Page 108 of Thunderstruck
“I’m going to kill him.” As a keyboardist starts off the song, Cole grabs his phone and is about to start a text to Derek when I grab his hand to stop him.
“Don’t,” I say.
Cole furrows his brow. “But he didn’t tell—”
“Let Liam be the one to tell everyone. You know that’s why he hasn’t said anything yet, right? He wants to tell you in person, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was planning on breaking the news to you tonight after the show.”
Groaning, Cole runs a hand through his hair, leaving it a deliciously mussed up mess because it’s insanely warm and humid in this arena. “How long have you known?”
I bite my lip. “Kasey told me the night you came by my apartment.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Hey, I can keepsomesecrets.” Except, I’m pretty sure I technically gave this one away this morning, even if I didn’t finish the word ‘wife.’ But I almost kept the secret!
Cole can’t sit still during the song and starts pacing in the small space. He looks like a cat. Like, a big cat. A jaguar who has too much energy and nowhere to put it. I have a few ideas of where he can use that energy, but Liam finishes his song and says a few things to his band before he’s back on the microphone as they shift to different instruments.
“I don’t know how many of you have been lucky enough to fall in love,” he says, eyes landing on Cole on that last word. He moves to a gorgeous grand piano and leans against the body of it like he’s having a casual conversation with the crowd rather than putting on a show. “But it’s kind of the best, and there just aren’t enough words to describe how it feels, you know? I had to write a whole album to express even a fraction of what I feel for my Kasey, and it will never be enough.” He has to pause when the crowd goes crazy, and his grin is wide and genuine.
“Recently my friend Bonnie met a great guy who’s head over heels for her.” Another pause for cheers because the worldlovesHank. “The guy’s a freaking novelist, and he still can’t find the words to say, which isn’t a great sign for the rest of us, you know?” He looks at Cole again, and something in his expression turns mischievous. “I was going to play a different song next, but something tells me one of you out there is having a hard time finding the words, so we’re going to change it up a bit and sing one of my favorites.”
Several people shout guesses of which song, but Liam’s smile turns downright devious as he sits in front of the piano and puts his microphone in the stand. “Nah, this is one you haven’t heard yet.”
I gasp along with everyone else. “A new song?”
Only a few measures into the intro, Cole swears under his breath and turns pale. “Don’t you dare,” he breathes, his eyes on Liam.
Liam meets his gaze as he plays the opening notes, and there is a clear challenge in his eyes.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” I say right as Liam starts singing.
You got that look in your eyes,
One you can’t seem to hide,
And you try to keep it quiet
But I think that you should try it.
Don’t matter ’bout the past
Or if you think that it might last
’Cuz the more that you deny it,
Well, the less anyone buys it.
Cole looks at me like he’s about to tell me I got a failing grade on my last final. Or maybe like he’s about to be sick. “What’s your take on public displays of affection?”
I’m more interested in the chorus Liam is about to sing, and I cock my head, trying to figure out why Cole’s fingers are shaking. “What?” But my attention turns back to the song.
Say it loud, say it proud,
Let your heart do all the talking
When your head is full of fear and doubt
All you gotta do is—
