Page 126 of Just My Type of wrong guy

“Look, Anthony. I like you,” she says, making my heart race as time seems to stop. “We don’t have to pretend we don’t like each other, but…” Not even the ‘but’ can make the love-struck idiot expression leave my face. “I don’t want us to become the big topic at the end of the tour. Let’s finish this beautiful thing we’re making… and then we can post all our cheesy photos on Instagram. What do you think?” she suggests, her hopeful half-smile making it physically painful not to kiss her right there.

“So, Alexandra, the stone-hearted one, wants to claim me with a cheesy post?”

“With a romantic song in the background,” she groans, like she hates every word.

My laugh echoes through the parking lot, catching the attention of a few staff members. But even though I can’t kiss her in public, no one can stop me from pulling her into my arms.

“Well…” I say, taking a step back, “if you—our moody, stone-hearted girl—don’t stop smiling like that, maybe everyone will notice.”

“No one’s smiling here.” She swats at my shoulder, but I move back in close, my hand tightening around her waist.

“You just told me you like me. I’m not falling for that tough-girl act anymore,” I murmur, my voice low and rough enough to make her swallow hard. I tilt her sunglasses up. “I know you want to smile for me.”

She bites her bottom lip, trying to hide the grin, and looks away.

“If you keep holding me like this in the middle of the cars, people are gonna realize you can’t live without my smiles,” she teases, but I know it’s also a gentle warning.

I let her go but toss an arm around her shoulders as usual before we walk into the arena. She lowers her sunglasses and winks at me.

We step through the service door that leads to the stage, greeted by a big crew and the band.

“Oh, you guys still manage to be on time even though A.J. is irresponsible,” Richard mocks.

“If he warned you, and everyone agreed, it wasn’t irresponsibility,” Alexandra defends me, chin up.

Thomas laughs, plucking the bass.

“You used the right words, Alex. We werewarned, we didn’t have much choice.”

“But it all worked out.” Daniele claps once, ending the topic, then reaches out for Alexandra. “And I need to talk to you about the crazy girl with the red hearts,” she says, pulling Alexandra, who furrows her brow.

“Red hearts what?”

“Come with me, I’ll explain inside.” Dani takes my girl, and I look away before they disappear, trying not to make it obvious.

“So… how was the couple’s day?” Guilherme asks eagerly, like he knows something.

“It was great, man,” I answer while the guys and the crew pretend not to be paying attention. “It was her dream; and it felt really special to be part of making that happen.”

“Okay, but what about the kiss?” Thomas asks in Portuguese. “Daniele kept talking about it, I asked what it meant.” He shrugs under our gazes.

“Can we cut the crap? We’re not here to talk. We’re here to run the soundcheck. Where’s my guitar?” I ask loudly, and a production member appears in seconds with the case.

“Are you guys at least okay, man?” Richard stops next to me before heading up to the drum platform.

I nod.

“I mean really okay… after everything? After she pulled away?”

“It was a moment, Rick. We’re better than before,” I assure him, ruffling his already sweaty hair. “And if I can ask you one thing, after you introduce us and the musicians tonight, say the next song is a surprise.”

“You gonna kiss someone in One Last Kiss?” he asks in a tone so accusatory I can’t help but laugh.

But Alexandra, telling me she likes me with her eyes locked on mine, touched a place in me I didn’t even know existed. I believe that if there’s ever been a moment to take backwhat was always mine – this time with so much more meaning – that moment is today.

“Man, the song is a surprise!”

“That one I heard in Gui’s basement?”

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