by London Casey
“Or… where are you kissing him?” Ember asked.
They oohhhed and aahhhed at me.
I heard a knock behind Lucy and saw Henry standing near the back office.
“Henry,” I said.
“Forgive the intrusion here,” he said. “The front door was locked shut.”
“Yeah,” I said. “We’re officially shut down.”
“Damn shame,” he said.
“Not even close to being a damn shame,” I said. “It’s a good thing.”
“Well, I’m going to miss seeing you three. I’m pretty sure most of the work I did here you could have done yourselves.”
“But then we wouldn’t have seen your handsome face,” Lucy said. “Did you know sometimes I would unplug something or twist the bulbs out just to have an excuse to call you?”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
Lucy looked back at me and winked.
Henry laughed. “Funny you should say that, Lucy. I came here to say goodbye… to Emily and Ember. No way I’m saying goodbye to you.”
“Is that so?” Lucy asked.
“I’d like to take you to dinner,” Henry said.
“Come to my restaurant,” Ember said.
“Henry would have to sell a kidney to do that,” Lucy said.
“I’ll sell both to get a date with you, Lucy,” Henry said.
Lucy touched her cheeks. “Now, Henry, you’re going to make me blush.”
“And that’s before we even get to go out on a date,” he said.
“You know, it is early enough in the day,” I said. “A nice day date…”
“What do you say?” Henry asked.
“Looks like my retirement just got busy,” Lucy said.
It was cute to see those two flirting.
I looked at Ember and smiled.
I was going to miss them.
And this place.
There was no denying it.
With the mood so high and a sense of love in the air, I didn’t think anything could drag it down.
I was wrong.
A short while later, Miranda showed up.
Ember, Lucy, and Henry left.
I told them to leave.
They didn’t need to deal with Miranda today, or ever again.
I walked to the front of the bakery as she stood in the middle of the floor.
It was the first time seeing her since my apartment.
I didn’t exactly find out what Jeff told her about Liam and I. Most of me didn’t even care. I knew the truth. Liam knew the truth. And somewhere deep down inside of Miranda, she knew the truth too.
“Closed for the day?” Miranda asked.
“Read the sign on the door?” I asked.
“No.”
“Maybe you should start looking at what’s right in front of you.”
Miranda laughed. “You’re giving life advice now?”
“Just saying what’s on my mind.”
“A whole new side to you.”
“No choice, Miranda. Look at the way things ended up.”
“And how’s that?”
I smiled. “I don’t need to dance in the past anymore. You know what you did. I know what I allowed to have happen. It’s really that simple. But if I have to say it, you were a shit friend. From day one. You set your sights on me and used me when it was convenient. You knew I was loyal and you knew you could tell me anything. Then you turned that into using me. I let it all happen though. Until one day…”
“You fucked Liam,” she said.
“No. I knew this before I fucked Liam.”
Miranda gasped. Her lip slowly began to curl.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“I want you to know something,” Miranda said. “I came here to kick you out. I want you gone from this place. Right now. The lease is ripped up. I don’t care anymore. I’d rather lose money than see you here.”
I laughed. “That’s cute, Miranda. I already shut the place down. I have a real estate person and a lawyer at my disposal. The lease you made me sign was bullshit. You probably printed it online and just assumed I would sign it and pay you what I said. Which I did. Until now. I’m leaving, Miranda. You’re not kicking me out. And if you say otherwise, then I will call that lawyer of mine and he will call in favors and I will sue you and ruin your career and your life. Understand?”
Miranda’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
“I’ll ask again,” I said. “Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” Miranda said.
“Good. Then we’re done here.”
I walked toward Miranda and then around her.
“You’re a fucking bitch, Emily,” she said.
“I know,” I said.
At the front door, I looked back.
Miranda was looking back.
We nodded to each other.
I walked out of the building, knowing I’d never be back in there again.
And I’d never see Miranda again.
What did I actually care though…
I had Liam.
I had my music.
I had myself.
Chapter Forty-Five
Liam
I looked at the bed and then at the bathroom.
The door was opened a few inches.
I heard the water running.
As I approached, the sound of the rushing water was replaced by the sound of Emily singing.
Tonight was her big show.
Just her up on stage.
I was excited and nervous for her at the same time.
I told her if she wanted, I would gladly get up on stage and sing first to warm up the crowd.
She told me if I did that she would have Carla do something to me.
Chop, chop…
I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, but I could have taken a pretty accurate guess.
Ouch.
I pushed open the bathroom door and listened for a few more seconds.
The problem was that as good as Emily was at singing, seeing the silhouette of her body through the frosted shower door made me want to hear her make other noises.
So I took off my shirt and pants then opened the door and stepped inside.
Emily smiled when she saw me.
She put her head back and finished rinsing her hair.
My eyes scanned down her body, watching the last few suds caress her breasts down to her stomach then to her left leg and…
My eyes moved back up to her breasts again.
I wasn’t in the shower to watch soap go down the drain.
I inched closer to her and she put her hand out.
“I’m your groupie,” I said. “Remember?”
“You’re too commanding,” she said. “I’m supposed to boss you around. And I have a show tonight. I can’t be caught up in wild sex beforehand.”
“I beg to differ, babe,” I said. “You don’t want to walk across the stage all pent up and worried. Let me relax you…”
I reached forward with my right hand and grazed my fingertips between her legs.
She sighed and thrust her hips toward me.
“Fuck,” she growled.
“I’m the worst person ever, aren’t I?” I whispered.
She grabbed my wrist. “The absolute worst.”
She pulled at my wrist and put my hand to the small of her back.
That forced me to step closer to her.
Her right hand touched my cock.
I sucked in a breath and held it.
She slid her hand along the thick bottom of my cock, all the way to the tip. Her thumb stroked over the head of my cock and she smiled at me.
“I don’t think we have time for foreplay, Em,” I said.
“No, we don’t,” she said. “So make your move, groupie.”
My right hand moved to the back of her left leg and I pulled.
She put her leg up in the shower and I bent my knees, gently rubbing my thickness against her slit. Back and forth, feeling a new kind of wet
warmth overtake her body and mine.
With my left hand, I touched the back of her neck and made sure she stared me in the eyes as I began to fuck her.
I guided myself slowly, inch by inch, deep into her body.
I then moved faster… each thrust with more force than the previous one.
Emily grabbed my shoulders and pulled at me.
I kissed her, then picked her up.
Her legs wrapped around me.
I walked her into the water and then against the tiled wall.
I really fucking hoped this became a pre-show ritual for us.
“You bought me a new guitar?” Emily asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “You were talking about it. You showed me what you wanted.”
“Liam. That was just… I was just…” She looked at me, shocked. “You…”
“You deserve it, babe,” I said. “I don’t know anything about guitars. But you said this had a bigger sound. And it played better.”
“I would fuck you right now if we didn’t just fuck in the shower,” she said.
I looked down at my towel and slowly opened it. “Oh, look, my cock is getting hard again…”
She pointed. “Keep that monster calm. I have to get ready.”
Emily dropped her towel and walked toward the bathroom.
“What the hell, Em?” I called out. “That’s not fair.”
“I have to keep you wanting it,” she said.
“Oh, believe me, I fucking want it,” I said.
She looked back and smiled. “Thank you for everything, Liam. Not just the guitar. But everything. I don’t think I can ever explain it all… or actually thank you enough.”
“You can thank me right now, babe,” I said. “Just turn and strut your way right back here.”
My cock ached for her, even though I was just inside her a few minutes ago.
I couldn’t get enough of her.
Emily went into the bathroom and shut the door.
I looked down at my cock.
Half hard.
I looked at the guitar.
I laughed.
Emily was the rock star.
I was her whore.
The place was busy.
The owner - Ernie - made sure we had a big table at the front corner of the stage.
Ember was there.
Lucy was there too. With some guy.
I was pretty sure his name was Henry.
He was the guy that fixed the sink after I made it worse that day at the bakery.
I still hadn’t wrapped my head around the idea that Emily gave up the bakery. I knew somewhere in her heart, she wanted to open another one. Or maybe she would just play guitar and sing songs. Whatever it was she wanted, I was going to be there for her to make sure it happened.
Ernie made sure we all had drinks.
Carla, Faye, and Robin were next to me.
Robin on the far end, sporting a small baby bump that she kept touching.
Faye talked to Robin.
Carla set her sights on me.
“What?” I asked.
“How hard are you right now?”
“Excuse me?”
“Come on. Your girl is going to be up there singing. Every guy in this place is going to want to fuck her. And she’s going to fuck you. That’s got to make you hard, right? All that power you have.”
I laughed. “You just say whatever you’re thinking, don’t you?”
“Yup,” Carla said.
“You’re a good friend to Emily,” I said.
“You’re good dick for her,” Carla said. “Don’t fuck it up.”
Carla patted my arm.
I looked straight ahead and saw Emily’s sister.
With her husband and their daughter.
Kids weren’t allowed in a place like this, but Ernie made an exception for Henley.
Dan had his arms tight around Henley.
I could tell he was nervous.
Henley wore large earmuffs.
Everyone was here for Emily.
These were the people that mattered in her life. The ones she affected.
I sat there with my back against the chair like some horny sap.
Which I was.
Fuck it.
I’d own it for the rest of my life.
I had waited so long to face the truth with Emily, I had no choice but to be a horny sap.
The lights began to dim and half the people there clapped.
I let out a loud whistle and slammed my hands together, which got more people cheering.
Then Emily came out on stage.
Wearing ripped jeans and a tight flannel. With her hair pulled back. Carrying the guitar I bought her.
Looking exactly like the kind of woman I wanted to spend forever with.
I didn’t need a fancy ring or a fancy promise to make that happen.
Not with Emily.
I just needed to keep showing up, telling her she was beautiful.
But… everything else would be nice too.
And it would happen in time.
Emily looked at me and smiled.
I smiled back.
Maybe Carla was right. Maybe every guy - and some women - were thinking wild thoughts about Emily. How could they not? Looking at her on stage was just… wow.
Tonight, I had to share her music and heart with everyone here.
But later, I got to be greedy with her body.
She played the first note or chord or whatever it was… and she started to sing…
I watched as Elise started to cry.
Ember smiled big.
Lucy was in shock.
Dan laughed with excitement.
Henley stood on the table and cheered.
Carla and Faye looked at me.
We all nodded at each other.
They all finally understood something I knew all along.
Emily was the most special person ever.
We held hands and walked along the streets as they began to quiet down.
Emily was still bouncing as she walked, feeling that adrenaline rush from the show.
She told me she didn’t want to talk about it…
“Ernie said I could play anytime I want,” she said. “And that he can call people. Other clubs and stuff. Even…”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m rambling still.”
“So?”
“I said I wasn’t going to do this.”
“You’re excited, babe,” I said. “Enjoy it.”
“It was so much fun, Liam.”
“You were a rock star,” I said.
Emily hugged me.
I kissed the top of her head.
From the corner of my eye I saw three kids on skateboards.
I let out a whistle. “Hey, man! Hold up!”
“Liam, what are you… no.”
I broke away from Emily.
The three kids stopped and stared at me.
“Can I borrow your board?” I asked one. “Just for a second. I want to impress my girl over there.”
“Uh…”
“Thanks,” I said.
I put my hand out and the kid gave me his board.
The last time I tried this, I almost broke my wrist.
My wrist was fine now.
“Liam, what are you doing?” Emily asked.
“Just watch,” I said.
I took the board into the street and got some speed. Kicking my foot, eyeing the edge of the curb.
I steadied my legs and told myself I could do it.
I sped toward the curb and for a second, I shut my eyes.
I kicked the skateboard the way I used to do as a kid.
As I jumped, the skateboard came with me.
I crouched and grabbed the board, holding it steady as I went back down.
The board hit the sidewalk, me still on it, and I cruised toward Emily.
I stepped off and stomped on the back of the board and caught it.
I put m
y arms out and Emily clapped.
“There,” I said. “I didn’t smash up my wrist.”
“That was hot, Liam,” she said.
I gave the skateboard back to the kid and took Emily’s hand again.
We kept walking until I noticed a big tree.
Another idea hit me.
“Follow me,” I said.
I pulled her as I broke out into a slow run.
“What are you doing now?” she cried out.
“You’ll see,” I said.
I stopped at the tree and made her stand against it.
“Okay, babe, stay there,” I said.
“Why?”
“That night… when the cops chased me around…”
Emily laughed. “Which one?”
“That night, Em. We were going to meet at that tree.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s pretend it’s that night again,” I said. “No cops this time.”
“Okay.” She touched her hair. “I’m waiting…”
I cleared my throat. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Uh, listen, I wanted to meet you here… I can’t wait around anymore.”
“For what?” Emily asked.
“For you. I like you. I like you a lot, Em. You, uh, you kind of drive me crazy and I want to be with you. I know that changes a lot between us, but I don’t care. I have to be with you.”
“I’m not really interested,” Emily said. “Sorry.”
She pushed from the tree.
I put my head back and laughed. “Wow. Thanks for that.”
I reached back and grabbed her arm.
I pulled her toward me. “You would have melted right on the spot if I said that to you back then.”
“I know,” she said. She smiled. “I just have to play hard to get right now.”
“You’re going to make me chase you for the rest of my life, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she said.
“Good. Forever doesn’t have a thing on me, babe.”
I touched her face and kissed her.
“Get a room, old man!”
The skateboard kids laughed as they hurried off.
“Did they just call me old?” I whispered.
“Yeah.”
“You know I can kick their ass, right?”
“I know, Liam. No bar fights tonight. Or teenager fights.”
“I’m not that old,” I said. “I will chase them down.”
“You can do that,” Emily said. She moved to her toes and kissed my ear. “Or you can come home with me and I’ll let you take advantage of me.”