Shoving at him playfully, I slid out of the bed and put on my clothes from the day before. The smell of stale beer and smoke from Rockfest still lingered on my tank top and shorts.

I picked up a pair of jeans from the floor and threw them at him. “You… shower,” I said as I pointed to the bathroom. “Then we go to Aunt Sarah’s where I get clothes and shower, and then we eat.” I rubbed at my growling stomach.

“Yes, ma’am!” He saluted me. “You know, I kind of like it when you boss me around. It’s sexy.”

He smacked my ass on his way into the bathroom. Soon after, I heard the shower water followed by whistling. I couldn’t imagine the guy I met months ago whistling, but we were both different now. We were better.

I leaned over the balcony of the hotel room and took in the sight in front of me. The evening sky was filling with a faint moon and a sprinkle of stars. The hustle and bustle of the Orlando nightlife hadn’t started yet, so there was a brief moment of peace. I breathed it in deeply, feeling like a different girl and loving it.

I went back inside when I heard the bathroom door open. The scent of shampoo and toothpaste filled the room. Steam spilled from the small space and followed him as he stepped out. Grabbing his wallet from the bedside table, he swiped at his wet hair and pushed it from his face. He slid a studded belt around his waist and grinned over at me as he buckled it.

“Ready to go, gorgeous?” he asked as he slung his long hair out of his face once more.

I’d never thought it was possible, but Zeke was even sexier now than he was when I last saw him.

“Yep, all ready to go.”

We held hands as we walked down the long hallway and got on the elevator. Once we were outside, I walked to my car and he followed. He didn’t say anything when I very clearly said I was driving. It’s not like he had a choice. The only transportation the boys had was their bus and a limo, courtesy of their label, to carry them around town. No way was I riding around in a freaking limo.

His eyes were on me, even though I couldn’t see them in the darkening car, as I backed out of the parking space. Once I put my car in drive and took off, he slipped his fingers between mine and brought my hand up to kiss it. Life was sweet again, but the sadistic side of me whispered if something seemed too good to be true, then it probably was.

Two

Zeke

I felt alive again. Being with Patience was like taking tiny hits of soul and life and exhaling all the bad memories of the months before. It was fucking amazing. She was amazing, and the way she made me feel was nothing short of a miracle.

When I woke up with her lips on mine, I thought for sure I’d died and gone to heaven—at the very least, a really awesome hell. And if I was in hell and this was all just a cruel mirage from the devil himself, then so be it. The devil was cool with me if that was the case.

Once she fell asleep in my arms, I watched the shadow of the fan above us dance across her peaceful face. She was more beautiful now than she was all those months ago when I watched her walk away from me. I thought I’d never come back from that. I’d never been so broken, but I was healed. She put me back together kiss by kiss.

The short trip to her aunt’s house was quiet. There was no need to talk. Nothing needed to be said between us. The past was exactly where it needed to be, in the past. Even though there were questions I wanted to ask.

“It’s about time you came home, girl,” her aunt said.

She was huddled over some plants on the front porch, her straw cowboy hat covering a set of braids. She padded over to the car with bare feet. Swiping her dirt-covered hands on her short jean shorts, she held out her hand for me to shake it.

“You must be the infamous Zeke,” she said with a welcoming smile.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s me. It’s nice to meet you.” I gave her hand a shake.

“Well, you weren’t kidding, Pay.” She lifted her straw hat and peeked over at Patience. “He’s a sexy beast, for sure. No wonder you were a mess over him.” She laughed.

A red flush crept up Patience’s cheeks and she covered her eyes with her hand. “Please don’t embarrass me, Aunt Sarah.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What? All I’m saying is they didn’t make ‘em like that when I was growing up. Let’s get out of this heat,” she said as she headed for the front door. “Y’all are just in time for dinner. Zeke, has Patience told you about my famous spaghetti?”

I talked with Sarah and Sydney at the kitchen table while Patience got a shower. I was loaded down with some of the best spaghetti I’d ever tasted and asked question after question about all the famous people I’d met.