Page 58 of Lost in You (Flirting with Forever 1)

“Go figure. She’s going to be gloating about this one for a while, I can feel it.”

“Do you really care?”

“No. Come to think of it, maybe I should buy her a really nice Christmas gift this year.”

Madison laughs. “I guess so, because she’s probably just given both of us the best gift ever.” She pulls her hair on top of her head, winds it around her hand, and secures it on top with a few pins.

I lean in close, touching my lips to the soft skin just behind her ear. As I pull away, I notice something that I never have before. “Shut. The fuck. Up.”

Madison’s head twists back to look at me. My stunned expression must say it all because she starts giggling. “Um, did you find my birthmark?”

I blink a few times, my mouth opening and closing. “I’ve been calling you ‘Butterfly’ for over a week, and you never told me your birthmark is shaped like a damn butterfly?”

She presses her lips together, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh.

“Go ahead. I know you want to.”

Laughter, bright and beautiful bubbles from her lips. “Oh my God, the look on your face was just priceless. I’m so glad I didn’t say anything.”

She grins, and I tug her to me, kissing her soundly on the mouth.

Chapter 32

Madison

“Oh, wow, Shawn. This is so fun.” I squeeze his hand, and when he looks down at me, his blue eyes are alight with a happiness I’m sure comes from what I see in front of me. People sit around the small stage area at the corner of the bar. The raised area had been home to extra chairs and tables until now. With those removed, everyone seems to be having the time of their lives singing along—mostly off-key—to the music pumping out the speakers.

“I couldn’t help but make this happen when I came back. Every time we talked about what I’d been doing with my life and how I wasn’t entirely happy, it was in the back of my head that maybe, just maybe, I’d come home and clear this area out, get the stage fixed up. I ordered some good quality karaoke equipment while we were stuck in the hotel room. And then, I also figured we could have an open-mic night once a week. Let anyone with a little talent have their moment in the spotlight.”

Everything in me tells me this has made him so happy. And I hope more than anything, based on our earlier conversation, I can make him happy, too. “We should just have you sing or play—or both.”

He chuckles and sends me the sweetest smile. “Is that right?”

“But make it something you wrote. Anything you play is amazing.” I swear, I feel giddy every time he looks at me, and yes, I’d listen to just about anything as long as it’s Shawn playing. I’d adored listening to him play when I was just a girl, and absolutely nothing has changed. I still want to sink into the comfort of his raspy voice and listen to the strumming of his fingers on his guitar.

“Would you want me to write a song for you sometime?”

My cheeks warm at the thought, and I can practically feel my eyes twinkle at him. I’m such a goner. “I wouldn’t mind.”

“Would you sing it with me?” He slicks his tongue over his lower lip and smiles at the goofy look on my face.

I nod. “Maybe. Maybe you should write it about us.”

He leans close and whispers near my ear, “Maybe I already did.”

I swallow and look at him, eyes wide. “You—”

He winks at me, and walks up on the stage. “Would anyone mind a little live music?” His question is met with whoops of excitement and clapping. “Okay then, give me just a couple of seconds.”

I slip over to my girls and sit with them. Sophia eyes me carefully. “Everything okay?”

A soft smile on my lips, I glance at her, and then at Had, Piper, Quinn, and Zoey, too. “Yes. I think everything is going to be just fine.”

Quinn whistles low. “Oh, boy. Somebody has it bad.”

Piper ducks her head with a giggle. “Being stranded with your fake boyfriend worked nicely?”

“There’s nothing fake about the way his eyes are burning right into her.” Zoey nods toward the stage.

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