Page 14 of For Puck's Sake

“Don’t think too hard about it, Luna,” he teased. “You’re a lyrical genius. I’m just keeping you on your toes.” He smiled down at me dreamily, leaning so close, I could almost taste the whiskey on his lips. “Please, baby,” he begged, poking his bottom lip out in a pout. Of course, he would deny doing it in the morning when I brought up how cute of a drunk he could be. But for now, I took a mental snapshot of the ease in his face. I loved it when he let go.

I shook my head. “I can’t just come up with a song. Song writing is serious business, Rid. Lots of concentration and stuff,” I said playfully. He flopped down beside me on the floor of the patio, tried and failed miserably to sit cross legged. For a hockey player, my man wasn’t the most flexible.

“You.” He nudged my shoulder, putting most of his body weight into it, and almost crushed me underneath him. “You can do anything, my Luna. I dare you.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, those big blue eyes shiny and glassyfrom way too much happy juice. I thought that was the name Devan gave Ridley’s birthday celebration cocktail. Honestly, it tasted like straight Macallen’s and nothing else. A mixologist, he is not.

“You dare me, huh?” I lifted my brow with a smirk as the noise from the party inside our penthouse could be heard beyond the glass patio doors. I looked over my shoulder briefly, watching Devan twirl Lia around our living room, a beautiful smile on her face. Sam Cooke crooned ‘Bring It On Home to Me’ in the background, making me appreciate Devan even more for his vintage song choice.

“Yep,” Ridley slurred, popping the p. “It’s my birthday and I want a song about the moon.”

“And what do I get?” I asked as I pushed him back into a sitting position and pulled Bessie into my lap. Right now, at this moment, there was absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for this man. I loved him. So, if he wanted a silly ass song about the moon, then so be it.

“Me.” He smiled, and my heart melted.

“I already have you,” I replied, and I let my fingers guide me.

My mouth opens as tears sting my eyes at the memory of that night. Ridley stopped being a fan of his birthday due to the loss of his parents the day before he turned twenty-one. He told me once the day felt like a bad omen, and it was best to let it tick over like any other. Well, I surprised him after his game that year, hoping I could inject some happiness into such a somber moment for him. It was always the little things with the two of us. The good outweighed the bad. I was happy, we were happy. I shake my head, refusing to go down that road as I look up at the moon and sing.

Oh, moon, you never leave the sky,

Hanging out up there, oh so high.

In the daytime, you’re so shy,

But at night, you catch my eye.

A tear falls as I laugh out loud, the sound echoes around the lake, an impromptu concert only for me and my silly memories. Some of my favorites were shared with Ridley, and no matter how hard I try to push them down, he remains. “So damn cheesy,” I mutter to myself as I wipe my eyes and continue to sing. I mean, you can’t have a song without a chorus. I’m nothing if not thorough.

Ode to the moon, so bright and round,

You light up the night without a sound.

Ode to the moon, you never leave,

Shining bright for all who believe.

I shrug, amazed at my ability to recall the lyrics. I never wrote them down. I just let them flow from me that night Ridley sat beside me, his head on my shoulder and I sang to him about the moon until I ran out of words.

Day or night, you’re always there,

Hiding in the sun’s glare.

But when the stars come out to play,

You steal the show and lead the way.

The dock moves underneath me suddenly, rocking my body. My playing falters and the movement startles me so bad I almost lose Bessie to the lake. Clutching my guitar to my chest, I turn my head, looking over my shoulder, unsure who has managed to sneak up on me without me catching them sooner. I let my guard down, and all I can think about are the slasher movies I grew up watching. The only weapon I have is Bessie, and she is irreplaceable. I’m screwed.

My eyes widen as I see the man standing before me. “Ridley!” I call out his name in relief, voice shaking as I stand quickly. The blanket draped over me falls to my feet revealing my sleepshorts and tank top. I stumble forward, barefoot, braless, and a complete mess with my hair cascading all around me.

He holds his hands up in surrender, bare chest heaving, grey fucking sweatpants hanging low on his hips. His eyes mirror my own, both of us just as shocked to see the other. A shiver runs over my body again and I don’t know if it’s because of the temperature or the sight of him alone. Goosebumps prickle my skin and I am all too aware of what I must look like. Thank goodness for long locs shielding my now hardening nipples from view. Jeez, Brea.

Unsure of what to do with myself, I immediately start to pick up my notepad and blanket, clutching all of it, along with Bessie in my arms like a barrier of protection. Even with my hands full, I still feel too exposed.

“What are you doing here?” we both ask at the same time. I tilt my head and cock my hip to the side. Unfortunately, I don’t have any hands left to place on said hips, so my defensive stance is seriously lacking. By the hint of a smile on Ridley’s lips, I look awkward and ridiculous. Great.

Ridley shoves his hands into his pockets, pulling the waistband of his pants even lower, exposing the deep V-cut of his creamy sun-kissed lower abs. Holy Moly, it’s too late or too early for a lady boner right now and this is definitely not the time or the place for me to be salivating over the sight of my ex. “You first,” he finally says, saving me from falling into memories of my tongue worshiping him in that exact spot on his body.

“I’m staying here for the summer. Well, for the first few weeks until my tour officially starts,” I hurriedly reply, looking beyond his shoulder and noticing all the lights on in the main house. When I walked out here earlier the house was dark, and I assumed unoccupied. Huh. How did I miss this? I adjust all the items in my arms and step forward, leaning to the side to get agood look around him. I guess it’s too much to ask for Tor and Alexis to magically appear behind him.

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