Page 86 of Forever Always

Just then, the DJ announced that this was their last song and that Rebel Revolutions would be coming on in half an hour.

Ri and I took advantage of the extra space and danced while we sipped on our drinks. Everyone up here seemed to be doing their own thing, and I was here for it. No one was even looking at us. It was like Ri and I were in our own little bubble.

The band was amazing. So were the free drinks. I hadn’t felt a buzz like this in ages. Especially when I was drinking’ just cause and not to drown out some fuckin’ trauma. Sure, both Riley’s and my issues were right under the surface. It would take just the gentlest flick to topple this and bring them back up, but right now, I just enjoyed the buzz running through my veins with my butterfly pressed up against my front and had fun.

I loved him.

It hit me hard and all at once like a fuckin’ train. Yeah, I’d always loved Riley, and my feelings had shifted over the last little while, but I hadn’t really processed it. But right there, as Riley ground his ass over my dick like it was an accident, when we both knew it wasn’t, and sang off-key at the top of his lungs, the feelings finally fuckin’ processed.

Without warning, I spun Ri around so that he was facing me. His eyes widened and were a little hazy from the alcohol and heat in this place.

“What’s wro—” I didn’t let him finish his sentence before I backed him into the closest wall, my mouth devouring his. We were both lightheaded and gasping’ for breath by the time we finally pulled apart.

“Not that I’m complainin’, but what was that for?” he asked, as he licked his spit-soaked, swollen lips.

“I love you!” I screamed over the music.

He tilted his head, a little, confused smile on his face. “Okay . . . I knew that, baby.”

“No, I mean I love you. I knew my feelings were changin’, but everything about what you did for me tonight finally hammered it home. I’m in love with you. So fuckin’ much that it hurts.”

I would kill everyone in this place if it meant it kept that smile on Ri’s face. And when he melted into me, I nearly combusted.

“I’m in love with you, too, baby. I have been for a while,” he confessed quietly. Or as quiet as he could be in this room.

Suddenly, I had to get the fuck outta here. I needed Riley and I needed him now. I downed the rest of my drink.

“C’mon.”

“Where we goin’?” he asked, even as he finished his drink and easily followed me out.

“Somewhere without an audience.”

He hissed in a breath, Riley barnacled to my side. “Let’s fuckin’ go. Now.”

CHAPTER 31

RILEY

I was giddy as Becks led me out of the crowded club. This had to be the best day of my life, and it was only getting better. I’d never been to a concert before, and even in the smaller venue, it was so fuckin’ cool. I had no idea if I’d ever have the chance to go to one again, so I was trying to savor every minute, from hearing the band live to the feeling Becks arms wrapped around me while we danced and sang along.

I had no idea where Becks was takin’ me, but I didn’t care. If we got to be alone, I was happy.

I had been worried it would too much when we’d first gotten here. I’d kept noticing Becks looking around like he expected Mr. Chase to jump out of the corner, but as the night had gone on and more booze had gotten in his system, he’d started to relax. Before I’d even accepted the tickets, I’d decided that I was sick and fuckin’ tired of letting that asshole control me. I was gonna enjoy my life when I could and take the chance to show off my man.

When we got down to the main area, Beckett took advantage of the chaos of the crowd to slip right into an area clearly labelled “Employees Only.”

“Where’re we goin’?”

Becks looked at me from over his shoulder, his smile so big it nearly stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t remember a time I’d seen Becks look this happy and relaxed. I was gonna cry. Knowing that I could give him this, even for a short time, made me feel ten feet tall. All I wanted to do was take care of Becks like he’d always cared for me, and knowing I could do it, I honestly didn’t even have words.

Okay, Ri, get it together. This ain’t the time for all the emotions. I stumbled along as Becks slipped past the bar and into a small closet.

“Are we in the cleanin’ supply closet?”

“Probably? All bars have a closet like this pretty close by. I took a gamble.”

He stopped talking then, his lips too busy attacking mine.

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