Page 117 of Last Letters to Ara
“You mean that bartender who made sure you got home safely after you got wasted?”
“The one and only.”
Lou whistles. “Where do you find these guys?”
?“I wonder what he’s doing here. He looks even more broody than the last time I saw him.”
The girl who was just drooling over Connor walks up to Ryder, and the feeling I get is similar to being unable to look away from a car accident. She walks up, tits out, and Ryder looks directly at her, not bothering to hide his disdain as he takes in her posture, rolls his eyes, and walks in the other direction.
“Ouch,” Lou swears. “Gotta admire her hustle, though.”
I open my mouth to agree when warm arms wrap around my waist, Theo’s scent invading my senses as he pulls me against him, placing a quick kiss on the crown of my head.
“Thank fuckthisis happening.” Connor drawls as he waves toward me and Theo. I don’t know why, but I already love the idiot. He reaches over, musses my hair with an almost-noogie, and I silently hope it doesn’t become our thing. “Evenmyballs were about to burst.”
“Good to see you again, too,” I say playfully. “This is my best friend, Lou.”
“She means sister,” Lou corrects as she puts her hand out to Connor for an introductory shake. “I’m from the South.”
Connor smiles at her and shakes her hand. “I’m from Down Under.”
Theo squeezes me, and I know this moment means the world to him.
Us. Together. With our friends.
It means the world to me, too.
Curiosity eventually gets the best of me. “What’s Ryder doing here?”
“My lead singer is MIA, probably on some sort of bender. It wouldn’t be the first time.” Connor shrugs. “This is our biggest opening set to date, and there was no way we could back out. I wouldn’t let this opportunity be ruined for the rest of the band. They deserve it.”
This side of him is one I haven’t seen before. He’s passionate, responsible, caring, and a leader. This is the Connor who saved Theo’s life.
“Ryder is sort of my mate, and the only one with a voice good enough to step in on such short notice. Turns out he has a good memory, too, because he learned our songs within a night. Granted, neither of us slept.” Connor takes a sip of his energy drink at the reminder. Then he adds, almost as a quiet afterthought, not meant for everyone to hear, “He could benefit from having another focus anyway.”
I don’t miss the look Connor shares with Theo, but I let it go.
“Oh, and Happy Birthday, Ara,” Connor says with a grin.
“Thank you. It’s been a good one.” A blush rises to my cheeks at the thought of the letter, the new sewing machine, and especially the couch activities which have made it so fantastic.
Connor’s eyes sparkle with a subtle knowing. “I bet it has.”
I punch his shoulder and realize then that Connor may become likemybrother, too, one day. Looking at the four of us, I try not to get my hopes up, but I can’t help but think we could be on the way to having something like those girls in the tattoo shop.
A family by choice.
Connor looks over his shoulder seeing that Ryder is no longer where he was, and looks slightly worried. “I’d better get back to the band and make sure Ryder isn’t trying to make a run for it.”
“You’re going to kill it, bro.” Theo slaps him on the shoulder and pulls him in for another hug.
I make to give Connor a little wave, but he pulls me in for a hug. Low enough so nobody else can hear, Connor says just for me, “You make him happy. Thank you for that.”
My eyes are already watering by the time he pulls away and looks at Lou. She pins him with a little glare as he holds his arms open wide with a mischievous grin.
“I’m not going to catch anything, am I?”
“You can give me a full body exam if you’d like,” Connor says with a wink.
