Page 634 of Rock Me All Night

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"Can we get on with this?"

The aloofness falls off Miles's face. "You're not yourself lately."

Pete huffs. "Play the God damn song."

Miles looks to me as if he's asking my permission. It's sweet that he's concerned about my well being. At least someone is.

My body and heart are still at war. As pissed as I am about Pete's mixed signals, I really, really want to hear him sing.

I nod. "Please play the song."

Miles shakes his head like he finds this a bad idea. Still, he positions his limbs. "Show must go on." He strums the guitar.

The acoustic version of the song fills the room. I press my hands into my thighs as I watch Miles's hands move.

Then Pete starts singing and I can't feel anything but his voice.

I've heard this song a million times. It played on the radio, every single hour, for months. It was inescapable.

But I never heard it like this.

Three am and I can't sleep

A common refrain, I know

As a sentiment, it's cheap

Someone to call To hold

To love no way that word-

She smiles and I drift away—

Oh hell no

This can't be

No way I, no way she

anyone else, maybe

but not me

I don't do this kind of thing.

The words sound so different on Pete's lips. There's a certain relief to them when Miles sings it, like he's embracing falling in love even though he's scared of it. But Pete sings with pure resistance.

Morning now and I can't think

of anything but her laugh, he cries

the sound she makes when I sink

my teeth/oh wow, those details

are mine to keep/ but she's not

And suddenly I want-

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