Nadia
Flynn gives me one of those panty-melting pirate smiles. I would love to see him without his beard. I’ll bet he’s even more devastating. I hold up his phone because this time, I do want to share. I want everyone out there to see Flynn sing a song for me.
“Sing it, Flynn!” someone yells, and the place erupts into cheers. I realize that, indeed, some of his fans are showing up. There are young people in the bar, and every seat is now taken. More people come through the doors every minute.
I glance in that direction, and my heart sinks. Ugh. It’s Cadence again. Will that girl never stop stalking Flynn? What is her deal?
She gives me a bright, friendly wave, and I turn back to watch Flynn without acknowledging it because I’m not going to let her ruin this moment.
My song. Or a song for me.
“I would walk way more than 500 miles for her,” Flynn tells the audience. “I would walk to the ends of the Earth.”
My eyes burn, and I blink. Instead of looking through the screen of the phone at him, as I’ve been doing, I get caught in Flynn’s warm brown stare as he starts the song.
I don’t know it, but it has a great beat, and the lyrics make my chest balloon with emotion. Especially because he delivers every one of them straight to me, our gazes locked like we’re the only ones in the room. The words aren’t a declaration of love, exactly, but the song is. He’s saying he’d walk to the ends of the Earth for me. That he wants to be my man.
Was this what he was trying to tell me earlier? That he wants a change in our relationship status? From friends with benefits to long-term relationship?
Cadence and her two friends come and pull out the chairs beside me, inviting themselves to my table.
Blyad’.
I don’t careI continue to ignore them, absorbing every second of Flynn’s song to me. The meaning behind it. The energy of it.
When it’s done, I hand Cadence the phone with the live stream running, jump out of my chair and rush the the stage.
The audience cheers, most of them yelling Flynn’s name. Shawn looks delighted for Flynn at all the attention he garners.
Flynn grabs my face with his strumming hand, holding behind my head to pull me in for a kiss. “This is Nadia,” he announces, turning me around. “She’s the best.”
“Thank you everyone for coming out tonight,” Shawn says. “Our frontman tonight is my talented son, Flynn Taylor, of the Storytellers. Please go and see Flynn and his sister Story perform with their bandmates all over town, four days a week.”
The pride in Shawn’s voice is evident. I don’t know why Flynn thought he might not celebrate his success, but I’m certain he was wrong.
Flynn turns off his mic and drapes an arm around my shoulders. “Did you like your song?”
I wrap my arms around him. “I loved it.” I look over to see Cadence is still filming, but she wears the most sour expression imaginable. “Your fans are here,” I murmur to Flynn. “Did you want to stay to hang out?”
“I’m with you. Remember the conversation we had back at my place?”
My heart flutters, and I nod.
“So if you want to stay, I stay. But it would only be because you wanted it, ya dig?”
I laugh because I often feel like Flynn speaks in riddles. I swear it’s not just my English.
“Can we go? I know I created this fan frenzy, but I sort of hate it at the same time.”
Flynn throws his head back and laughs. Like deep belly laugh.
“What?”
“Finally,” he says.
“Finally what?”
“Finally you stake a claim on me.”
I blink, my heart tripping and pitter-pattering in my chest. Then I go up on my toes and claim a kiss. “Yes. I’m claiming you.” I lift the guitar strap off over his head. “I didn’t think you wanted that.”
“I want it. I want it with you, Peaches.” He unplugs the electric guitar and puts it in its case.
“Flynn, can I talk to you for a minute?” Cadence asks.
I turn to walk back to the table, but Flynn snags my wrist to stop me.
“Sorry, Nadia and I have to run to another thing. We’ll catch you later.” He looks at me. “Will you grab our jackets? I’ll get the amp.” He makes it sound like we’re in a big rush.
“It’s pretty important. Can I call you? I don’t think I ever got your number.”
What the f? Now that Flynn’s sanctioned my jealousy, I’m fully annoyed.
I grab Flynn’s phone from the table, along with both our jackets, and leave money to pay my bill.
As I do, Flynn continues to shut Cadence down. “Hey, maybe you can talk to Lake about it, yeah? I’m with Nadia now.”
Oof. That comment landed hard. In fact, Cadence’s face turns red, and the look she sends me is full of venom.
Flynn turns his attention on me and holds out his arm. He has his amp and guitar in hand, and he tucks me against his free side. “Bye, Dad, bye guys,” he calls over his shoulder as we strut out.
“Whew,” he says when we get outside. “That was a close one.”
I laugh. “You created that monster, you know.”
“Totally. My bad. But I haven’t been with anyone since you. You know that, right?”
I nod, happiness sprinkling down on me like gold and pink shimmery fairy dust. “I haven’t, either,” I say even though that’s beyond obvious, and we both laugh.
“Come on.” Flynn hustles me toward the van. “I think we need another sex re-education session, don’t you?”
“Oh definitely.” My internal muscles contract and release at the mere mention of it. “I plan on rewarding you for that song.”
Flynn’s boyish grin is pure joy.
So bright and buoyant that it lifts me from my feet, and I float all the way to the van.