Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Hop’s heart sank. He wanted to call him, comfort him. Christ, he was probably freaking out.
Hop didn’t trust Roland to accept the money as a payoff and freely cut ties with Rafe. Fuck, he’d been an idiot. He should have gotten something signed.
“We have to do something,” he said.
“What can we do now? It’s over.”
“Prince obviously wants us bad. Maybe if we play hardball we can get him to reconsider.”
“That’s risky,” Z said. “I like it.”
Hop lifted a brow at him.
“Well, when the dude goes out of his way to help us, he can’t be all bad, can he?”
“Majority rules,” Ansel said, eying the rest of them. One by one, all of them nodded.
“Thank you,” Hop said. “You guys are the best.”
“I’ll tell Gigi we’d like to negotiate after the show,” Ansel said.
Thirty minutes later they gathered around for their traditional pre-show huddle.
“May our lipstick never smear, may our heels never break, and may our liner always be sharp enough to kill a man,” Ansel said.
“Amen,” the rest of them answered.
“Now let’s kick some ass and take some names.”
On stage, Hop’s gaze strayed to the rafters, searching for his favorite shadow, but it wasn’t there. The spot Rafe normally inhabited was nothing but solid darkness. Empty, like Hop.
Sullenly, he took his place among his friends, waiting for their music to begin so the dance could catapult him far away. They’d chosen one of their easier sets because Hop was still recovering. The opening chords of “I Know You Wannit” by Neon Hitch started and the Boyz moved like a wave. The first verse was slow, but then the beat dropped and they jumped and kicked at the crowd. Next they rocked back, swaying from leg to leg, beckoning the audience with their fingers. Hop scanned the crowd as he always did, not really seeing their faces.
His gaze landed on a pair of warm brown eyes.
Rafe was in the audience.
The choreography called for a spin, so Hop spun, but he whipped forward again afraid he’d been dreaming. Rafe was still there, still surrounded by people, still watching him.
What was that look?
The song came to an end and they were supposed to transition into a second. Instead, the music faded and a spotlight focused on Rafe. A murmur of confusion swept through the club.
Rafe held a sign above his head that read: All I need is you. I’m sorry.
“Well,” Ansel said beside him. “That’s one way to apologize.”
“He’s terrified of crowds.” Hop hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but it’d been running through his brain on a loop.
“Wow, he must know how bad he fucked up.”
Before Hop could argue, Rafe pushed through to the front and hopped onto the stage. Heart thundering, Hop met him in the middle.
“What are you doing?”
“I couldn’t think of another way to apologize.”
“A text wouldn’t have worked?”
“Not big enough.”
“How are you not passing out right now?”
“Because all I can see is you.”
Oh fuck, that hurt. Hope sprang to life in his chest. “I don’t know what to do with this. What am I supposed to do, Rafe?”
“Could you, maybe, just love me?”
* * *
Rafe couldn’t believe he hadn’t fainted. His palms were sweaty and his pulse was fast, but Hop was standing before him like Christmas morning and Fourth of July fireworks and autumn sunsets and rainy day rainbows, so bright the audience disappeared.
He hadn’t lied when he’d said Hop was the only thing he could see.
Hop opened his mouth to speak, but Rafe cut him off. “Wait. That didn’t come out right. Let me start over.” He stepped closer, taking Hop’s hand in his. “I love you,” he said, meeting Hop’s wide eyes.
“Oh.” It was more an expelling of breath than a sound.
“It took me too long to realize how much I need you, but I know now. It was always you that kept me from becoming a monster. Even back then, it was you.”
Hop blinked and a tear streaked down his cheek.
“I don’t know how long I’ve loved you, maybe since the moment you told me to go ahead and call the cops with that cocky tilt of your chin. All I know is that when I look at you now, I see eternity in your smile.”
“Fuck.” Hop wiped his eyes. “You really know how to ruin a guy’s makeup.”
“Sorry.”
“Liar.”
“Give me another chance? I’ll give you everything you want this time. I promise.”
“You and your impossible promises. I told you, all I’ve ever wanted is you.”
Everything that’d been broken inside Rafe mended. The tightness he’d carried since walking away from Hop finally eased.
“I’m yours, pet.”
Hop grinned then, and it was like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds—blinding. “God, I’ve missed that.” He threw his arms around Rafe’s neck. “Say it again.”
“All night long, pet.” Rafe put special emphasis on the nickname.
“Thank you, sir.”
Happiness exploded out of him in a belly laugh. He lifted Hop, whose legs wrapped around his waist automatically, and spun around, kissing him.