by R H Tucker
“After you stopped by yesterday, I talked with Becca. It’s not like I haven’t thought about things since … well, since last year even.”
“What about Landon?”
Her face turns red. “Yeah, we broke up. A few weeks ago.” An unbelieving smirk crosses my face. “I didn’t tell you because … I don’t know why. I didn’t know what to say yesterday.”
She finally meets my eyes and I nod to the stage. “Why the song?”
Confidence seems to find her again for a moment, and she stares at me. “Because I don’t care what you say, Spice Girls are amazing.” Giggling, the confidence fades, and she looks away. “But also … that talent show was one of the first times I realized how talented you were. All of you. And … I never told you, but that’s when I kind of developed a crush on you. Even if you did tease us about the song.”
Her words force me to take her hand, and my smirk grows wider when she wraps her fingers around mine.
“I can’t promise that I won’t freak out, Derrik. But I’ve never forgotten what it’s like with you, even when I tried to. That first time I thought I liked you, the first time we kissed, everything. I can’t forget and I don’t want to.”
“You’re not scared anymore? About all of this being too much?”
“Terrified,” she replies. “But I want to take a chance because being with you is better than being without you. Will you take a chance on me?”
Leaning closer, I take her head into my hands, and press my lips against hers. I know she’s scared, and that it’ll be difficult, but a sense of relief overtakes me. Ever since we broke up last year, I’ve wanted to find a way back to her, and now I finally have.
Breaking our lips apart, I keep my forehead against hers. “I’ll always take that chance, Z. Every second of every day.”
A small smile breaks across her face before I kiss her again, finally feeling like this is right where we should be.
Epilogue
EJ
Leaning back in my chair, I hope the hour-long flight to Vegas from Los Angeles will go by quickly. I scroll through the internet, aimlessly looking through music websites and rock shows around the country. Vegas is going to be our last set of shows for a while. Afterward, we’ll be gearing up to record our next album. That’ll give me some time to travel and check out some bands I like.
Jade sits in front of me on the plane, jotting something down in a notebook. Probably lyrics. Maddox has his earbuds in, bobbing his head back and forth, while he also scrolls through his phone.
Derrik sits behind him, talking on his phone. “No, it’ll be super easy. I’ve got your tickets booked already and everything. Yeah. And you can come all four weekends if you want. I know you’re getting ready for finals though, so no pressure. Okay, tell Becca I said hi. Love you, too. Bye.”
Returning my attention back to my cellphone, I inevitably fall back into a social media time-suck. Page Five is a popular blog and covers all things entertainment. Scrolling through my phone, I land on a post from their page, talking about us headlining the Rocket and Moon Music Fest.
The Kings are staying in Vegas, instead of trekking back and forth between California and Nevada for the month, the article says. With Derrik Tyler’s newly formed relationship (sidenote: Danica Parker is reportedly still ignoring him. Click the link below to see who her latest beaus in waiting are), it looks like Sin City will be open for the taking by one King of Bad. We’d like to think the Kings’ other royal members may party it up with Maddox, but we all know Jade isn’t one for partying and EJ is … well, he’ll probably be tucked in by eight p.m., wearing his King of Nice pajamas. Long live the King of Bad.
Rolling my eyes, I turn off my phone. There is no end to the amount of hate that I have for the stupid nickname Johnny bestowed on me that night on his show. What should’ve been a funny, albeit annoying, little joke on his late-night show, turned into our own personal branding. And I got stuck with the cute, shy guy, nice brand.
Vegas might be exactly what I need. Maybe I will tag along with Maddox, go out and party with him, get drunk during the week, and hook up with the girls who scream their heads off during our shows.
Who am I kidding? I’m the King of Nice for a reason. As much as I hate it, I also know it’s true.
So, cheers to Vegas. Where every nice guy goes to do absolutely nothing.
About the Author
RH Tucker writes cute & edgy YA romance and lives in Southern California. He also consumes too much caffeine, eats too much pizza, and firmly believes Rocky Road is the best flavor of ice cream.
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Also by RH Tucker
The Rumor Has It series
Rumor Has It
True to You
Courting the Nerd (short story)
Heart Shaped Lock
Through the Layers
Piece by Piece