Page 79 of Into the Fire

“No.”

“Say it. It’s killing you to not say it.Say it.”

“Fine. You were a little rough on the bridge, and your nerves were affecting your breathing. But it was good.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out her bottom lip.

“What?” He laughed.

“Nothing. You didn’t have to say it,” she muttered.

His large body vibrated with his soft laughter, and he shook his head.

“You did ask for it,” I mused.

“Was it really rough?” She looked at me, her nose crinkled and worry in her pretty eyes.

“Rosie, baby. I can sing a little. The mechanics of it? I can’t tell when I listen to you. You always sound incredible to me.”

“Biased,” Anson said. “Don’t ask him. He’ll only tell you what you want to hear.”

I shrugged. “It’s true. I am biased. Sorry, babe.”

She sighed. “Damn. I just get so nervous out there. How do you guys manage through this stuff?”

We’d missed the professor droning on at the end of class, and now it was over. Students shuffled about, gathering their things to leave.

I got up and grabbed Rosalie’s bag before Anson could. He shot me a sour look, which only made me grin at him.

“Well, when I’m in the stadium playing, I just focus on the game and not the crowd. I’m there to play and win. The crowd is second to that,” I said, offering her my hand. She took it, and I helped her to her feet, Anson following.

“When I’m on stage or in front of people, I just don’t care,” Anson said with a shrug. “They can all go fuck themselves if they don’t like what I have to say or sing.”

She scoffed and shook her head.

“Basically, LeeLee, I think what we’re both saying to you is that it’s confidence. Know you’re amazing at it, and just focus on that. Keep yourself centered on it. It’s your show. It’s always your show. If people don’t fucking like it, they can leave. It’s as easy as that.”

I nodded, agreeing with Anson.

“I’d say that’s accurate. I know I’m a good player. Anson knows he’s a good singer. He’s a little delusional, but you know how he is.” I snickered when Anson gave me the finger. “Seriously, though. He is right. Just. . . know your worth, and baby, you’re worth everything.” I kissed the top of her head as I wound my arm around her waist.

She sighed and nodded. “Guess I have some work to do on that, huh?”

“You’ll get there,” Anson said. “You always succeed. This time will be no different.”

She said nothing as we walked out of the room and to the courtyard. Anson helped her put on her jacket which he was carrying, and we stopped at the center.

“We’re having a little celebration tonight,” I told Anson. I brushed a snowflake off Rosalie’s nose. “If you want to come.”

He raised his brows at me. “Really? With Cole there and everything?”

“Yeah. It’s just some pizza, beer, and movies. Figured you might like to join us.” I’d already talked it over with the guys. Being Rosalie spent so much time with him, I felt it was important that he start hanging out with us a little bit too. It would make Rosalie happy, so I was already in with it. And I didn’t hate him as much as I used to.

Cole still did. Maybe even more, but when Enzo and I had spoken, I mentioned that maybe Cole just needed to be desensitized to Anson, and he’d loosen up. It was basically oneof the reasons I could tolerate him now. That and the fact I knew the prick would die for her like I would.

That meant something to me. It was like an auto-welcome badge into the brotherhood.

Well, maybe notourbrotherhood, but he could come drink beer with us.

---