Page 31 of More To Us

I quickly sign my name on the girl, then give her the pen.

"Oh my God, thank you!" The girl kisses me right next to my lips.

"No problem," I tell her and she runs off.

Kira laughs. "The hazards of being in a boy band."

I smile at her. "I'm not in a freaking boy band."

"You're in a band with all boys. Isn't that considered a boy band?"

"I'm in a rock band, which you would know if you'd actually stuck around and listened to my music last night." I pour her some water from the pitcher on the table. "Did you leave because you were mad at me?"

"No. I would've stuck around but my roommate—" She stops suddenly and clears her throat.

"Your roommate what?"

"Nothing. Never mind." She takes a drink of water.

"Does your roommate not like our music?"

"It's not that. She just wasn't feeling well so we had to leave."

"It's too bad you weren't able to stick around. We're playing this Saturday if you guys want to come."

"Um, I don't know. I'll have to get back to you." She looks over at the girl who was at our table. "So do you always sign girls' breasts?" She laughs a little as she says it. At least she's not mad about it.

"I didn't actually sign her breast, but yeah. I get asked to sign body parts more often than I get asked to sign pieces of paper. By the way, I'm sorry about that. I should've told her to go away."

"I don't think she would've left without you signing her. Besides, we're not on a date. I don't care if girls come up to you. I get that's what happens when you're in a boy band." She smiles.

Her hand is on the table so I pick it up and hold it, just to see what she'll do. "I'm not in a boy band. And maybe this IS a date."

"It's not," she says, her eyes on mine.

"And yet you haven't pulled away," I say, gently rubbing my thumb over the top of her hand.

She looks down at our joined hands. She attempts to tug her hand from mine, but it's a lame attempt, like it's not what she really wants.

"You won't let me go," she says, her eyes returning to mine.

"That's something you should know about me. When I really like something I don't let it go."

"I'm not a thing. I'm a person."

"Who I don't want to let go."

She swallows and glances away.

"Are you ready to order?" the waiter asks, as he sets some chopsticks on our table.

"I think we need a minute," I tell him. He nods and walks away.

Kira looks back at me. "What do you recommend?"

"I never order any of the pre-made stir fries. I always make my own."

"How do you do that?"