Embrace (Two Hearts Book 2)

by Melissa Toppen

  While I know that Becca has a point, I also know that the point is mute. Zayne made his choice and I've made mine. We are where we are because we've chosen to be.

  “I'm not getting into this right now. We aren't together, we aren't going to be together, so there's no point in discussing it further.” I say, turning and walking away from Becca towards the stage.

  “I'm sorry Grace. I didn't mean to overstep.” She calls from behind the bar.

  I turn to face her once I reach the stage, shoving my guitar into its case. “You didn't. You're being my friend.” I reassure her with a smile.

  “Besides, I have a question for you.” I say, waiting for her eyebrows to shoot up in question before continuing. “My brother bought me Raining Strange tickets for Friday night, you interested in going with?” I ask, watching her face light up and then fall into a frown.

  “Shit. Are you kidding me? Of all the nights, it has to be Friday.....” She groans, leaning against the bar.

  “I take it Friday isn't a good day for you?” I ask, setting my guitar to the side of the stage and making my way back towards the bar.

  “I have to pick my baby sister up from the airport Friday morning. She's only here for the weekend. There's no way that I can bail on her the first night she's here to go to a concert.” She whines, clearly disappointed.

  “Well that sucks.” I say, genuinely disappointed that she won't be able to go with me. I was kind of counting on her being able to go, considering she's the only person I know who likes the band as much as I do, not to mention Emma has to work that night so she can't go.

  “Tell me about it.” She crosses the bar and flips the main light switch which kills every light in the bar except for a dim overhead light by the main entrance.

  “Well let me know if anything changes. Guess I'll just have to see if Carv will go with me, though I can't see him being to overly excited about it. Neither him nor Em understand my choice in music.” I laugh when a look of disgust crosses Becca's face.

  “Losers.” She says, holding the door open for me.

  “Yeah, tell me about it.” I laugh, a small chill running through me as I step out into the night air.

  “See you tomorrow Grace.” She laughs, pulling the door closed as I begin making my way down the sidewalk towards my apartment building.

  A light breeze whips through my hair and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply before opening them again. The weather is absolutely perfect at this time of night, especially considering that during the day the temperatures are bordering around ninety degrees. While Colorado sees similar weather, it's so much more humid on the east coast.

  I make it home in the matter of minutes and can't be more relieved when my body finally collapses on the couch, too tired to even make it to my bed at the moment.

  Normally the late nights don't bother me, but I have had so much trouble sleeping here recently, by the time I make it home I feel like a zombie and can't help but wonder how I am still functioning.

  ****

  “Gracie. Grace.” Carver's voice pulls me from my restless sleep. I peel one eye open to peer up at him and am greeted by a wide smile. “Mornin.” He chuckles, watching me try to pull myself into a sitting position.

  “Morning.” I manage to croak out, trying to stretch out my tight back muscles from sleeping on the couch.

  “Why are you out here?” He asks, plopping down next to me and pulling my feet into his lap.

  Slouching back down into the couch cushions, I prop myself up with one of the sofa pillows and try to make myself semi-comfortable, not yet feeling the energy to get up and go to my room.

  “I laid down thinking I would watch a little television before bed. Guess I fell asleep before I even turned the T.V. on.” I get out on a yawn.

  “You're going to have the worst back ache if you spend anymore time on this lumpy old thing. Trust me, I fell asleep out here one night and felt like I couldn't stand up straight for two days.” He says on a laugh.

  “Yeah, I think I'll go to my room now.” I say, grabbing his hands and pulling myself into a sitting position before throwing my legs over the side of the couch.

  “Before I forget, Alec got me tickets to see Raining Strange at the Mercury Lounge on Friday. I wanted to see if maybe you would want to go with me.” I say, plastering on a begging smile.

  Based on the way his face drops, I already know the answer. “Shit Gracie, I wish I could but I actually have a date Friday night.” He says, his forehead scrunching together in apology.

  “A date huh? Who's the special lady?” I ask, nudging him with my shoulder.

  “Just some girl from the office.” He says, bumping his shoulder back into mine. “I could always reschedule.” He says, reaching out to push my tangled hair behind my shoulder.

  “Don't be ridiculous, I'm sure I can find someone else to go. You go on your hot date and then come home and tell me all about this mystery woman from the office.” I say, giving him a wink before peeling myself off the couch.

  Leaning down, I place a quick kiss to his forehead. “Have a good day at work.” I say, making my way around the couch towards my bedroom.

  “Love you Gracie.” Carver calls from the couch just as I push my way inside of my room.

  “Love you.” I say back, loud enough that I am sure he hears me, before closing the door.

  I strip down into my underwear and throw on an old t-shirt before pulling back my covers and crawling into bed. My mattress feels like a cloud compared to the couch and I am very thankful that Carver woke me. I have no doubt that I would have felt like death had I slept there much longer.

  As much as I would love to go back to sleep, considering it's just past seven in the morning, I am suddenly a little panicked that I'm not going to be able to find anyone to go to the show with me.

  I briefly consider inviting Thad but then quickly decide against it. I'm sure he has a gig that night, considering his band always plays on the weekends.

  Deciding to see if Alec can go, I peel myself back out of bed and dig my cell out of the pocket of my jeans that I discarded on the floor. I type a quick text and then lock the phone, collapsing back into my bed.

  Closing my eyes, I do my best to relax but just as I feel myself dozing, my phone signals a new text message. I blindly feel around the bed for my phone and don't open my eyes until I am holding it right in front of my face.

  Sounds like fun.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I type out a quick response.

  Thank you! I was starting to think I was going to have to go alone :(

  His reply is almost immediate.

  Not a chance. I'll meet you at the venue at seven.

  I can't help but smile at my brothers thoughtfulness. Not only did he buy me the tickets but he's also agreeing to go with me. While he may not hate my choice of music quite as much as Emma, I know he doesn't exactly love it either.

  You're the best!

  I hit send and then lock my phone, tossing it on my night stand before snuggling deeper into the covers. While I love my brother dearly, he's certainly not my first choice to take to a rock concert. Now if Ian were here, that would be a different story.

  Ian is the type to dance around like a fool, join the mosh pit, and would probably even manage to crowd surf his way to the stage. Alec on the other hand, will most likely stand off to the side and watch me like a hawk all night to make sure no one messes with me, not exactly what I would call a super fun time.

  Oddly enough, I can't help but feel like Zayne would be the very same way. I can't see him letting loose and really having fun. He seems to always have a guard up and to this day, I have yet to see it falter. Well, besides the few little peeks I got into the person he really is during our few days together at his apartment.

  I try to shake off the thoughts of Zayne and focus on my excitement about my upcoming outing with Alec. Anything is better than going alone so I accept my fate and decide to be grateful that in less than four days, I will be
seeing one of my favorite bands live for the very first time.

  Chapter Six

  I can't believe I'm actually here, the Mercury Lounge in New York City. Visiting this venue has been a dream of mine for a very long time and I just can't grasp that it's finally a reality. I remember being fifteen years old and laying around my room reading articles about my favorite bands and how a good deal of them named this very location as their favorite place to play.

  Kyle used to tease me relentlessly about my obsession with music magazines. I had this habit of cataloging all my must see bands in alphabetical order, which he would purposely mix up just to get a rise out of me. As much as it annoyed me back then, it's now one of my fondest memories of my time with him.

  Over the years my list of places to visit has grown, but the Mercury Lounge has remained in the top five through it all. What's even more amazing is the band I am here to see. A band whose music has seen me through some of the best and some of the worst moments of my life. A band that has given me strength when I couldn't find any and taught me that sometimes it's okay to just be fucked up.

  “Right this way Miss.” A tall, bald headed man with a red goatee says, gesturing for me to step forward.

  Not having the patience to wait any longer to get inside, I text Alec a few minutes ago to let him know I was going inside and that I left his ticket at Will Call. Glancing down at my cell, there is still no response from him. Hoping he got the message, I step forward and hand the man my ticket.

  He scans the bar code and hands the stub back to me before directing me to a burly looking woman who has more hair on her chin than the man has on his entire head.

  “Arms out.” She instructs, proceeding to pat down my sides when I comply. Once she is certain that I am not trying to smuggle in any weapons of any kind, she gives me a nod and gestures for me to go inside.

  The entrance to the venue is exactly as I pictured it. A long, dimly lit hallway filled with autographed band posters that line each wall. I take a moment to look at each one as I pass, a bit in awe by my surroundings.

  I reach the end of the hallway in the matter of minutes and finally step inside. Before me is a place like I have only ever seen in pictures. Dark red carpet and black walls cover every square inch of the establishment.

  To my left is a large circular bar that sits just feet from the back wall. Directly in front of me there are a few round top tables and then to my right, the entire floor opens up and there is already numerous people crowded against the massive stage set up.

  There are two balconies. One sits just above the bar. The other, hovers over a good portion of the open floor space. Deciding that the only way to get the full experience is to be on the floor in front of the stage, I make my way through the sea of people crowded around me and take a spot next to the far right wall about ten feet back from the stage.

  Checking my phone, I decide to text Alec again just in case he didn't get my first message, before shoving my cell in the back pocket of my dark flare leg jeans. Deciding visiting this place denoted more than my usual garb, I paired them with a fire engine red tank that dips low in the front and shows off more cleavage than I am used to but fits my body perfectly. It bunches at the sides and has long pieces of fabric that trail down about mid-thigh, really pulling the dark color of the jeans.

  As much as I wanted to throw on my favorite black Converse, Emma wouldn't let me out of the house in them and as such, gave me no choice but to wear her three inch heeled black boots. While they may look awesome with the outfit, I have no doubt that my feet will not be thanking me later for that decision. I decided to wear my hair down and Emma worked her magic on my curls giving my hair amazing body.

  Though I am not sure why I went through all the trouble, considering my date for the night is my oldest brother. But on the off chance that I would somehow miraculously get up close with the band, I wanted to make sure I didn't look like I just rolled out of bed.

  People continue to file into the venue and by the time the first opening act comes on, the entire place is packed from front to back. There is no doubt that this show sold out and honestly I can't help but wonder if they oversold. I feel like there are people touching me on all sides which honestly, freaks me out a little.

  Pushing my backside into the wall, I push up on my tiptoes to get a good view of the first band. They are a bunch of young guys all dressed very similarly in plain black t-shirts. Their first song is fast and catchy and by the end of their set, I find myself rather enjoying them. The lead singer jumps around the stage like a lunatic and it's a wonder that he manages to avoid colliding with his other band members, but they are all very energetic and their excitement and sheer love for their music is so evident that I find their enthusiasm contagious.

  The second band is not quite as amped up. Fronted by a girl with bright red pig tails and more makeup than a person should ever wear, their sound is almost electric and her voice is so crisp that I can't help but be drawn into their performance as well.

  But even though I am enjoying the show, it doesn't stop me from worrying about where Alec is. He was supposed to meet me here at seven and according the massive neon clock behind the bar, it's almost nine.

  Glancing around, I can't see anything through the dark lights and the sea of people surrounding me. Even if Alec does show, the likelihood is he will never find me.

  A buzz starts to work it's way through the crowd and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Raining Strange is getting ready to take the stage. Red lights start flashing behind the dark curtain covering the stage and then in the matter of seconds, the curtain is ripped away and the lead singer's voice fills the air.

  The crowd goes crazy as the band begins to play their opening number. Seeing them in person, just feet from me, makes everything around me seem like a dream. The people, the lights, the music, it just all seems so surreal. And yet I'm here. I'm living out a dream of mine and I can't even begin to describe the feeling that this moment gives me.

  Just as the music really starts to pull me in and all my attention is focused on the stage, I feel someone slip in behind me. My stomach forms a hard knot when I realize it's Zayne. It has to be. I don't even have to look at him to know he's here. I can tell by the way the tiny hairs on the back of my neck raise up. By the way my entire body suddenly feels on high alert. And by the intoxicating scent now invading my nostrils.

  My mind races with reasons why he would be here but then I settle on the most likely. Alec must have sent him. Why, I'm not sure and I don't know if I should be completely pissed off or thankful. On one hand, I know I should avoid being anywhere even remotely close to Zayne. On the other, I can't deny the surge I feel having him so near.

  I glance back to see him casually leaning on the wall directly behind me, his eyes on the stage. I literally lose my breath at the sight of him. His black t-shirt clinging to his impossibly toned body, his dark hair hanging across his forehead in a way that makes it near impossible not to reach out and brush the strands away from his flesh.

  Not really sure what else to do, I turn back around and focus on the show. Singing along with every word and jumping around like a fool, by the end of the fourth song, I am not only a sweaty mess, but I am also acutely aware of the man still standing behind me. His very presence keeping me on edge and my body hyper aware of his every movement.

  As each song plays, the less I care about where we stand in our relationship and the more I just want to turn around and take his mouth with mine. When I close my eyes and really focus, I can still feel the way his tongue moves against mine. The way his fingers feel trailing through my hair. The way his breath hitches when I glide my tongue along his lower lip.

  I don't know if it's the venue, the music, the crowd, or just the knowledge that he's here, so close that I can touch him, that has me thinking this way, but once the thought crosses my mind, I can't shake it.

  The very thin thread holding my will in place, finally slips when the singer pulls out hi
s acoustic guitar and takes a seat on the edge of the stage. The minute the words to “Not Broken Anymore” by Blue October start pouring from his mouth, I have no control. It's not unheard of for bands to cover other bands songs but this song, let's just say it hits close to home.

  It describes exactly how Zayne makes me feel. How one person can change everything. How you view the world, how you view life, and most importantly, how you view yourself. When I feel his arms slip around my waist and pull my back into his chest, I don't fight it.

  My body is putty in his arms and nothing or no one will ever be able to change the way this man makes me feel. I relax back into his embrace and close my eyes, letting my senses overtake me. The feeling of his arms around me, the sound of the singer's voice floating through my ears, the smell of Zayne's cologne invading my nostrils.

  Everything feels right. The past doesn't matter. The mistakes, the regret, the pain, the fear. In this moment, for the first time in a very long time, none of it holds any meaning over the way I feel about this man.

  As the music continues to surround us, bouncing off of every wall, the urge to look at Zayne becomes too much to bare. Turning in his arms, I am completely unprepared for the feelings that flood through me the moment his blue eyes settle on mine.

  He reaches out and cups my cheek in his hand, his thumb working small gentle strokes across my face, before gliding down and trailing slowly across my lower lip. I take a sharp inhale, seeing the desire burn in his eyes as he stares down at me.

  But when he mouths the words “not broken anymore” along with the music, my heart instantly melts in my chest. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I feel like right here and now, he's telling me exactly what I want to tell him. He is the one person that has the power to piece me back together. Could I be that for him as well?

  Leaning down, he gently whispers in my ear. “God how I've missed you.” The feeling of his hot breath on my neck, along with his words, causes an involuntary shiver to run through my body.