Page 3 of Smudged Lines (Tattooed Hearts Duet 2)

A voice sang out over the speakers, and I stopped in my tracks, turning to find the source. The melodious tune was like a siren song, pulling my feet closer to the stage. A dark-haired girl with lavender streaks sang on stage, and to my surprise, she was dressed as Kelly Kapowski. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was beautiful and radiant up there. She saw me standing at the front of the stage and winked, setting my heart on fire.

She was petite and had curves for days that could be made out in the iconic flower dress with puffy sleeves Kelly wore. I’d grown up watching the show on reruns and admittedly had a crush on the brunette beauty as a teen. This girl, though, blew Kelly out of the water.

When the song ended, she walked over to a table that had a few people, but I caught her looking over every few seconds. The charm and swagger I’d once had surged up in me, and I found my feet moving toward her. She watched me approach, a straw between her lips as she sucked down her drink.

“Hi, gorgeous. It looks like you’re the Kelly to my Zack.”

When she giggled, my cock perked up, liking the sound. “I guess I am. So, Zack, are we college years or high school? I just need to know what version of Kelly to channel.”

Laughing, I cozied up closer to her, and we debated which was better, neither able to take our eyes off one another. I found myself inching closer and closer, needing our bodies to touch.

“I have an idea,” she cooed.

“I can honestly say, I’ll be up for anything you suggest.” She spat out her drink in laughter, and I realized what I’d said. “Um, sorry, didn’t mean for that to sound so suggestive. Here.” Grabbing a napkin, I handed it to her so she could clean up.

“Well, Zack, I’d say that’s the most forward thing someone’s said to me, but unfortunately, it’s not. But what I was going to suggest was a duet. You up for that?”

She grinned wide, and despite being a horrible singer, I found myself nodding. We sang a few songs together, danced to several others, and when the night ended, I once again found myself reaching for a napkin. But this time, to write my number on it. I was cursing the no phone rule of the event, resulting in having to use an old-school method. I kissed her under the streetlights up against the bar, and I was tempted to invite her back to my place, but when we pulled away, I knew she was something special, and I didn’t want to waste getting the chance to really know her.

“Bye Zack, I’ll call you.”

“I’ll be waiting until you do, gorgeous.”

She walked off with her friends, one guy putting his arm around her as they grew smaller in the distance, and I wondered what the relationship with them was. It didn’t seem flirty, but his arm screamed ‘possessive’ loud and clear. Turning, I walked back to my apartment, a huge smile on my face.

PRESENT

I’d waitedfor a week before I started to freak out. And when school started, and I moved to Knoxville, I chalked it up to being all in my head. It wasn’t until a few years later when I was visiting Slade in Nashville, that I saw her again.

That was the night everything changed. The night that haunted Slade and I, and I imagined Simon too, though, it was hard to know since I hadn’t ever talked to him.

The night I discovered my mystery girl, my Kelly, was none other than Lennox James. The night I realized the voice in my head, the girl of my dreams, and the best kiss I’d ever had were one and the same.

Nox was Lennox, and I would never be able to be with her.

Not after that night, the guilt was too much to bear. But mostly, because it was clear my brother was in love with her. I hadn’t always been the best brother, and I’d failed him the past few years. So, this was a sacrifice I could make for him.

Vanessa said I was being a martyr, punishing myself for mistakes of my past. She was probably right, but I’d denied myself true happiness for so long, it felt natural.

Coming to Africa, that had been good, though. It was easier not to cave in to stalking her on social media when I was this far away with limited internet access. She still lingered in my thoughts, her presence a comfort. In less than a week, we would be heading back to the states, and I’d have to find something new to occupy me.

I could move away from Nashville, decreasing the temptation, but I wouldn’t. A small part of me hoped that one day we’d naturally bump into one another on the streets of Nashville, sparking the connection back to life.

Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so bad about invading her privacy for years or for feeling responsible for the epic fuck up on that night in question three years ago.

Maybe I was a martyr, but I was also a murderer.

One of which was easier to live with.

Pen Pal Letter

THANE TO NOX

Noxy girl,

I’ve been thinking about you, and wanted to see how you were. Nothing else, just a message to say hi.

I imagine if we knew each other in person I would never get tired of hearing your laugh, but I’d probably also never be this bold.

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