Page 38 of For Puck's Sake

Brea swings Bessie around and settles the guitar on her lap. She fingers the first chords to an upbeat tune and claps start automatically. Anyone whose seen her perform knows that Brea loves it when the audience participates.

“This is a new song. It’s called: All the ways,” she says as the crowd continues to clap along to the beat she’s tapping out. The calf-length white sundress she wears rides up just enough to reveal the blue and green leather cowboy boots she’s wearing. Viper colors. Yep, my dick twitched.

She starts to nod her head, encouraging the audience to keep clapping. Then she opens her mouth, clear crisp melodic notes fall from her lips, making my stomach flip.

You light me up, like the sun in the sky,

Every time you’re near, I’m flying high.

You’ve got a way, you pull me in,

Feels like we’re dancing on the wind.

Every moment, every glance,

You got me hooked; this is our second chance.

The clapping continues as people hoot and holler as they praise the lyrics. Brea stands, fingers flying as she paces back and forth, rocking to the beat of the music she’s creating.

All the ways you love me, I can feel it deep,

From the morning light, to when I fall asleep.

You’re the one I hold, you’re the one I need,

Every heartbeat, you’re my melody.

All the ways you love me, I can’t let go,

You’re the only one I’ll ever want to know.

From the start to the end of forever.

I’m holding on to you, in all the ways.

My vision begins to blur but I don’t look away, letting my tears fall. At this point, I don’t care who sees my reaction to Brea’s declaration of everlasting love. I can’t hide my feelings, and when she looks up and finds me again, I let her see my heart open wide, no fear, only hope.

Brea doesn’t falter, she just beams under the spotlight, the melody ebbing and flowing like the tide, like us, as the song continues.

We’re like fire, burning bright,

Through the lows, we hit new heights.

Every laugh, every smile,

I’m sticking with you through every mile.

You’re the rhythm in my song,

With you, baby, I belong.

She goes into the chorus seamlessly. I can feel eyes on me. Turning, quickly wiping away my tears, my friends all have smiles on their faces. Alexis and even Devan are openly crying, but both of them are such softies, I’m not surprised. Bast gives me a nod and I know it’s all the emotion I’m going to get from him. Derrick gives me a thumbs up. I shake my head at the gesture as I glance over at my best friend.

“Happiness looks good on you, my friend!” Tor shouts over the noise with a knowing smirk on his face.

I smile, turning my attention back to the love of my life. After years of living in a fog, drifting aimlessly, claiming my heart was better off without love and connection, the way was made clear, her light showing me the way back to myself. My moon, my guiding light, right there, waiting for me to seek her out amongst the stars.

TWENTY-THREE

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