Page 122 of Fire and Icing

All the men in the world, how would you pick me?

A million maybes, but one thing’s true?—

You’re the one I wanna come home to.”

I smile at her between the chorus and the next verse, strumming my guitar, feeling like the luckiest guy on earth.

“What if you just laugh and say you’re not my girl?

I’m a line in the dirt and you’re the whole wide world.

I’d kick myself forever if I let this feeling go?—

Heart in hand, hopin’ you don’t say no.

Yeah, I’m throwing all my chips in on the table.

I’d give you the moon if I was able.

I’ll wait for you if that’s what you need.

’Cause we all know love’s not built for speed.”

I sing my way through the chorus again, repeating the last line three times, “You’re the one I wanna come home to.”

The crowd erupts in cheers when I finish. I’m still sitting on the edge of the stage, my eyes locked on Emberleigh’s. She’s smiling softly. I lean over, place a kiss on her cheek and then I jump up, guitar in hand.

I walk to the mic and say, “Thank you for coming out. I really appreciate it. Get yourselves a serving of strawberry shortcake. Maybe I’ll come sing for you again sometime.”

People cheer and clap.

My crew acts up, hooting and whooping and screaming, “Encore! Encore!”

I step down and thank them for coming.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Cody says. “You’re as good as anyone in Nashville.”

“Thanks, man,” I say.

“And that song,” Patrick says. “It’s the stuff of romance novels.”

“Bookworm would know,” Greyson teases Patrick.

“Nothing wrong with a diverse taste in literature, Grey.”

Greyson shrugs. “Guess not.”

“If you men would excuse me,” I say.

“Yeah, yeah,” Cody jokes. “Go get your girl.”

I smile at him. Without me even saying a thing, he figured it out.

I make my way behind another table, aiming straight for Emberleigh.

A man approaches me before I get there. “Dustin?”

“Yes?”

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