ENDLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 1: Ty & Zoey
Page 30
Jace had been there for me without question for nearly a decade, so I strode over to him.
“Can I help?” I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Nope,” Jace said shortly.
“Can we talk about it?”
“Nope.” Jace shook his head definitively.
“You’ve been there for me, dude.” I caught his eye. “I’m here for you, too.”
Jace exhaled. “Let’s just get this show under our belt, once I take care of a few things I’ll fill you in.”
Just as I was about to reply, we got the signal that we needed to get on stage. All of us followed the stage manager Spinal Tap style through the labyrinth of hallways to the side of the stage, where Zoey, Alex, Ronni, and Zoey’s parents took seats on a short bleacher area on stage-right.
I could tell that it was going to be one of those rare, perfect-energy shows. When the lights went down and the crowd began screaming and chanting “L-T-Z,” the familiar rush of adrenaline flowed through my body as Jace tapped out the drumbeat to Rise.
I threw myself fully into the performance and enjoyed every minute. Whether interacting with my bandmates or the audience, we were all electric and the crowd was going nuts. On the sidelines, Zoey and Alex were talking to Ronni, and they all were laughing and having a really great time. I couldn’t help but think that just a year ago, I wouldn’t have ever imagined this scenario.
We played nearly two hours of the most energized, fun, charged show that I could remember. In preparation for the first encore, we waited in the wings for the song that we’d never miss playing live. Zoey hopped down from her seat on the bleachers and ran over to me, flinging her arms around me.
“That was the best show I’ve ever seen you play, rock star!” She was radiant.
“We haven’t even played your song, yet.” I kissed her fully on the lips. “We’re going back out there and I have a surprise so don’t miss it!”
Magically, at that exact moment the light show began. A spotlight focused on Zane who sat under a single blue light and played an extended flamenco guitar solo that meshed perfectly against a backdrop of the recorded sound of a river. The huge crowd hushed and went nearly silent.
As he built up the melody, the river sound faded and the lights flickered in blues, greens, and purples, mimicking the look of the sun shining on the top of water. Zane’s talented fingers moved up and down the frets, as the beautiful unaccompanied melody morphed slowly into the opening notes of Butterfly. Drawing it out, the crowd recognized the notes and lost their collective minds.
Dramatically, Zane strummed the last flamenco note and held his hand up high above his head, pick in hand, and threw it at the audience. He then fluttered his hand all around and stopped, poised on the neck of his guitar. Timing it perfectly, he played the actual intro to the song at the exact same time the lights went black. A single white, hazy light beamed out into the crowd and pulled back revealing the most beautiful light show of 3-D colorful butterflies, which appeared to be fluttering and flying around the entire venue.
Gasping at the beauty of the display, Zoey grabbed my hand and looked at me with wide eyes, and I gave her a sweet kiss before I ran back on stage to sing her song.
Chapter 37
ZOEY
When Ty sang the final notes to Butterfly, I was sad because I never wanted the splendor of the performance to end. It felt like living in a fairy tale, all the butterflies were so delightful fluttering all over the venue, sometimes landing on the guys as they played. The crowd was mesmerized, not only at the amazing light effects but at the emotional performance by the entire band. It was, after all, probably the last time they’d be on stage for at least a year.
When the final notes ended, Ty stepped up to the mic.
“All of us at LTZ thank you so much for coming out tonight. Give a hand to Jace Deveraux on drums!” Jace obliged with a quick drum solo to the delight of the crowd.
“Conner McLoughlin on bass!” Connor thumped his thumb on the strings, popping out a funky beat.
“My brother Zane Rocks on lead guitar!” Zane jumped up and down in place, bopping his head while mimicking the song Eruption by Van Halen to whoops and hollers from the audience.
“I’m Ty but I think it’s finally time for you to officially meet my better half.” Ty looked over at me on the sidelines and held his hand out, and a white spotlight found its way to me and my face was plastered on every screen in the venue. My shocked and embarrassed expression caused the crowd to laugh and then everyone at the venue started cheering.
I shook my head and tried to go back to my seat, but Ty had other plans.
“Don’t let my girl be so shy, do you want to meet Zoey?” Ty smiled at me from the front of the stage and motioned for me to join him as the crowd went bananas.
“Get out there!” Alex had appeared by my side and pushed me forward, toward Ty.
“Fine!” I walked out to Ty, who clasped me to his side and planted a massive kiss right on my lips.
“This is Z, everyone. This is my butterfly, the butterfly.” Ty said proudly.
It made me equally want to crawl under a rock and jump into his arms, neither of which would have been appropriate, so I stood there like an idiot. But a touched idiot.
I waited for the boos as the lights shone in my face, noting you really couldn’t see anyone past the first couple of rows. And then a thunderous round of cheers took over the entire place and kept going. And going.
Laughing, Ty reached down and took my hand as the rest of the band surrounded us and everyone took a bow, taking me with them.
As I ran offstage, Ty took the mic and addressed the audience. “You ready for a few more tunes?”
The audience went ballistic. Jace, by this point, had resumed his position behind the drums and clicked his drumsticks together above his head.
“We feel like jammin’ and playing a few covers from our favorite bands, does that sound alright?” Ty held the mic to the audience to a rousing chorus of approval, Pokey handed him his favorite old beat-up Strat.
For the next hour, the guys showed off their chops by playing everything from rock classics Whole Lotta Love, Sweet Child O’Mine, and Runnin’ with the Devil to a Seattle tribute of Jesus Christ Pose, River of Deceit, Man in the Box, In Bloom, Black, and then Carter joined the guys for a trio of Limelight songs. The entire audience sang along as did all of us on the sidelines. It was seriously the most fun I’d had in such a long time. My mom and dad were over the moon. Alex, Ronni, and I danced until our feet hurt. As the clock neared midnight, the band couldn’t extend the fun anymore and they ended with a throwback Beatles song The End.
“Good night, Los Angeles” Ty saluted the roaring crowd and waved. “See you guys later!”
Beaming at my gorgeous man as he left the stage, it occurred to me that with this performance behind LTZ, we were now, officially, on vacation.
After the show, we all went to the after-party and stayed until the bitter end because my parents were enjoying hobnobbing with all the stars who had been at the show. Ronni and Alex worked the room, seemingly, they became fast friends. Ty and I stayed secluded in a corner and hung out with whoever came by. It was crazy that this room full of A-listers not only knew who I was, but they were enraged at what had happened to me. To us.
When we finally made it home around four a.m. and were alone in our room, I wrapped my arms around Ty’s waist, nestling my head against his neck. Ty rested his chin on my head and enfolded me against his chest.
“What an unreal few days,” I murmured. “I’m a little dazed.”
“Well, we took charge of our own destiny, and now we are free.” Ty pressed a kiss to my temple and tipped my chin up to look at him with his finger.
“We’ve come a long way these past nine months.” I felt so calm and at peace.
“I was thinking that when I saw you with your parents, Alex, and Ronni backstage.” Ty’s eyes were bright, he looked at me like he was asking a question.
“Well, we’ll be back for the Grammys in a few weeks.” Ty stroked my hair and began the tedious task of unwinding a million braids. “I loved these, you’re absolutely beautiful.”
“I had to step up my game for my gorgeous man.” I held my hand against his and squeezed.
“It’s the other way around, always.” Ty’s lips sipped from mine. “I’m excited to head home so we can kick back and enjoy the holidays. And then we get an entire year to make up for all of those other years we missed. I think a tropical destination should be our goal to start.”
“Heaven.” He smelled so good, always grapefruit and leather. It was the scent that instantly made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be. I couldn’t help kissing down his throat.
“You’re my heaven, Z.” He reached down to the hem of my old Van Halen T-shirt and lifted it over my head, and then unclasped my black bra and pulled it off my shoulders.
I wound my hands around his neck and pulled his mouth to mine. Our kisses were passionate, but they were so much more. Like we were promising each other that after all we’d been through no one would ever come between us again. When Ty rolled my nipple into a taut peak, I moaned. His lips moved downward, grazing my neck before he swiped his tongue over my other nipple.
Weeks of stress and recuperation had pent up a lot of sexual energy. This morning had only scratched an itch and I needed him. I pulled his shirt off and he shed the rest of his clothes. Taking Ty by the hand, I led him to our big bed and pulled him on top of me. He was too careful, but I knew he didn’t want to hurt my ribs. Sweetly, he braced his upper torso on his strong arms, hovering just enough so my beaded nipples brushed against his chest. He rubbed his scruffy day-old stubble along my chin, teasing me before seeking my lips for more kisses.
Reaching between us, I grabbed Ty’s cock and stroked the tip against my wet pussy before arching up to receive him. He sank into me fully, sighing, and resting his forehead against mine.
“This is where I belong,” Ty spoke as though speaking to himself. Like I was where he belonged. Moving together in our perfect rhythm, I threaded my fingers through his long hair and caressed his face. Over and over he slowly and deliberately plunged inside me, taking me to places I could only ever go with him. To places, we could only ever go together.
Epilogue
TYSON
I had gone back and forth about how I wanted to do it, but I ultimately thought that a quiet, private evening at home for Christmas Eve dinner with her closest friend and parents and my bandmates would be the perfect setting. Zoey’s mother and I had prepped a beautiful beef roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus, and chocolate-peanut butter cake for dessert. While I waited for Zoey to get showered and changed, Alex and her mom had helped me string up a bunch of twinkly lights in the living room while Zoey’s mom arranged dozens of poinsettias and white roses around the room.
The table was set with a gold tablecloth, silver plates and goblets, and a dozen candles. A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace. I took a deep breath and surveyed the scene. I thought I’d feel more nervous, but everything felt right, the room was perfect.
Zoey’s dad opened the front door and all the guys and Carter piled into the house, not knowing what they were about to witness. They immediately teased me while I frantically tried to shush them. Alex joined us a few minutes later, and after what Zoey had told me I noticed that she and Jace deliberately avoided each other but were not unpleasant about it.
Now that everything was ready, I went to find Zoey. Through the door to our bedroom, I could see her sitting at the vanity in the bathroom spritzing her favorite Creed perfume on her neck. Wearing a gauzy, green off-the-shoulder blouse with black satin pants, the front of her hair was pulled back while the rest was long, she had very little makeup on, but a pop of red lipstick. My heart stopped. She literally took my breath away. Catching my eye in the mirror, her whole face lit up as she saw me looking at her.
“Hi, sexy!”
“You look beautiful.” I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders and looked at us through the mirror. I’d dressed in a simple black Prada sweater with black slacks and black boots, nice but understated so she wouldn’t be suspicious.
“Is everyone here?” Zoey turned around and reached for my hand.
“Everyone’s here.” I pulled her up and led her out to the dining room.
When we stepped through the bedroom door into the living room, Zane and Connor strummed the Beatles song And I Love Her. Zoey’s eyes widened when she saw the living room transformed with the twinkly lights, candles, flowers, and our favorite people standing around with glasses of sparkly cider.
“What’s going on? Ty?” Zoey’s gorgeous hazel eyes were darting all around.
Leading her over to the fireplace, I looked around at all our friends and family, and clasped Zoey’s hands in mine and dropped to one knee in front of her. Zoey immediately burst into tears, which I hoped were happy tears, so I forged ahead.
“Butterfly, you’re the love of my life. From the moment I met you, through all of the years we were apart, and even more so now that we found each other again, it’s been you. I want us to spend all of our days together whether we are traveling the world, running the foundation, raising beautiful babies, or just hanging out, growing old. There is nothing in the world that is more important to me than you, and I am asking you in front of our friends; well, really our family, will you be my wife?”
I popped open the black box revealing a gorgeous custom ten-carat diamond ring, with smaller diamonds hugging the bigger one.
“Oh, Ty.” Zoey wept openly as she threw her arms around me. “Yes, yes, yes yes!”
Sliding the ring on her red-tipped finger, Zoey held it up as everyone gathered around to see. For easily a good twenty minutes, we were embraced and kissed and surrounded by our family and my band. Looking around, I caught Mike’s and Olivia’s eyes, both were openly weeping. Alex was hugging both of us and kissing Zoey on the cheek. Carter looked happy and proud. Zane and Connor looked like they were ready to eat.
Jace stood apart with a weird expression on his face that was supposed to be a smile, but it really looked like a grimace. He kept fiddling with something in his pocket.
My surveillance was interrupted by my beautiful butterfly looking up at me with love and adoration in her eyes. Unable to resist, I bent to kiss her sweet lips and clung to her like a lifeline. Today was our day and even though I sensed a bit of drama in the air, everyone I loved was in the room and I’d be damned if anyone would interfere with our love story ever again.
“I love you, Ty.” Zoey murmured against my lips. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since the moment I saw you at The Mission.”
“Me too, butterfly.” I cradled her in my arms. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, and now the only thing I want is for us to explore it together.”
Letter from Kaylene
Hey!
Since you’re at the end of the book, you know that Endless is the story of Ty and Zoey. This entire book was a labor of love, and also a love letter to my hometown of Seattle.
Their story originated many years ago, Ty was the man I conjured up as my “dream man” at age fifteen. He is special to me because he is sweet, gorgeous, and sensitive, but he has inner strength and finds a way to truly take control over his life. A life that could have ended up so much differently. Zoey is the beautiful, strong woman who sees Ty for who he is deep inside, his perfect muse.
But this is just the beginning. Over the next months, you’ll be able to delve into the stories of all of the swoonworthy LTZ band members and the strong, sassy women who they fall in love with.
Words cannot express how much it means to me that you’ve read this book. As a new author, I would LOVE and APPRECIATE any feedback you have about the Less than Zer
o world.
You can write me at kaylenewinterauthor@gmail.com.
Find out all about LTZ on my website www.rockerromance.com.
Most importantly, it is super important it is for authors to receive as many reviews of their book as possible.
If you have time, here’s a link to my author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kaylene-Winter/e/B0892SZC3D/. Please leave a review about Endless, if you have time – I’d really appreciate it!
Here’s what to expect:
LIMITLESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 2 (Jace & Alex)
FEARLESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 3 (Connor & Ronni)
TIMELESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 4 (Zane and Fiona)
So grateful to all of you,
Kaylene Winter
The End
Before you go please leave me a Review, it really makes a difference!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089274YPG?