Page 76 of One Night

She laughs. "Yeah, it did. A fan favorite."

"I wanted to look at you when I sang it but I thought you'd be mad if I did."

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because people would know it's about you. And I wasn't sure you'd be okay with that, given what we did that night."

"Oh. Yeah. I wasn't even thinking about that. That song is so beautiful and about so much more than...sex."

"Because that night was so much more. I tried to capture that in the lyrics. How I felt about you. How I couldn't stop thinking about you when you were gone."

She wipes her eyes. "You're going to make me cry again."

"Don't cry." I kiss her. "Like I said, it's all in the past."

"You guys coming?" Austin says as he walks out of the room with Kira on his arm.

"Where are we going?" Amber asks.

"We always go out to eat after we perform," I tell her. "Well, not always, but usually. We'll drop your car off and you can ride with me."

"Want to go the place on Highland?" Austin asks.

"Yeah, that works. What about Van?"

"He's staying here to pack up."

"What about the girl?"

"She has a boyfriend. He showed up halfway through our show."

"That sucks." I peek my head in the room and see Van on the phone. He's probably finding someone else to hook up with later tonight.

"I think I'll just go home," Amber says. "I'm not really hungry and I can't be out all night."

"Tomorrow's Sunday. You can sleep in."

"Not really. I have to catch up on all the work I didn't get done because my boyfriend kept me busy all day."

I love hearing her call me her boyfriend. It never gets tiring.

"Your boyfriend insists you come with him for greasy burgers and fries at an all-night diner." I give her a kiss. "Come on. I don't want to be stuck alone with these two." I point at Austin and Kira who are making out right in front of us.

Amber laughs. "I'm used to it. They're like this at my apartment all the time."

"Still. Come with us. Please?"

"Okay. But I'll just follow you there. I don't need to drop off my car."

I lean down to her ear. "Unless you want to stay with me tonight." Remaining by her ear, I wait for her to respond. When she doesn't, I say, "We don't have to do anything. I just want to be next to you."

"It wouldn't work," she whispers. "It's too tempting."

"Try it and see."

"Not tonight."

I stand up straight. "I had to at least ask."

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