Annie gives a slow spreading grin as she bows over my lips with a kiss.
Her mouth opens to mine, and it's like falling in a warm pool of wonder.
It's like falling in love.
* * *
The Black Bear is brimming with bodies tonight, most of them female and half of those are gunning for my crotch. As soon as the band and I finish our set, I jump off stage to find Annie, but she seems to have vanished, so I head to the bar to get something wet.
"Nice job, baby bro." Wyatt offers up a fist bump.
"Thanks. Glad you could make it. Where's the lucky lady? You bring a date?" Wyatt has never been short on girls. In fact it's odd not to see him with one chewing on his ear.
"Nope." He flags down the bartender for me. "Two beers."
"Just a Pepsi for me." I nod to Cole. He's been pretty decent, most everyone has with the exception of Holt and Bryson, who themselves were okay up until I started to show interest in Annie. It's been two weeks since our hot air balloon ride, and we've logged miles with our tongues. I know she's hoping to take it to the next level soon, and so am I.
"The funny thing is"-Wyatt glances around like he's expecting someone-"I actually got dumped in this place a few months back. Real nice girl. Tall, dark hair, I think her name was Izzy."
"Izzy?" I nod past him at a table in the corner where Izzy and Cole's girlfriend, Roxy, are chatting it up. "Is that her?"
"Fuck me-that is her." He looks slightly confused. "She dumped me right here, dude. She was sweet about it, though. Nice girl."
"Her fiancé, Holt, owns the place." Cole passes us our drinks, and we thank him. "Holt also happens to be Annie's brother."
Wyatt puts the beer to his mouth and smiles. "Small world. So where's the infamous Annie? Are you sure you're not getting dumped right now?"
"She's here."
"Excuse me?" A light voice comes from behind, and we turn to find Izzy beaming a big ole glad-to-see-you smile at my brother. "I thought that was you!" She laughs while stepping in close. "I have to say, you were the nicest, and, might I add, sanest blind date I've ever been on."
"Thank you. I think. I suppose sane is rated on a sliding scale."
Izzy laughs so loud it pierces over the music pumping through the speakers, and my heart sinks because I'd give anything to hear Annie laugh like that.
"What's going on?" Holt pops up, glaring at both my brother and me.
Perfect.
Izzy does the introductions, and I add, "Wyatt is my brother."
She beams, tapping him on the back. "I knew I liked you."
Holt catches my eye and nods to the bar. "Where's Cole? Register's open, would you shut it?"
"No problem." I walk over, the long way, and shut the drawer. I'm not a fan of shooting the shit with either Holt or Bryson these days.
Annie makes her way toward me, grinning from ear to ear. I speed over and meet her halfway.
I loved your set. She wiggles her phone at me. You were perfect.
I frown at her a moment, and she takes the phone back.
You did look perfect. And Baya says you always sound perfect. She gives a little wink. But I don't need her to tell me that, I can tell by the vibrations. Why do you think I lean against the wall all night?
My mouth opens to say something, and an idea comes to me. But first, "There's someone I'd love for you to meet."
We make our way over and inadvertently break up Holt and Wyatt's conversation. I'm sure it was mind boggling much like Holt.
"Wyatt, I'd love for you to meet Annie. Annie, this is my brother, Wyatt."
"Annie?" He hops to his feet and takes up her hand. "It's very nice to finally meet you. Blake says you've been logging some time at the carriage house, and I feel bad that it's taken this long for us to say hello."
Holt nods to Annie. "What's the carriage house?"
Shit. Here we go. It sounds innocent enough, and, believe me, it has been. We haven't stepped one inch off first base, but I'd be lying if I didn't say we were thoroughly exploring our options. I think both of us are feeling the urge to hit a homer soon.
Annie looks to me in a panic.
Wyatt lands his beer back on the bar. "Just a one bedroom I'm leasing out to this knucklehead." He raises a brow in my direction as if I should admire the way he made me sound gainfully employed and living off my own means even if he did pepper it with an insult. Little does he know he just signed my death warrant.
Holt turns his shoulder enough to block his view of Annie.
"One bedroom, huh?" The smile glides off his face. "I gotta run. I've got an issue in the back." He looks to my brother. "I'm really glad we met." He reverts his cold, hard gaze to me. "See me before you leave. I've got a bonus for you and the band."
Shit.
Izzy winces as Holt takes off. "I'd better go see if I can help." She mouths the word sorry to Annie as she melts into the crowd.
"I'd better run, too." Wyatt pans the crowd for potential bedmates. "Who's the blonde?" He nods past me. His eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning just waiting to tear into the wrapping paper.
Annie points her phone at him, and he leans in to read it.
"Your roommate?" He looks slightly confused. "Do you have a sore throat?"
I may have forgotten to mention the fact that Annie is deaf. In truth, I forget half the time.
Annie looks to me a moment before typing out another quick note explaining the fact she can't hear.
Wyatt looks from her to me. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize-" He looks to me in horror. "You never mentioned it."
"It was never on my mind." I pull her in and circle my arms around her waist. I don't see why not, I'm already going to hell by way of the Edwards' brothers.
"It's very nice to meet you, Annie." He extends his hand, and they exchange a quick shake. "I'll see you both soon. Maybe we can do dinner? Feel free to bring your roommate," he teases as he heads for the door.
He's sweet. Marley will be very flattered.
"Is she taken?"
She's waiting for her BF to propose. I think he's avoiding her.
I wince. "Too bad."
"Hey," Bryson barks as he walks up on us. "Holt says he wants to speak with you in the back." He eyes my arms around his sister's waist, and I slowly let them drop.
"Will do."
I'd better head to campus with Marley. Call me?
I give a quick nod. Annie leans in and plants a sweet kiss right over my lips.
Shit.
She glances back at her brother and gives a curt wave before taking off. Wyatt may have spilled the gasoline at my feet, but Annie just lit the match.
I follow Bryson to the back room where I fully expect to get my kneecaps knocked in with a baseball bat-I'm hoping my balls are safe for now.
"What's up?" I stare down both Holt and Bryson with their nearly identical faces and fight the urge to butt their heads together. Benji comes to mind, and suddenly I'm seeing them in a whole new light. "Before you go off and tell me to get the hell out of the bar-and your sister's life-I just want to say that I hope you both know how lucky you are." I clasp the back of my neck. "I lost my brother last summer. We were close."
"I just met your brother." Holt growls.
"Different brother. Benji died in a motorcycle accident last July." I stuff my hands into my jeans. "Go ahead say what you're going to say so we can all get out of here."
Bryson looks to Holt, and they spend about a minute raising their brows at one another.
Holt steps up and just when I think he's going to bury his fist in my gut he offers up a knuckle bump.
"Don't hurt her, man."
Bryson steps up, too. "I'm watching you. When you don't know I'm looking, I'm there."
Holt nods over. "No more taking her back to your place."
"What?" Bryson's eyes bulge out like hardboiled eggs.
Holt holds up a hand. "I'll have Izzy talk to Annie."
That perennially pissed look returns to Bryson's face. "Dude, there are five hundred girls out there right now willing to bed you. Why the fuck are you messing with our sister?"
"First, I'm not messing with your sister. And second, I'm in love with her."
The Sound of Music
Annie
Just before Digital Studios begins, I get a text from Kaya. Guess who's coming out for Thanksgiving? Can you handle five full days of this noise?
I gasp when I read it.
Everything okay? Tristan signs.
More than okay. I show him the text. She's my best friend. We went to Quincy together.
Nice. He pulls out his laptop and gets situated for the lecture. Is she as cute as you?