Page 2 of Edge of Forever

“Don’t be. And don’t pressure yourself. If it’s the right time, both for you and for Sam, it will happen organically. If it’s not, then you’ll know.”

I pull in a breath. “Okay. You’re right. This is Sam. I shouldn’t be nervous. He’s a great guy.”

“He is.” She reaches out and gently squeezes my arm. “You look absolutely stunning. Go and have the time of your life with your friends but remember—that’s not Sam’s world. He finished high school a long time ago. He doesn’t know anyone, and chances are, outside of your core group of friends, no one knows who he is either. Try to make him feel included.”

“Oh, I will.” I’ve already thought of that. In fact, Sam and I talked about it when he first offered to take me.

He’s getting ready to go on tour, but he worked out the timing so that he could be here for this.

For me.

We’ve also talked about my virginity.

A lot.

I’m beyond ready, but he’s understandably wary.

He’s leaving to go on a world tour with the opening band for Nobody’s Fool, and I’m going to New York for college. After this week, we don’t know when we’ll see each other again and I know he’s worried about the emotional impact it will have on me.

The thing is, I’ve had to grow up a lot faster than other kids my age after my parents faked their deaths and disappeared four years ago. Sydney and I went through a lot, so it’s hard to giggle about first kisses and blow jobs after what happened to us.

Even though I still do that stuff sometimes.

“What are you thinking?” she asks knowingly.

She basically raised me. Even before my parents faked their deaths and moved to the other side of the world, she was more my mother than my mother ever was. She’s eight years older—that’s how long it took our mom to convince Daddy to get her pregnant again—so she was taking care of me almost from the get-go. Babies were nothing but a means to an end for our mom. I don’t believe she actually loved us.

“Will it change me?”

“Sex?” She chuckles. “Absolutely. But it doesn’t have to be this monumental thing that changes the course of your life. It should be about romance and passion and love, living in the moment. It doesn’t have to be forever love. Right-now love is okay too. It’s all about what makes you happy, your comfort level, stuff like that. As long as you and Sam are on the same page, everything will be fine.”

“That’s kind of how I feel, but my friends… well, Gina says she can’t imagine ever sleeping with anyone but Tony. And Cathryn said she never wants to do it ever again. Although Mark really wants to.”

Sydney just smiles. That soft, patient smile that makes her the best older sister/mom in the world. “Those aretheirexperiences. Yours will be whatever you make it. As long as you and Sam communicate and follow your hearts.”

“Syd? Is she ready?” My brother-in-law, Ford, yells up the stairs.

“Coming!” she yells back. Then she turns to me. “Are you ready? Sam looks like the ultimate tall drink of water tonight. Other than Ford, I can’t think of anyone who looks better in a tux.” She pauses. “Well, maybe Kingston.”

We both laugh because the enigmatic lead singer of Onyx Knight is drop-dead gorgeous.

“Okay, let’s do this.” I slide my feet into my stupidly high heels and take a moment to steady myself. I wear heels fairly often, but rarely this high. They’re strappy and make my legs look a mile long. The slit in my pale pink dress shows off my right leg and I look down to make sure everything is sitting right.

Sydney and I spent a long time searching for the perfect dress. Something sexy but classy, modern but also elegant. I’m a minor celebrity in my own right, so there will be pictures on social media whether I want them there or not. Sydney and I,along with my management team, manage that kind of thing by putting up the pictures we want on the different platforms—we did a mini photo shoot earlier, but now it’s time for Sam to see me.

And honestly, his opinion is the only one I care about.

I grab my little purse, stick my phone in it along with my ID, a credit card and a little cash, and head for the stairs. My overnight bag is already down there since I have no plans to come home tonight.

For some reason, I’m more nervous about seeing Sam than I am before a performance in front of thousands of people.

Somehow, this is far more nerve-wracking.

The moment I see him, though, my nerves dissipate.

It’s Sam.

The same kind, gentle guitarist I’ve known for over a year.

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