Page 147 of Anything To Be With You

"Big time. Erin was my student when we started our relationship. We kept it hidden, no one knew except for Dani," Jake sighs and sits back. "We got caught and I was given an ultimatum: break it off with Erin or lose my job. I broke it off."

"How’d you get her back?"

Jake chuckles. "Tons of groveling, and I tattooed 'property of Erin' over my dick."

I stare at him. "And that worked?"

"Well, the groveling consisted of showing Erin something no one else but family knew about. If you show Dani a side of you that no one has ever seen, it will mean more to her than anything you could ever do or say."

"Does Dani know what you showed Erin?" I question.

"She does. And you’ve probably seen what it was that I did to get Erin back. There’s a few of them in Dani’s house," Jake smirks. "And one she wears with pride."

"One she wears with pri—the tattoo of Mason. You did it?"

Jake nods with a bright smile. "I drew it."

I sit there shocked. I had seen the illustrated pictures around Dani's house, I had always wondered who drew the ones of young Mason and Dani. I figured she had them commissioned, I would have never guessed that Jake had done them. They are magnificent.

"There is one thing that only my family knows about." I tell Jake, even though Dani had caught me that day in my office. However, I don't think she fully believes what she heard.

"Then that’s what you have to do."

Scars And All

Dani

I take a deep breath and hit Luke’s name. The door buzzes and I walk in, cross the lobby, and wait for the elevator. He had called me last night and asked if I would come over after work today. I don’t know why I agreed. Seeing him in court two days ago was too much for my heart to handle. The elevator doors open, and I step in. I send up a little prayer that the thing doesn’t stop and hit the button for his floor.

The door is ajar when I exit the elevator. "Archer?" The apartment is quiet, all the lights are off said for one lamp that’s throwing a soft glow across the living room. I step inside, closing the door behind me.

"Archer?" I call again.

He comes out of his room and my hearts jumps in my chest.

"Sit. Please." Luke walks over and sits on the chair that’s facing the couch, placing a guitar on his knee. "Gabe, you there?"

"I’m here," Gabe’s voice comes through the Bluetooth speakers.

"Uh, what’s going on?" I ask.

"Sit back and enjoy, Dani girl." Gabe informs me. "This is all for you."

Luke glances at me. "I haven’t played for someone in fifteen years," he strums a few cords and exhales, looking away. "I know this is your comfort song, you hum it when you’re nervous, or terrified or furious or happy."

"You noticed that?" I breathe, a little embarrassed.

He nods. "I did. I always thought it was cute." He strums another few cords. "I spent two days learning it," he meets my eyes. "I hope I do it justice."

Luke begins to play, and the tears come. His voice is beautiful. It’s deep and soulful, making me shiver and goosebumps to break out along my arms. The way it flows through the song, hitting notes I didn’t think his deep voice could hit. I wipe my cheeks. No one has ever taken the time to learn something just for me.

When Gabe joins in on the chorus, I’m floored. Their voices together create the sweetest melody. I mouth the words, not daring to sing along. His eyes never leave mine as he puts his heart into words written by someone else but feel like they were written for me.

To Be With You by Mr. Big has always felt like it was meant for me. It was playing on the radio the first time I went to therapy after the whole Josh situation. I took it as a sign that one day I will find a man that would want and love me for who I am. Scars and all.

When the song finishes, Luke places his guitar on the coffee table.

"Thanks, Gabe." Luke says.

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