapping me on the back.“You’ve earned it.”
“Yeah, sounds good.Just give me a minute to text my girl.I’m supposed to meet up with her later.”Since the dinner at my place, we’d seen each other every night, and that was over a week ago.
After she walked out on me that night, I laid awake, staring at the ceiling.Re-playing every word we’d said to each other.And I realized one thing, the only thing that mattered: I wanted her with me.I didn’t care what the hell we called it.If she wanted to put a label on it, we could.But I knew I’d never craved someone like that before, and couldn’t let it end.
I held up my phone after reading the text she’d sent me while I was recording.“She says she’s going to Jimmy’s to grab a drink with a friend.You mind if we head over there for that beer, just in case they need a ride home?”
“Sure, Jimmy’s sounds good.”
“Cool, I’ll meet you there.”
Walking out to my truck, I took a minute to just breathe.Soak in the day.I’d been in a recording studio.Working with the most sought-after producer in Nashville.Cutting an album for a top label.Sleeping with a woman who was way out of my league.Preparing to go on the road with a country music superstar, who’d become a friend.
Life was crazy-good right now.But I didn’t want to jinx it by dwelling on it too long.
Just after I fired up the engine, Avery’s name flashed across the screen.“Hey, Avery.What’s up?”
“I am going to make your day, your week, your month, and your year.Which is saying a lot, because it’s already been pretty epic, right?”
“Uh, yeah.”My heart started racing, because there was only one thing that would edge out everything else.“Go ahead.”
“Are you sitting down?”
“I’m driving.Just spit it out already!”
She laughed.“Quinn said she’d take your call.”
“What?”I could feel the thrum of my heartbeat in my ears as I white-knuckled the steering wheel.“Seriously?When?”
