Kyle quickly reached over to hand Chase a set of headphones. "Nice to have you here, man."
Chase smiled and sat down on a stool next to me.
Kyle sat in for me on the interview, probably noticing I was too surprised to say much of anything. "In case you've been living under a rock and hadn't heard, Chance of a Lifetime has been making headlines by signing with Interline Records, and climbing the charts with the hit song Sex on the Beach. Congratulations, man."
"Thanks. It's been a crazy ride." Chase gave me a light and almost hesitant smile.
"Can you tell us anything about the inspiration behind the song? You're known for writing lyrics pulled straight from your experiences. Is this one like that?"
Chase took my hand before continuing. "Yes, Sex on the Beach is inspired by a real experience. It's about meeting your dream girl, having the best sex of your life and watching her slip away without so much as giving you her last name."
My chest tightened. I couldn't imagine my life without Chase anymore.
"Wow, that would be rough. Did you ever find that girl?" Kyle grinned at me. He was definitely enjoying himself.
"Yes, and she's even better than I could have imagined."
"Any chance you could play us that song?" Jade asked.
He shook his head. "No."
"Oh, that's too bad. Since you guys didn't perform tonight, I'm sure your fans would have loved an acoustic take on that song."
"Would you mind if I played something new? Something I've never performed before?"
Shock crossed Jade's face, but she composed herself. "Of course. We'd love that."
Kyle smiled. "All right guys, it looks like you're in for a treat. You've got it here, the premiere of a new Chance of a Lifetime song."
Chase dropped my hand and picked up his guitar. "This one is about my sex on the beach girl, but it's not about what might have been, it's about what's real-what's really here."
Chase played a few chords before treating all of us to his gravely, sexy voice.
Blonde hair does it right, curled up just where you're supposed to be.
Afraid of your own shadow you try to hide, but every time I'll find you.
Twisted up in the blankets or not, I know you're there. Behind a screen, or the voice on the other end, I'll find you and bring you back to me.
Nothing's perfect. Nothing's scratched into the laws of fate-but baby, you're more than my lake house. You're my everything.
My everything-my life, my dark-my love-my hate-my everything.
His eyes were wide and fixed on mine as he sang, and even though I knew the song was being broadcast to thousands of people, it still felt like it was just us in that booth.
It should scare you. It scares me, leaves me grasping for a door I never really want to find.
Maybe you're lost, searching for a you left behind ages ago, but every time I'll find you.
Leaves me begging for release, for a future without the distance, without the ache, but maybe I don't mind the ache. Maybe it's the kind of ache you embrace. I'm going to find you and bring you back to me.
Nothing's perfect. Nothing's scratched into the laws of fate-but baby, you're more than my lake house. You're my everything.
My everything-my life, my dark-my love-my hate-my everything.
I didn't fight the tears. It would have been traitorous to do so. I'd asked for a song with emotion, and I'd gotten it. And the best part was it wasn't about the sad-it was about the happy.
I need you. Plain as day I see that now.
You need me too, but not the same way and that's just fine with me.
Just give me that smile, that ray of hope and I'll keep strumming, keep sending thoughts your way.
No matter what mask you wear, the name on your shirt, I'll search for you and I'll find you and bring you back to me.
Nothing's perfect. Nothing's scratched into the laws of fate-but baby, you're more than my lake house. You're my everything.
My everything-my life, my dark-my love-my hate-my everything.
My everything.
I didn't even think. I tossed my headphones, pushed off his and jumped into his lap. He set aside his guitar just in time.
His lips met mine with record speed, and I didn't even remember we weren't alone. The taste of his lips, the feel of his tongue tangled with mine-I needed it. I needed those sensations as I eagerly explored his mouth. Straddling his lap, I let my hand slip beneath his white t-shirt, wanting to feel his skin again.
He started to do the same to me when Jade cleared her throat. I turned to give her a sheepish smile, still perched on Chase's lap.
"If you don't have a view of the booth yourself, I'll just fill you in. Your very own Sleeping with the Band host Cara, is well, sleeping with the band. That song you just heard was most definitely dedicated to her."
Normally that would have embarrassed me. It would have had me diving off Chase's lap, but I didn't. I didn't mind that my sex life had just been broadcast, because it was also my love life-and I was very proud of that.
Chase looked over me at Jade and Kyle. "Mind if I borrow Cara for a while? There's something I need to show her."
"She's all yours." Jade grinned again.
I hopped off Chase's lap and hugged her. In the course of a few months, Jade and I had grown incredibly close. I couldn't imagine how awful my semester would have been without her.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"We'll be back to hang out later." Chase took my hand, and we walked down from the booth.
As we entered the crowds, Chase dropped my hand and instead put his arm around my waist. I leaned into his side, eager for any contact I could get.
"Oh my god, that was the sweetest thing I've ever heard!" Mallory put her arms around both of us in an awkward attempt at a hug.
Chase smiled. "I thought it was time to come clean."
Juliet grinned. "You're a lucky man, Chase Denton."
"And I know it."
I was ready to cry again. It's as though my tear ducts were on overdrive.
"Not to ruin any goodwill I just earned with you girls, but I need to show Cara something."
"Show her something? Is that code for something else?" Juliet nudged me.
Chase ran his hand up my arm. "Not this time."
I said goodbye to my friends, and we made our way out.
"I'm parked over there." Chase pointed to a lot across the street.
"Whose car did you borrow?" I laced my fingers in his as we crossed the street.
"Mine."
"Wait. You drove down here?"
"Yeah. Does that surprise you?"
"You must have been driving all night."
"Yeah, I must have been." He kissed me on the forehead.
"Are you ready to tell me where we're going?" I buckled my seat belt, checking out the inside of his Altima. You can tell a lot about someone by their car. It was funny finally seeing Chase's only after we'd gotten to know each other so well.
"You'll see very soon."
We drove through downtown before Chase got on Folly Road and headed out toward Folly Beach. What did he need to show me out there?
We drove until he pulled into a driveway. "Here we are."
"You wanted to show me a house?"
He smiled. "Trust me, you'll want to see this."
I got out of the car and let Chase lead me up the front steps of the small two story home.
"Wait? Is this your place?"
"I decided there was no reason to keep my home base in New York when the only place I want to be is with you."
There went the tears again. I launched myself into his arms. "I can't believe it. So you'll be here when you're not touring?"
"Yes. I've got enough room that I can set up a recording space if I want, and the band can fly down if they need to. I do most of my writing alone anyway."
"This is unreal. Unreal."
"Come look at this too." He took my hand and led me up the stairs. He walked into a large bedroom that by the looks of it had to be the master. It was completely empty, like the rest of the house.
I knew he wasn't talking about the room though. He pushed open a set of French doors that opened onto a small deck that overlooked the water. I followed him out onto the deck. The waves were calm, gently lapping against the shore.
"See, this way we can have sex on the beach every night."
I laughed. "And it won't even involve getting sandy."
"I wouldn't mind getting sandy with you again." His lips grazed my earlobe.
"Can we start now?"
"Start having sex on the beach?" He slid the thin strap of my tank off my shoulder and ran his lips over my skin. I shivered.
"Yes."
"I was kind of going to insist on it."
"I guess we're using the floor?" I eyed the thick carpet back inside.
"Wait. I had this all planned." He darted away and pulled out a light brown comforter from the closet. "I actually found one in a color called sand."
I laughed and watched him from inside. "You're being weird sexy again."
"Aren't I always?" He laid the blanket down on the wooden decking before returning to the closet. This time, he brought out one of those scented candles. "It's called Ocean Breeze. We're near the ocean, but I thought we could use a little more atmosphere."