Page 45 of Starstruck
I exhale deeply. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of wise?”
“Pfft,” she scoffs. “I don’t need others to tell me what I already know. But thank you. Now”—she crosses one leg over the other, finishing her mimosa—“tell me more about the sex part. Was it better than the first time?”
I nod, a chuckle falling from my lips, and spill the dirty details. I tell her about how I was working late and he showed up unexpectedly, his little comment about how he would do anything for me—at which point she gives me anI told you solook that I choose to ignore. I talk about the kiss that caught me totally off guard and how he made me feel more wanted than anyone ever has in my entire life.
As our food is brought out, I realize just how much I’ve already attached myself to Baxter after only a few interactions. He’s gotten under my skin, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to get him out.
I think back to the look on his face when he asked me if I wanted it to happen again—the one of absolute desperation and need that broke through the mask he puts on, pleading with me to answer the question his lips refused to say.
Begging me to tell him I want him as much as he wants me.
Maybe he’ll surprise me.
I think maybe he already has.
[19 ]
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
BAXTER
“SWEATER WEATHER” BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
“She changed her mind,” I say nonchalantly to Colt and Levi, strumming the guitar in my lap.
We’re sitting in my studio, fucking around with some songs and finishing up the demos before we head to the studio to start mixing it in a few days. I figure now is as good a time as any to fill them in on the new developments with Lennon from the other day.
Colt quirks a brow from across the room, holding a guitar of his own. “Is that so?”
Levi looks up from the drumset he keeps in my home recording studio. “Wait, what are we talking about?”
Colt shoots him a glance and simply says, “Lennon.”
Levi’s eyes widen as he looks to me, understanding dawning on him. “What happened?”
I explain that Jeremy called me a few days ago to let me know Lennon wanted to meet with me. He told me I could swing by the following day to talk to her, and I agreed. But after we hung up,I spent hours pacing my living room wondering what she could want.
When I finally had enough of the wondering, I decided to go for a drive to clear my head and ended up outside Revolution. I had no expectations that she’d still be there at eight o’clock at night, but something in my gut was telling me to at least go see. And damn, am I happy I did. Both because she finally caved on including me in the concert and because she agreed to keep sleeping with me for who knows how long.
It was a win-win situation. For me, anyway.
I’m not sure if she felt the same.
But all that matters now is that I’m in. Part of me had known what Jeremy was calling for, but I was still trying to not get my hopes up. I knew how badly Lennon didn’t want me involved in the concert, so I also know her asking had nothing to do with me and everything to do with her not being able to find anyone more suitable than me. Colt had joked a few weeks back about me wanting her to be forced into choosing me, and as much as knowing she was sucks, I can’t help but revel in the fact that I got my way.
Nevertheless, despite how little interest I’ve had in doing benefit concerts in the past, I do plan on helping her in any way I can over these next few months. I know how important this is to her, and I know how much she thinks I’m going to somehow screw it up, so I’m making it my mission to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
I want to convince her that, save for her parents themselves, I’m the best person she could’ve chosen to headline.
“Damn,” Levi huffs. “So, we’re performing at the concert then?”
“We are.” I nod. “And you can expect to be seeing a lot more of her around, because I also convinced her to be friends with benefits with me.”
Both my best friends freeze, their mouths hanging open. Theydefinitely didn’t see that part coming.
“I’m sorry.” Levi frowns. “I must not have heard you right. What do you mean you’ve agreed to befriends with benefitswith Lennon?”
I just shrug, a smirk playing on my face.
