My arms went around him, holding him tighter. “This feels nice.”
He pulled back, kissing me softly. “So, what were you talking with Josh about?”
“He wanted to tell me he was sorry about Vegas. He also said you love me.”
He smiled. “He’s right. I do, and that’s why I need you to know that however long you wish to stay in Bali, I’ll be waiting when you get back. It won’t be easy, but I don’t want you to have any regrets or feel as though I’m holding you back. And with the backup singer thing, maybe I can meet you at some of your concert venues over the summer.”
“Thank you.” It meant a lot to have his unwavering support.
“When you return, we can take things as slow as you like. I’ll plan a romantic date and maybe we can start over?”
“That would be nice. Now stow that PDG and let’s get back downstairs to the party.”
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Traveling to Bali was deeply personal for me. I’d needed to prove that I could exercise my independence as well as take time to think about what I wanted for my future. But two weeks in, and it had clicked, so when the volunteer coordinator asked for people to give up their slots a couple days early because they were overbooked in the housing, I jumped at the chance to go home.
The only person I’d told about my change in plans was my brother who was picking me up at the airport in Virginia. Since Colby was due to be home, my idea was to surprise him.
I’d exchanged emails with Colby every day, sometimes twice a day. Although I still had some reservations about his ability to reconcile with his past, I had no doubt how he felt about his future. Or more importantly, that he wanted me to be part of it. I read his last email to me, received yesterday, for the tenth time, laughing at his words.
Dear Kenz,
I’m in Virginia today visiting my beautiful niece. My brother informs me, upon looking over my shoulder uninvited, that I should not tell you how many times per day I’ve jerked off thinking about you. I, of course, had only put that in here knowing he’s a nosy fucker and wishing to give him a hard time. (But we both know you’re dying to hear the number now, aren’t you?)
He’s also offered up his opinion that I should get on a plane this week to come see you. Brian, equally unhelpful with his wisdom, has seconded that idea but not because of me. Nope, he would just like you home safe and sound on US soil as soon as possible. He didn’t appreciate it when I reminded him that you got hit by the car in LA, hardly a testament that being stateside is necessarily safer.
Haylee has vetoed Josh’s advice, insisting that you need this time. Sasha was overheard telling Brian that he needed to have some testicular fortitude and suck up the fact that you’re all grown up and across the world until you’re ready to come home.
In conclusion, our families are seriously incompetent at giving good advice. So in case you wish I would get on a plane, I’m gonna have to rely on your cues, sweetheart. Just know I’m supportive of how ever long you want to stay. Miss you and I LOVE YOU! (All caps means it’s a lot btw).
Flashing my PDG and wishing you could see it, Love, Colby
Stepping off the plane at Dulles International in Virginia, I went through customs and then smiled at my brother and Sasha, who both met me outside of baggage claim.
After hugs all the way around, I followed them out to the car only to be surprised when instead of getting on the highway, they pulled into the private terminal.
“Where are we going?”
“To Los Angeles where Colby is,” Brian supplied.
“I thought he was here.”
We parked and got out of the car, walking towards a jet that was waiting.
“He was, but he left yesterday because you’re not the only one with a surprise.”
“What?” Maybe the lack of sleep from the long flight was making me slow. What was I missing?
Brian sighed. “He’s going to kill me for telling you, but if you’re up for it, you could really shock the hell out of him as we came up with an idea.”
“Who’s we?” I asked following him up the steps onto the private jet.
Onboard were Haylee, Josh, and Mrs. Singer, along with baby Abigail.
“What’s going on?”
My query was met with smiles all around with Josh answering. “We have a plan if you’re game.”
***
I blinked at my reflection in the mirror and turned to admire my backside, currently encased in black leather pants. The feeling was both strange and erotic against my skin. The four-inch platform shoes and a pale pink flowy top contributed to what Haylee dubbed the glam rocker look. I couldn’t believe both Sasha and Haylee had gone shopping for my outfit, giddy for Colby’s reaction to it. My hair was up in a high ponytail, and my makeup, courtesy of Sasha, completed the sexy look.
We’d landed in Los Angeles, a couple of hours ago and were now at a hotel getting ready before going where Colby was. Luckily I’d slept on the plane after finding out that Colby had indeed been planning a surprise of his own. Turns out he’d setup a fundraising concert to raise money for the Children’s Hospital and it was happening tonight. Josh wouldn’t go into the reasons why, leaving that for his brother to tell me.
“Christ, it looks like sex threw up all over you,” Brian halfway protested when I stepped out into the main room of the suite to meet everyone.
“That’s a really interesting image, Bri,” Sasha laughed, putting her arm around him. “Your sister is allowed to be sexy.”
Josh shook his head, siding with Brian. “Sister and sex should never be used in the same sentence, but you look, uh, good, Kenzie.”
These two clearly didn’t know how to give a grown-up compliment to the little girl they still envisioned when they looked at me. Luckily, it wasn’t them I wanted the attention from. “Enough of the awkward-for-everyone flattery, boys. Let’s go.”
When we arrived at the venue and I glanced around, I couldn’t believe Colby had pulled this off in such a short time. According to Brian, Colby had approached the Children’s Hospital board about fundraising with a yearly concert that would be dedicated toward bringing in money for a music program and helping families. As if I didn’t love him enough already.
Once Brian’s signal came through via text, I took out the phone that Josh had given me to use which would flash up as an international number. Dialing, I held my breath, waiting for the sound of Colby’s voice.
“Hello?”
“Hi, there.”
“Hey, this is an unexpected surprise. Uh, hold on a second while I find a quieter spot to talk to you.”
Right now I knew he was backstage and hopefully, if my partners in crime were effective, heading towards the back offices, which would allow me to take my position unnoticed.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Believe it or not, I’m at a concert. There, that’s better. I can hear you. Is everything all right?”
Given that we’d only exchanged emails the entire time I’d been gone, he was probably wondering why I was calling him. “Yeah, it’s good. What kind of concert?”
“It’s a charity one. Uh, are you still planning to come home in another couple of days?”
I smiled, not technically lying. “No, I’m afraid not.”
He sighed. “Right. Okay. I take it you’re still trying to decide what you want to do?”
“Actually I think I’ve figured that part out. I’m still doing the backup singing job for the Misfit Toys tour next summer as I think it’ll be a great opportunity, but in the meantime I’m planning to go back to school.”
“Music school?”
“Sort of. I’ve decided I want to be a teacher. The time here with these kids teaching them songs and instruments really made it click within the first couple of weeks. It should have dawned on me months ago because it was right there in front of me with the volunteer work at the hospital. There are a lot of ways I can do it, but since I want to be a music teacher specifically, I�
�m applying for UCLA’s music education program. It’ll mean another couple years at least if they’ll transfer over some of my credits, but it feels right, if you know what I mean.” I’d already spoken with my parents who were keen to pay for school, but I planned on getting a part-time job to offset the cost of living expenses.
“I don’t know why I didn’t realize it, either. Then again, it’s not the first time that the best thing in front me was something it took me awhile to see.”
I chuckled. “That was pretty smooth.”
“Would’ve gone better with the grin. So how much longer do you think you’ll stay there in Bali?”
“I would’ve been home sooner if someone had told me about the charity concert he’d put together to raise money for the hospital.”
He cursed softly. “Our families can’t keep a secret worth a shit. I wanted it to be a surprise for you when you returned.”
All these days away from him with his daily emails and unwavering support—and then to find out he’d planned this fundraising concert to surprise me was touching. “What prompted this?”
“I know how much those kids from the hospital mean to you and kept thinking about that little boy from the day I spent with you. I thought maybe going back there would, I don’t know, make me feel closer to you, so I bought forty hand-held video games to drop off for the kids. Before I knew it, I’d spent a couple hours with Tyler and his family. He’s responding to his leukemia treatment really well, but they’ve been there two months. His mom had to quit her job, and his dad is still trying to work to keep the medical benefits, not to mention pay the bills, but that means he can’t be there full time.”
His voice had grown thicker, and I swallowed past the lump in my throat, listening as he went on.
“So I went back to the office and talked to Rhonda, my assistant. Then I called my brother who, within an hour, had Haylee on the phone. I mean, talk about embracing this whole foundation idea. Obviously Haylee would since she lost her parents to cancer.”
“Wait. What foundation?”
He chuckled. “Guess I forgot to mention that part. I started—well, technically Gamble Enterprises and its subsidiaries, which includes my production company—started a foundation for the support of cancer patients and their families. Tonight is only the tip of the iceberg, I hope. Hell, Rhonda, my assistant, has already organized a group from the office that is doing this bicycling event, with the profits going to the charity foundation, and Josh said his assistant, Nigel, whose partner had cancer, wishes to plan a dinner out in New York in the next few months. Catherine has already offered up a charity fashion show.”
“All of this in two weeks?”
“More like four weeks. I actually went to the hospital a couple days after I left you in Vegas. I remember you posed a question months ago on our way back from New York: don’t you ever want more? And the answer is: yes, I do. And this kind of work gives me something to feel good about. Tyler talked about taking nothing for granted and living in the moment. At freaking eight years old. So I wondered how I could for one second spend time regretting my past when these kids are there fighting for a future one day at a time. It’s such a wasted effort. Anyhow, the idea for the concert started when I met with…”
I stopped listening after his words about his past.
“Are you there?”
“Yeah. I’m here. I can’t believe you did all of this Colby.” I was completely stunned.
“This separation has been rough, and I’ll be honest and say at first I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should’ve. But it was the best thing for us, especially for me to get my priorities straight. This was supposed to be a step towards proving that to you.”
“I think you took that step when you said thinking about your past is a wasted effort. The only question left is whether you can trust that I feel the same way.”
“I do, especially now. I’m literally counting the minutes until you’re home, Kenz. I miss you so fucking much, it hurts. And if that makes me sound like a girl, then so be it.”
I smiled, and it was all I could do not to tell him I was here, but luckily my brother was waving me over to take my spot on stage. “It doesn’t, I promise. I miss you, too. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll see you soon.” Real soon.
“Okay, I’d better go too. I love you.”
“Love you, too.” My heart raced, and I handed the phone to Josh, smiling at the group of them leaving to meet Colby in the front row. It was crazy that I was more nervous about seeing him than about singing my song.
***
A swell of pride swept over me from the way Colby stood up to address the crowd, explaining that they’d raised almost two hundred thousand dollars thus far. I had to hold in the tears when he explained that it had started because of knowing me and how much music and the kids had meant.
Hanging back behind the curtain, I smiled when I saw Brian take the stage with him. Funny how the two most important men in my life had no issue with being in front of a crowd; in fact, they sort of relished the spotlight when I thought about it.
“Please welcome the inspiration for this evening, as well as my little sister, Kenzie Lane to open up this evening with her rendition of “Feels Like Home,” Brian’s commanding voice introduced.
Colby’s face was priceless before the spotlight dimmed.
I walked out with the band starting to play. Closing my eyes, I started to sing the Chantal Kreviazuk song. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate one for the occasion, telling the man I loved that he was my home. At the end, the crowd broke out in applause, but I only had eyes for Colby in the front row staring back at me.
The opening band went straight into their first song while I slipped out the side of the stage, intending to go around and take my seat next to Colby.
But he hadn’t waited and was standing there as I exited the stage. He closed the distance, pulling me close and burying his face in my neck, breathing unsteadily. When he pulled back, his face betrayed more emotion than he seemed entirely comfortable with. “I almost didn’t think you were real.”
I wasn’t sure which of us was shaking more with the realization that we were now holding one another in the flesh. “Were you surprised?”
“That’s a gross understatement. And I lost a bet with my brother.”
“What bet?”
“He said I’d get emotional tonight with the concert, and I told him no way. Asshole,” he muttered with affection.
“Hopefully it was worth losing.” I soaked in the sight of his face.
“It was, definitely.” His hands worked their way down my back and then onto my ass. “Kenz?”
“Mm?”
“Are you wearing leather pants?”
I giggled. “I am.” When he kissed me, I was practically desperate to get his clothes off. “Do you think there’s a room or, uh, somewhere we can go?” This hadn’t been part of my initial plan, but damn if I could fathom spending the next couple hours not being able to touch him.
He chuckled. “Not happening, sweets. We have a concert; plus I need to take you out on a romantic date. Now let me look at you.”
I stepped back and did a three-sixty, watching his heating gaze take me in. “You like?”
“Yes. You look incredible and you sounded amazing up there tonight. Come here.”
He didn’t have to ask twice as I pressed myself against him, loving the feel of his arms pulling me even closer. His lips devoured mine, and I could feel his ever-growing evidence of desire between us. “I’ve changed my mind about going slow. We can find a closet and won’t be gone long, then we can have our date later,” I reasoned.
He groaned, then whispered, “You’re naughty, and we have company.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Brian and Sasha directly behind me. I was amused when Colby turned me around and placed me strategically in front of himself to hide his erection.
“Clearly, I was mistaken about which one of you would be the bad influence,” Brian
teased, shaking his head, obviously having overheard my comment.
“I think it may be genetic,” Sasha joked, garnering a chuckle from him.
“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s press here to interview the both of you.”
Guess I wasn’t going to get him in a closet anytime soon.
***
The event was wonderful, showcasing some local LA talent, with three different bands performing. Colby and I sat with our legs touching, hands held, both looking at the time and waiting for the evening to come to an end. When the lights came up, it was all I could do not to pull him out of there with me, hoping he wouldn’t still insist on the whole date thing first.
We all made our way out to the parking lot, and I wondered what the plan was and if Colby or my brother would be awkward about logistics. But it turned out our brother’s weren’t done with their agenda for this evening.
Brian stood in front of the limo we’d arrived in. “We put your suitcase in Colby’s car, sis. I’ll send you a text with where to meet us for brunch reservations on Sunday before we leave, so set your alarm to remember what day it is.” He hugged me first, then Colby, saying something in his ear.
After embracing everyone else and watching everyone pile inside the car, Colby turned toward me. “Huh.”
I giggled. “Guess you’re kind of stuck with me tonight.”
His grin was radiant in the moonlight. Taking my hand, he led me to his car parked in the garage. “Guess I am, but that doesn’t mean we’re having sex.”
“Wanna bet,” I whispered catching his grin that he’d heard me. “What did my brother say to you by the way?”
He opened my door before getting in the driver’s side, looking pensive. “He said he’d kick my ass if you ever take off across the world again.”
“WHAT?” After everything that had happened, I couldn’t believe it. My hand was on the door handle, and I was ready to see if the limo was still parked when Colby’s chuckle made me realize he was messing with me. “That was mean.”
He shook his head and leaned over the console, framing my face in his hands. “Maybe I wanted to see that hellcat who took on both of our older brothers in Vegas.” He met my lips softly, then sighed while pulling away. Putting the car in reverse, he drove out of the garage and onto the highway.
Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3) Page 33