Page 49 of Expressionate
"He went easy on him," Blake admits. "But if you're looking for him, he's probably in the living room by now. We're gonna head inside, too; I hear there's a pool tablesomewhere."
"Nice, alright then, see you guys later." I wave them off, taking Love's hand and leading her up the porch. "Come on, Lovely, let me introduce you toSarge."
Inside, the house is coated with the heavy scent and weight of cigarette smoke. I find Sarge in the living room just as Blake predicted. The heavily tattooed, former musician sits like a King on a throne and, of course, the motherfucker has a nice, fat cigar between his lips, and two girls on either side ofhim.
“Tax!” he booms across the room when he catches sight of me. Love starts, jerking her arm away from mine in surprise. Before I can reassure her, Sarge is on his feet and powering towards us. He wraps me up in those beefy arms of his and nearly crushes me with his grip. “Good to see you, man! Where the hell have you been?” heasks.
I grunt as he releases me and slaps me on the back, a wicked grin at the ready on his lips. “Hiding from the Giant of BloodSayer,” Ireply.
His face mock falls. “Aw, come on, man, I ain’t gone by that in a long damn time. I don’t play anymore. Got my arm broken in a bar fight,” he admits albeit a bit sheepishly. “Fingers got a little nerve damage, can’t play as well as I usedto.”
“No more guitar?” I’m shocked. “I’m sorry, man. That sucks majorass.”
“Nah. It’s alright. You know I wasn’t all that serious about it anyway. Not like you were.” His sharp eyes turn to Love. “Now who’s this pretty lady you got withyou?”
I pull her closer, tucking her against my chest. “This is my girlfriend—” Holy fuck that felt good to say. I don’t even stop to give her a chance to deny it. “—Love.”
“Love?” He looks down at her curiously. “That a name or a nickname,sweetheart?”
I narrow my gaze at him, but Love’s hand brushes my chest as she leans her head against me and smiles at my old friend. “It’s my name,” she says. “Rather strange, Iknow.”
“Nah, not at all, sweetheart. Not any stranger than Sargent.” She reaches out to shake his hand, but the bastard just takes it and lifts her fingers to his lips, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles. “But you let me know if my boy Tax ever gives you any trouble, sweetheart. I’ll take care of ya. Sarge can make all your troubles goaway.”
“No the hell you won’t, asshole,” I snap, pushing himaway.
Sarge lets out a bellow of a laugh. “Never seen you get so possessive, man,” he teases. “Then again, never seen you introduce a chick as your girlfriend either. First time for everything Isuppose.”
I look down at Love – at her amused, but sublimely happy expression: another first that I’ve seen, and I know he’s right. “Yeah,” I say. “First andlast.”
Sarge slaps me on the back again, nearly making me stumble. I shoot him a glare, but he’s smiling so wide, his eyes are crinkled in the corners. “Why don’t you take her out back? Some of the boys from BloodSayer are out there running the DJ booth. It ain’t nothing much, but I’m sure your little Love there would enjoy a dance ortwo.”
I nod and look down. “You want to dance?” I askher.
She shrugs. “I’m not much of a dancer, but I wouldn’t mind trying withyou.”
I wave goodbye to Sarge and lead her towards the back patio. There are more than enough people to fill up the back-yard. Sarge looks like he’s invited half the damn neighborhood. And just like he said, I catch a glimpse of Rocks and Morgan – the other two members that were once with BloodSayer. Morgan’s red hair gleams in the lantern lights as she and Rocks stand side by side. Speakers pound out rock ballads and couples gather on the concrete slab just outside the back doors, swaying to thebeat.
I take Love in my arms and stop. Just...stop. It feels like everything has slowed until time stands frozen. I see her face, gazing up at me. Those luminescent eyes of hers nearly glowing in the darkness of the backyard. A smoky haze blocks out the rest. The song is almost upbeat, almost happy...but it's something more. The lyrics sink into my veins and for a minute, I'm stone-coldsober.
She pulls closer to my chest, the pale skin of her throat right there as she turns her head and rests it on my shoulder. I blink, but the spell isn't broken. No, it's speeding up – I'm thrown forward. I see an entire life I never imagined. Her, with her gorgeous sometimes-sad smile, dressed in gold and white on a runway of rose petals heading my way. I see her in tears, clutching the fabric of my shirt. I don't know what has made her cry, but she's holding me, begging me, to keep her, to help her, to just hold her when she needs it. And Ido.
I hold her for the longest time – for years. Because that's what I see for us. I see years and years ofus.
I need her, I realize. Because it's not just seeing her in a wedding dress, smiling at me. It's not just seeing her crying and sad and heartbroken. It's seeing her with pets and animals surrounding her legs, looking up at me like I'm the sun and the moon and the stars – when she doesn't even realize she's all of that and more tome.
I squeeze her closer to me, feeling her heart beat against my chest. It's like a tiny bird. Like a dozen tiny birds, their wings flapping as they try to lift off. I look down again and smile when I catch a glimpse of the birds on her back shoulder and arm, flying off the branches of a barren tree etched into her white skin. No, it's not barren. It's waiting. Waiting for spring. I want to be that for her. I want to be Lovely's spring. I want it so badly, I know I'll kill the monstrous winter that keeps her entrapped if I haveto.
As the song comes to an end and her feet stop, mine do as well. Love pulls back, and I cup her cheeks, surprising her. I can see her – transparent, a ghost in my past, present, and future. I press my lips to hers, my eyes remaining open. I want to see all ofher.
Love's eyes meet mine and though she seems shocked, she lets me press her mouth open and touch my tongue to hers. I watch her, waiting, wondering. She doesn't tense. She doesn't pull away. She isn’t retreating. No, she's here with me. Then she's opening her mouth fully and kissing me back like she sees it too. Or maybe she just sees the potential. I don't know. All I do know is that it's the most electric kiss I've ever had in mylife.
This kiss is the kind of kiss that can wreck civilizations, decimate cities, and it would bring me to my knees if I weren't so set on keeping our lips pressed together. I would do anything in this moment to stop the clock, anything to hold her forever. But my Lovely is like the birds on her skin. She needs to be set free before I can hold her forever. I'll wait because she's worth it. She'll always be worthit.
17
Love
Idon’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed. If I have, I can’t remember. Tax’s hands are on me. I feel like he hasn’t stopped touching me all night and…I likethat.
