Page 110 of Never Have I Ever

I’m going to kill him right after I smother him to death with kisses and my love.

He comes running from the center of the lineup, looking every bit the sexy musician. Wild hair, worn T-shirt, faded jeans, and sneakers. He runs to me just as I head toward him.

Catching me in his arms, he swings me around while covering my temple in kisses. “I missed you so fucking much, baby.”

A round of applause breaks out, bringing us back to the here and now. When my feet land on the ground again, I lift to kiss him. When our lips part, I look into those eyes that hold the sun instead and say, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He wraps himself around me once more as I embrace him fully.

I pull him to me, and with his head tucked into the crook of my neck, I whisper, “Tell me they didn’t chase you here? You’re not about to be arrested, are you?”

He chuckles as he rises to his full height in front of me. “No. They’re on my side.”

“How are you here? It doesn’t feel real.” I want to read him like a book, but he keeps distracting me with the damn sexy cover. “I missed you so much.”

His hands cover my sides and lower to my hips. Smirking like the hottie he is, he says, “I had a little help from my friends.” All I have to do is raise an eyebrow for him to continue. “Johnny Outlaw called in a few favors. All these guys are fans. We’re hooking them up with tickets next time we’re in town.”

“Next time?”

“I’m allowed back next year.”

“So you bribed the police to let you into Nashville?” I bite my bottom lip in worry, though I can admit it’s pretty dang clever.

“No bribery. Nothing illegal. We got the judge to sign off on it, but I only have two hours.”

This man. I will never get enough of him. “Why did you go to all this trouble?”

“No trouble. I came for you. I came to back you up. I’ll clear dishes or wash them, pack up food, or whatever you need. I’m at your disposal.”

“For the next two hours?”

“Yep. I came for that and to tell you I don’t want to be without you anymore. What do you think about taking the next step together?”

“Do you have a new tattoo in mind?” I smirk because I can with the best of them. Them being Laird, the sexy giant.

Taking me into his arms, he kisses me and then says, “Yes. Permanent like that.”

With my arms around his neck, I ask, “What did you have in mind?”

“Something more circular and metallic.”

This man will literally tell me I hung the moon if I let him. I’ll let him, but not after I tell him how he made the stars shine brighter in my universe just by being in it. “Sounds like an amazing design.”

“Couldn’t have designed it better myself.”

Recalling a conversation we once had, I say, “So tell me, babe. That’s what you came all this way to say?”

“It’s not that far. I traveled all day to get here from Seattle.”

My heart thunders in my chest as I smile at the man I was always destined to be with. “You still bothered to go the distance for me.”

“I always will.”

Trevor runs out with his hands on his head. “What the hell is going on?”

My mom joins his side and then finds me in the center of it all. Maybe that’s been the issue all along. She couldn’t share the spotlight. Not even with her daughter. “Why are you not in the kitchen, Poppy? Invisible, remember? This is not invisible.”

“You’re right. It’s not. And I’ll never go back into the shadows again. Not for you. Not for clients. Not for anyone.” I take a few steps closer but then stop.

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