Page 54 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

“You know, there’s a reason that whole ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time’ thing is a popular quote. You don’t have to tackle everything at once. If you had a strong relationship with your brother and he wasn’t in the band, what would you want to tell him about this weekend?”

Jase closed his eyes. What would he say? “I’d tell him I had an amazing weekend. That I wrote songs and enjoyed doing it. That they’re really good, and I was excited about getting into the studio to record them properly with the band.”

“Okay, so that’s the only thing you focus on for now. The album. Your number one thing to talk with him about is the direction of the album, the suggestions to two specific songs, and let the band hear the music you want to contribute.”

“You make it sound so simple when you put it like that.” They pulled up in front of the hotel, and he felt a momentary flash of sadness that she was about to leave him and go home without him. “Hey. Stay here for a bit. Like, come in and have an early dinner with me before you head home.”

Cerys glanced up at the sky. “It’s going to be dark by the time I’m done. And as you’ve noticed, I’m not the greatest driver. I’d rather go.”

“Then let me pay for a cab to take you home later and pick you up in the morning to bring you back to your car.”

He leaned over and kissed the side of her neck, smiling against her skin when she tilted her neck to allow him better access. “I’m not ready for this time together to be over.”

He felt her shoulders rise and fall in defeat. “Fine. Just dinner.”

“Yes.” He fist pumped the air.

“You are so childish,” she muttered, undoing her seatbelt. “And I can pay for my own cab. I’m a grown woman.”

“Who likes her neck kissed.”

“Yes, fine. I’m a sucker if you kiss my neck.”

“Can that get me anything?”

She playfully pushed him away. “No, Jase, it can’t.”

He grabbed his things and waited for her to grab her purse from the back of the car. Walking into the hotel with Cerys’s hand in his, he felt a sense of pride as he led her to the reception desk.

“I can help who’s next,” a woman in a crisp, navy-blue uniform said.

He slid his driving licence across the counter for identification. “Hey. I wondered if I could get an extra key to my room. It’s Jase Palmer, room 632.”

“Of course, Mr. Palmer. One second.”

Cerys said nothing but squeezed his hand firmly and leaned her head against his arm.

“There you go,” the woman said, sliding the key and identification across the counter. “Have yourself a lovely evening.”

They stepped away from the desk and Jase held the card towards Cerys. “Now you can come and go as you please. And if you ever want to wake me up by getting naked and making a start on my morning wood, I’m giving you my full consent so you don’t have to worry about it later.”

Cerys took the card and laughed. “How can you do something so sweet then say something so crude immediately after?”

“Years of practice. Plus, isn’t balance what you’ve been trying to teach me this weekend? This is me proving it worked.”

Bright eyes, wide smile, and she liked him. All of him. Even the dark bits. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said, pulling her to him for a kiss that was probably too R-rated for a hotel lobby. “Come on, let’s test that key of yours.”

“Now it makes sense why you didn’t come back.” Alex eyed them cautiously as he walked up to them, all bundled up, carrying handfuls of shopping bags.

Cerys slipped her hand from Jase’s and took a step away. He looked over at her, but her face was unreadable. He reached for her hand again, but her eyes widened as she subtly tipped her head in Alex’s direction.

“Everything okay?” Alex asked, looking cautiously between the two of them.

“Fine. Good. I just dropped Jase off. I should get going. Thanks for ... yes. Well. See you tomorrow.” Cerys took a step towards the hotel exit and Jase reached for her hand to stop her.

“Stop, Cerys.” Jase stepped towards her.

“Ah, fuck,” Alex muttered. “You couldn’t keep your hands to yourself, could you? This is such a bad idea, Jase.”

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