Page 3 of Busted Dreams

Astrid had said this would only work if I didn’t make her choose. And I wouldn’t, but that didn’t mean small spurts of jealousy weren’t sparking to life in my bloodstream. The best I could hope for was that the jealousy would be too much for Rhys and Thatcher, and they’d bow out by default.

He kissed the corner of her mouth and stepped back. “Have fun. Don’t let the rock star get you into too much trouble. No drinking. You promised you’d be there to cheer me on at tomorrow’s game, remember? A hangover would ruin the vibe for you.”

Rhys let go completely, and she let out a little sigh. Turning toward me, her eyes held a delightful glaze I helped to put there, and that helped alleviate some of the jealousy racing through my blood.

“Ready?” I murmured, latching onto her hip to pull her close to me. It was a proprietary move, but this was where I wanted our relationship to be, and Astrid didn’t seem to mind.

She nodded, tilting her face away from me. A grin flirted with the edges of my lips. My pretty girl hadn’t been fast enough to hide her small smile or the light blush coloring her cheeks.

“Don’t worry about us, Rhys. She’s in good hands,” I called over my shoulder as I led her out to Cherry.

Doing this right, I walked her to the passenger side and opened the door for her. A laugh escaped her as the pink deepened on her cheeks.

“Wow. Being quite the gentleman.” Another laugh, and this one was tinged with a slight awkwardness. I smiled wider; it was so adorable.

“This is important to me, so I’m doing it right.” Leaning down, I brushed her mouth with mine, then shut the door to jog around to my side.

In an effort to quiet the sudden pounding inside my chest, I fiddled with the music until the low tones of Lord Huron floated around the car. The light from the cottage fell across the dash, illuminating the pattern of the wood veneer and catching in her hair, turning her dark locks a few shades lighter. This was the moment I wanted to remember.

This was the beginning of us.

“Why are you staring at me?” She tucked a few strands behind her ears, then tucked her fingers under her thighs.

“Because I’m burning this moment into memory. Nothing and no one can ever take it from me.”

Her eyes rounded with my words, but I didn’t let the moment get uncomfortable. I put Cherry in reverse and backed up enough to turn around in their driveway. Once we were on our way, I snagged her hand, bringing it to my lips for a kiss, then settling them on my thigh.

“Is it weird this feels new and safe all at the same time? And a little surreal too, if I’m being honest. I’ve never been touched so much as I have in the last few weeks.” A slight twinge of hesitation entered her voice as she rambled on. Which was unusual for Astrid. From the very beginning, we had found comfort in our silences.

Wanting to put her at ease with this shift in our reality, I squeezed her hand. “This is new and familiar all at once. What’s different is our feelings for each other, right? Because I can say that is what’s new for me, and I love the way you make me feel. You can feel it in my touch now, can’t you?”

She took a deep breath and leaned across the center to rest her head on my shoulder. I stiffened, not used to Astrid initiating any type of affection. “I can. And it’s scary.”

“It’s not scary. It’s fun and exciting. You can’t tell me you don’t care for me too.” I rested my cheek on top of her head.

“I do.”

That was that. With a few loving caresses and heartfelt words, her fears were seemingly put to rest. The remainder of the drive went by quickly, and before I knew it, we were walking into Old World Italian, a cute little third generation restaurant on an innocuous street.

I hadn’t been here before, but I’d heard people talk about it. The intimate and friendly atmosphere was exactly what I was going for. The hostess smiled, sending flirty glances my way as she walked us to our table in the corner. Even if I wasn’t with Astrid, she couldn’t be older than fifteen, which was the true definition of jailbait. Astrid didn’t seem bothered by it, but I pressed closer to her back anyway, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind I was with her.

“Your server will be with you in just a few minutes.” The girl barely old enough for high school beamed as she gathered the extra glasses and strutted away.

The corner was dim, with only a low-lit lamp hanging over us and a small candle flickering against the wall. For a moment, I almost let my upbringing get the best of me. Old World was a fancy restaurant with a family vibe, something Rhys or maybe even Thatcher would feel more comfortable taking her to. Me, the wannabe rock star from the wrong side of the tracks didn’t quite fit in here.

But I did. I belonged here just like anyone else. It was right to treat Astrid the way she wanted to be treated.

“So…” she drawled, bringing blaring attention to the fact that I spaced for a minute. “What are we going to do to get you a record deal?”

I blinked. Then blinked again. Hard.

If I’d make a list of the top hundred things we would talk about at dinner, this wouldn’t even have been a potential option.

“Uh. Nothing. I like playing at the Iron Horse. And I have a sweet deal with Tippy’s.” I yanked at the collar of my shirt, uncomfortable with this line of conversation. All it did was remind me that she was going to go somewhere, make something of herself. Probably leave Silver Ranch behind as soon as she graduated, and I’d be left here. Hell, in ten years, I’d be working the same dead-end job, living in the same small and cramped trailer, doing my best to keep my mom alive.

Rolling her eyes, she shook out her folded white napkin and spread it over her lap. “Don’t be ridiculous. No one believes you’re not going to make it big. You’re just too talented. Even Jonah acknowledges that.”

Jonah? My half-brother, who half the time hated my guts and the other half tried to reconcile how I fit into his life? He was going to go somewhere too. He hadn’t said much about where he wanted to go after school, but I’d bet he was waiting to see where Astrid ended up going.

---