Page 72 of Exactly What I Needed
I glanced at Asher. He lifted a brow, wanting me to say yes, but not pushing me to. Shaking my head, I pulled my lip between my teeth.
“Oh, come on, please?” Kieron begged.
“Just until we are able to break through where we’re stuck,” Drake added.
“It’s exactly what’s missing,” Jaxon said, widening his eyes.
Ava looked up from her phone and nodded.
“It did feel more rounded out when you were humming along,” she said and then returned to her phone. All three guys pointed at Ava, as if she were the swaying factor needed. My eyes drifted up to Asher once more. I was actually scared. What if they found out too? But then again, I hadn’t composed anything that I sang in since the flopped operas, so maybe it had been long enough since then that nobody would recognize my voice. And this wasn’t opera. I would have to use some of the techniques that Asher had begun to teach me.
“Just this once,” I finally said and sat up. The guys cheered. Asher’s grin widened, and he counted out the timing. They began, but I hesitated. Giving myself a couple measures to try and snatch the courage I needed.
Asher bumped his leg against mine, slipping his hand onto my thigh. I closed my eyes and pretended like I was alone. That this music was in my head. It had to be, right? That’s how it was when I’d been humming, so this wasn’t that different.
I took a deep breath and let the music drift from me. Quiet at first, but then building. And finally, there it was. Back in my world. But this time, my world was a little different. It didn’t feel so lonely, so desperately dark.The notes were bright, the feeling light, haunting still as I assumed it would always be.
But I liked this different. I liked this new. Layers danced in front of me as I finally relaxed into the music. Louder, harder, heavier. And the song kept going. Breaking through that barrier that had them holding up. That wall that Void had been constantly slamming into no longer bound them as the words just flowed.
I had to open my eyes to read the lyrics he’d written, ones that spoke to my soul. I was alive and free. Asher took the lead as I harmonized behind him, the guitars filling in the empty space.
And then it was done.
My heart raced as silence filled the room. That had been exhilarating. For the first time in my life, others had wanted me to sing something that didn’t conform to the expectations of my parents. I giggled to myself. Touching my lips, I leaned back against the couch and slid behind Asher’s back.
“Damn,” Drake muttered.
“Where’d you learn to sing like that?” Kieron asked. Asher patted the side of my bum as I pulled my legs up on the couch beside me.
“I think we’re good for a bit?” Asher asked his friends.
“Yeah…” Jaxon gushed, still in disbelief.
My boyfriend’s hand slapped my leg a little harder, and his breath washed over my ear. “Let’s go for a ride,” he whispered, and I nodded against his shirt.
My hands held tightly to his waist as we flew down the street on his motorcycle. I was once again his backpack, though this time he’d supplied me with matching protective gear to his. The sun had set probably an hour ago as we cruised through the back roads, hardly a car in sight. It felt freeing. My chest pressed against his back, tightly holding onto this man who had long since uprooted my mundane life.
He had been the death of me. Of whatever girl I’d been before. There was so much more passion flowing through me now. So much more adventure. I wanted to be a little crazy. I wanted to try new things. I wanted this life that he was slowly giving me.
We leaned into a corner, curving upward toward a lookout I suddenly recognized. He’d brought me here once. I smiled while he shifted down, and started slowing the bike, easing us off to the side. Asher glanced at the stars twinkling in the night sky before he killed the engine and pushed the kickstand down with his foot. My smile widened as I sat upright so he could swing a leg over and face me, then he began to undo the buckle on my helmet.
I removed my glasses, and he slid the helmet over my head, then hung it on the handlebar. Placing them back on my face, he pulled his own helmet off, shaking out his hair, and then smiled at me.
A simple smile, melting in with the peaceful silence around us. He’d truly set me free, and I was upset it took so damn long. Narrowing my gaze, I glared at him.
“What’s that for?” he asked, appalled.
“You took too long,” I grumbled.
He furrowed his brows, confused. “Took too long for what?”
“Just say you’re sorry.” I crossed my arms.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
