I refused to go to the hospital even though Romeo was afraid I might have a concussion. He refused to let me drive home. So in the van I went. Due to the falling snow and the concentration it took for him to drive, the ride home was quiet. Except for the ding of my phone.
Chloe keeps texting me, asking what’s going on. Lying on the couch, I finally answer her.
Me: Slid through the snow. Bumped my head. At home. Romeo’s with me.
Chloe: Ouch, you clumsy beeyatch. Romeo’s with you? Does that mean what I want it to?
Me: Yes.
Chloe: Hot damn! Finally.
Romeo comes into the living room with a bag of ice and a dishtowel. “I think it’s gotten bigger,” he says, staring at my forehead. He sets my phone on the table, gently lifts my shoulders, and slides under me. With my head in his lap, he lays the towel wrapped ice on my forehead and uses his other arm to hold me by the waist.
I close my eyes. The ice helps. Being held by him helps more.
“You sure you’re okay?”
Eyes closed I smile at him. “I’m good, actually great.”
He reaches under my head and loosens my ponytail. “Your mom, she’s better?”
“She is. She’s getting there.”
“Is that why you came tonight?” he asks as his fingers travel though my hair.
My eyes pop open and meet his. “No.”
He looks away as the line of his jaw tightens. “Riley, it’s okay if you put your family first.”
Struggling between the pain in my head, the ice on my skin, and his hold, I sit up until I face him. His expression is cautious and weary as my hand rests on his cheek. “It was never like that. You weren’t second. Ever. It was about who needed me.”
His expression doesn’t change. “And now?”
I draw in a deep breath. “I need you.”
The tight lines of his face smooth into reverence. “I need you too,” he says softly, wrapping his hand around mine before pressing his mouth to the center of my palm. Then he gently pushes me back down onto his lap. He sets the ice back on my forehead. “And the band? Even after Justin’s temper tantrum and me punching him, they’d take you back.”
Music will always be part of my life, and one day I’ll play again—I’ll be drumming until I’m an old lady—but now is not the right time. “I’d love to be in the band, but there isn’t enough time between school and family and you. I’d rather be with you.”
He chuckles lightly. “Did I hear that right? Riley Middleton, drummer extraordinaire, would rather spend time with me than playing drums. I think the world just stopped spinning.”
“No it’s still spinning.” I cover the arm across my waist. “Someone recently told me that if two people are truly in love, nothing can overcome it. Guess that includes an obsession with drums. I’ve become obsessed with you instead. You’ll always be first in my heart.” The pleasure in his gaze has me smiling. “But do you think I could step in once in a while? I was thinking I could do Sabotage every now and then.”
His arm tightens around my waist. “Riley, I’ll let you have whatever you want.”
“I just want you.”
His smile is sweet and sexy. “You’ve had me for a long time.”
I return the smile, close my eyes, and burrow deeper into his lap.
Sometimes life is hard and painful and just plain sucks. And other times life is beautiful and brilliant and amazing. Right now, in Romeo’s arms, the brilliance of life shines on me with a ferocious glare.
A Month and a Half Later
My mother signed the papers a week ago. The divorce is finally official. And though she’s been better, it’s Valentine’s Day, which has me worried. Memories of special events bring her down. Since it’s a Friday and Jamie is at my father’s, I put my trust in Romeo and let him plan the evening with my mother included. Yet, I have no idea what we’re doing. He wants to surprise me.
When he pulls up in front of the antique store where the band practices above, I’m in total surprise.
I give him an odd look. “What’s going on?”
His dark eyes shine with mischief. “Part one of the night. You get to play.”
Though I was hoping for some alone time, at the thought of playing, excitement rolls through my gut. “What about my mom?”
“She’s meeting us here after she gets out of work. We have two hours.” Reaching behind the seat of the van, he pulls out a small bag then leans toward me and gives me a quick kiss. “Let’s go.”
Upstairs, Justin and Sam already wait. After some hugs and fist pumps, I’m behind the set. Unbelievably, within minutes, Romeo’s barking off instructions and handing out music sheets. It’s like I’ve stepped into a time machine as my fingers itch to give his skull a whack with one of my sticks. And the strangest thing? He’s decided Valentine’s Day is somehow connected to the eighties. He has us playing Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and Should I Stay or Should I Go by the Clash.
But hey, I’ll play anything with a lively beat. Once we start rolling, I’m just into the rhythm and loving every second. Except for in between playing when my boyfriend’s barking orders and back to being the dick I met in this room. Yet behind the drums, I can handle him being a jerk.
After almost two hours of playing, Romeo announces a break. Sam slips downstairs for a smoke. Justin’s immediately on the phone with some girl. Romeo gives me a grin. Except for that grin, it’s like nothing has changed.
“Come here,” I say.
He sets his guitar on a stand.
When he gets close enough, I give him a light thump on the top of his head. Though it couldn’t have hurt, he scowls at me.
Now I grin. “I’ve wanted to do that forever.”
His rolls his eyes while reaching into his back pocket. He pulls out a silver wrapped present. “I get whacked and you get a gift. How does that happen?”
I snatch the gift from his hand and ignore the question because I’m wearing his present underneath my clothes. Wanting to surprise him, I finally let Chloe take me to Victoria-Slut-Secret.
I tear off the silver paper in two seconds flat. A custom set of drumsticks lay in my palm. Tiny skateboards over flames curl around each one. I let out a laugh. “How cute! They’re perfect.”
Romeo gives me an eyebrow arch. “Just don’t use them to tap on my head.”
Before I can respond, Sam comes up with my mother and another woman. Romeo goes over and gives her a long hug then introduces his mother to mine. I slowly get up from the stool. Romeo and I have been trying to plan a weekend to visit his mother, but the divorce becoming final has kept me from leaving mine. So I’m stunned that I’m meeting his mother tonight.
Tall and dark haired like him she’s attractive with strong features. After Romeo introduces us, she wraps me in a warm hug while I’m still shocked. My mother laughs at my expression then gives me a long hug and a warm kiss on my cheek. Once the introductions are finished, Romeo sends both mothers to the chairs against the wall and me behind the drums.
Suddenly his eighties revival makes sense, considering our audience.
We play the two songs for our mothers while they tap their feet, clap to the beat, and laugh. Playing, I remember thinking I’d never see my mother happy again, but even behind her laughter, the tight expression she’s worn for the last year is gone. Between her entry back into the real world and her weekly counseling appointments, she’s almost the mother I once knew.
After our impromptu concert, Sam and Justin take off to the bar. Thankfully, they’re not coming to a late night dinner with the mothers and us. I wouldn’t be surprised from mere habit if Justin hit on one of them.
My mom offers to drive Romeo’s mother to the restaurant while I’m all smiles. Once they exit down the stairs and the door shuts, I tackle my boyfriend. We fall against the wall as my legs wrap around his waist and my lips devour his.
He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine. “You’re not going to get me out of here if you keep this up,” he says raggedly, rubbing his knuckles across my cheek.
I cover his hand with mine. “You’re so awesome. I love you.”
His lids lower as his full lips curve into a grin. “I know.”
My own lids lowering, I reach behind me for a stick.
He laughs and grabs my arm. “Drummers and their damn tempers. You don’t have to beat it out of me.” He presses my hands against the wall. “You know I love you. How could I not?” He places our tangled hands against his ribs. Over the tattoo under his shirt. “You’ve given me back my wings.”