Page 599 of Rock Me All Night
21
Iwake up alone. The house is quiet. Pete's car isn't in the driveway. There's no sign of him anywhere.
Shit.
I go for my usual morning hike, get home, and shower. There's still no sign of him.
No sense in putting off my day. In the kitchen, I put a pan on the burner, break eggs into a plastic bowl and whisk. Now coffee.
The carafe is already full. And there's a note next to it, black marker on torn piece of paper.
Making sure everything is taken care of with the label. Should be back by lunch.
He left me a note. It's domestic as hell, like our relationship is normal instead of complicated.
After cooking, I sit down with breakfast, coffee, and my latest YA novel. It's noHunger Gamesbut it's still quite the page-turner. I get caught up in the book until the door swings open and slams shut.
Pete is wearing a frown. His brows knit. He runs a hand through his dark hair and lets out a sigh.
I put down my book and push out of my chair. "Hey. Thanks for the coffee."
He looks back at me with surprise. "Hey."
"How was it? Is everything taken care of?"
"Should be." The frustration falls off his face as he moves closer. Then he's six inches away and he's smiling.
He's smiling because I'm here.
Because we're together.
"Should I make lunch?" I ask.
"Later." He slides his hands around my waist and pulls me into a soft, slow kiss. When it breaks, he runs his fingers through my messy hair, his eyes filled with affection. "You busy today?"
"I have a lot of reading to do."
"I'm gonna practice." He motions to his room. "Stop by if you need abreak."
* * *
After an hour of reading, I'm more than ready for a break.
I go to knock on Pete's door but it's already open. There's music flowing into the hallway. It gets louder as I step inside.
He's sitting on his bed, his bass in his lap. The instrument is plugged in to an electric amp and there are headphones over his ears.
"You don't have to use headphones," I say. "I'd like to listen."
He pulls his headphones off as he turns to me. "Nobody listens to a bass on its own."
"What about house music at clubs? Isn't that nothing but a bass line?"
His lips curl into a smile. "You gonna put on a tight dress and dance?"
Dammit, it's hot. I shake my head. "I'm just going to listen."
He unplugs his headphone and pats his bed.
