Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I’ll have it in your contracts,” he says, as if reading my mind.
That’s enough for me. “One more thing. If we’re doing this whole own narrative thing, I don’t want a personal trainer being shoved at me. I’m not interested in calorie counting or worrying about my appearance. This is me. I’m happy this way.”
“And I love you in any shape.” Denver’s arm around me tightens as he squeezes me.
“I think you’re going to be an amazing role model,” Harley says.
“Then I think we have a deal. At least on my part.” I glance at Denver, and he nods.
“I’m in.”
“I’ve already signed,” Ryder says. Of course he has.
Blake sighs. “I guess I did promise if the rest of you were in, I’ll be in too.”
Harley’s mouth drops open. “Wait … did … no way … Did that really happen? Should I draw up contracts now before you all change your minds?”
“You can send it to an entertainment lawyer first,” I say. “Hmm, I should get me one of those.”
Ryder steps in. “I can hook you up. Lyric’s brother is pretty big in the industry, and he’s trustworthy.”
“Nice.” I move toward the kitchen but bring Denver with me. “You all staying for a bit? I’m exhausted and need caffeine.”
“We can stay for coffee,” Harley says. “Lyric has a few appearances I need to be back in LA for. I’m his manager until I can find someone good. I almost lent him mine, but Gideon’s helping me with this label business.”
“I have to get back to Kaylee,” Ryder says.
Blake points at them. “They’re my ride.”
Denver presses against me. “I’d like to stay … if that’s okay with you? I know you said you need air and time alone, and—”
I lean in and press my lips to his. “I want you to stay.”
“It can only be for a few days. Then I have back-to-back appearances on talk shows for Fandom.”
Me, Denver, and my little cocoon of safety? I can’t think of a better way to let go of all the sorrow, the hurt … the fear. I just hope a couple of days is enough.
“We can go back to LA together.” Because Denver needs someone too. He may not act like it, and hell, he probably doesn’t think he does, but I know him better than he might even know himself.
Denver wraps his arms around my middle and buries his head in my neck. “Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you. If you need longer, we’ll work it out. I’ll come back after my obligations are done. I’ll get out of them if I can. Whatever it takes for you to come back to me.”
Failure still hangs over my head, and with it, the hesitance to even try, but the guys turning up on my doorstep means everything to me. It’s what I needed a long time ago. And maybe under different circumstances, it would have been easy to say too little, too late. Only difference now is, Denver’s here vowing to make us work, promising we do it together, and that’s what’s giving me the strength to fight. For us, for the band, and for a life I thought I said goodbye to already.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Denver
The weight of Mason’s body against me shifts, and like I have every morning for the last three days, I reach for him to try to keep him wrapped around me. It’s barely dawn, but he’s wide-awake.
Mason peppers kisses from my cheek, down my neck, and then to my lips while his hand wanders over my body and into my boxer briefs.
I’m half-asleep but still awake enough to enjoy him bringing me pleasure. By the time I come, I’m ready to pass back out, and I think that was his plan all along because I feel him slip out of bed not long later. I don’t have the energy to stop him this time.
He has spent the last few mornings outside with his trees, but by the time I’ve made my way out onto the back deck, he’s come to the house with rosy cheeks and a bright smile on his face.
The difference between Mason in LA and Mason in Montana is astounding. He’s more relaxed, less pessimistic, and while it’s obvious he’s still grieving, he’s not so shut down and reclusive.
We’re leaving tonight, though, and I’m worried he’ll go back to that bad headspace. I think it’s too soon for him to come with me, but I know he’ll do it if I ask him to.
I don’t really want to be alone, but I have two choices here: go home and make these appearances on my own so I can have a happy Mason return for the Fandom finale, or drag him with me and risk having him revert to the guy who left LA a few days ago determined never to return.