Page 140 of Flipping the Script

“Asa?”

“He’s a writer. He said something similar. That writing was his therapy and his passion all rolled into one obsession that keeps him sane.”

“That’s exactly what music is for me. And I felt empty without it. Like a piece of me was missing. It was either quit or end up in rehab—or worse.” He paused. “Remember when you asked about my piercing?”

I nodded.

“I got it right after I found out a friend of mine overdosed. He’s okay now, but it was touch and go there for a while. I was on tour when it happened, and I left my hotel and started walking. I ended up in front of a tattoo shop and went in. I just wanted to feel something, even if it was pain, so I made an impulsivedecision and pierced my sac.” He shot me a little smirk. “Go big or go home, right?”

“That’s one way to go big.” I paused. “Are you okay now?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Promise?”

He nodded again, a smile on his full lips. “Promise.”

“I don’t know how to say this without just saying it, so here it goes.” I drew in a deep breath. “I want you. And not just for sex. I want to be with you. Be together. Like us…together,” I finished lamely.

That had been about as smooth as gravel.

“You do?” He arched his eyebrow teasingly.

I nodded.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you stumble over your words like that. It might have been easier if you just said you love me.”

“I love you?” I repeated, completely thrown by what he’d just said.

“Do you? Because you don’t sound so sure.” He grinned. “Would it help if I said it first? Because I love you.”

“You love me?” I stammered dumbly, my mind not quite catching up to the conversation.

“Yup. Tried really hard not to. Tried even harder to stop, but I can’t.” He shot me a quick smile. “It’s fine if you don’t feel it?—”

“I think I do. I mean, I know I do. I just...ugh. I’m not good at this.”

“Neither am I.” He laughed. “We can be bad at it together.”

“My family is never going to let us live this down,” I groaned.

“Nope.” His smile faltered, and I realized that I never actually said the words to him. The ones he’d so freely said to me.

“Bas.” I reached out and took his hand. “I love you.”

His smile was so bright and brilliant it made my heart swell with not just happiness, but pride.

Bas was mine, and I was his.

We might not have taken an easy route to get here, but now that I had him, I was never letting him go.

“I love you too.” He squeezed my hand. “Even if you are an annoying jackass.”

“Right back atcha, sweetheart.” I pretended to blow him a kiss.

He laughed and leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed. “I think we should stay here today. Just spend the day together.”

“Sounds good.” I shot him a wicked grin. “But we have to go to Sunday dinner at my parents’ tonight.”

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