Two of the longest weeks of my fucking life.
Her hair is pinned up tonight, with loose curls hanging around her face. She’s wearing those fucking sexy black-rimmed glasses that I learned she only wears when she’s been battling a headache, along with a flowy red dress and black heels that beg for a man to bend her over the closest surface and fuck her blind.
I pray she gives me the opportunity to do just that later tonight.
Right after I tell her how much I love her and explore every inch of her incredible body.
Mike finishes his song and, without a single word, passes his guitar to me and leaves the stage. The room quiets as customers watch, wondering what I’m doing. I glance up to see Max, Tiff, Chris, and Kevin at a table in the center of the room, but my eyes skim the tables, looking for Addie.
And there she is, at the right side of the room, watching me with a scowl.
“Good evening, folks. Don’t worry, Mike will be back out in just a few minutes. I thought I’d give him a break and sing a song for someone special.” My eyes are pinned to Addie’s. Her hands are clenched at her waist as she watches me. “I hurt someone I care about very much. Okay, I’ll be honest, I fucked up.” I shrug, playing the audience. “But I would regret it the rest of my life if I didn’t sing this song to her. I’ve been writing it since the day we met.”
A woman nearby lets out a loud “Awww!” I laugh and nod. “Yeah, I guess you could say that I felt that click the minute I first saw her. I don’t know that I believe in love at first sight, but boy do I ever believe in that click. So, this is for you, Addie. It’s called ‘If I Had Never Met You.’ ”
My fingers begin to strum the strings as Riley, Cami, Kat, and Mia join Addie, holding her hands and smiling in encouragement. I’m soon swept up in the lyrics, singing just to her as the rest of the room fades away, and I’m just looking into her beautiful face as the song comes pouring out of me.
If I had never met you, what would I be now?
I’d be incomplete and wasted, a man who lived without
I would not have seen the sunrise Monday mornin’
And I would not have smelled your hair as the sun was risin’
You take what’s broken, touch it softly, and make it better
You’re the stream of light that keeps on pushing,
gently breaking through
Into the darkest room
I watch as a single tear rolls down her cheek, and she reaches up mindlessly to brush it away. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and apologize. To tell her that everything is going to be okay.
But I’m not so sure that they are.
And if I had never met you, where would I be now?
I’d be searching, lost, and aimless, not knowing when, or how
I’d be looking for my happy ending story
I’d be staring down the broken road before me
You came into my life and saved me
From my wicked self and gave me
A reason to believe that there might be a bigger plan
All my fingers ache to play you
Both my arms have got to hold you
We will make sweet music like this Fender in my hands
What if I had never met you, where would I be now?
The song ends and the audience erupts into applause. I smile and nod, but then sober quickly as my worst nightmare comes true.
Addie says something to Kat, then turns away and runs out of the room, into the kitchen, and I’m sure right out the back door.
Fuck.
I pass Mike his guitar and weave through tables to where my friends are sitting, clapping and smiling.
“It’s over.”
“What happened?”
I don’t answer as I continue out the front door of the restaurant and to my car. I need to get out of here.
“Jake, stop!” Kevin calls. I turn to find not just all four of Addie’s friends but mine as well marching out after me.
“She left,” I say, my heart aching. “It’s over. She doesn’t want me.”
“I was watching her,” Tiffany says, shaking her head. “Jake, that was not the face of a woman who doesn’t want you.”
“She’s right,” Mia says. “I told you it wasn’t going to be pretty, remember?”
“Addie runs,” Cami says with a nod. “You have to go after her.”
“I’m done begging.” I’m so fucking frustrated.
“She doesn’t want you to beg, you idiot,” Kat says, rolling her eyes. “God, artists are so dramatic. Just go after her. Have a real conversation with her. Tell her what you want.”
“Go,” Christina says, nodding emphatically. “You’ve come this far, don’t give up now.”
“COME ON, ADDIE, answer,” I plead through the white door. “I know you’re home.”
I’ve knocked four times and she won’t answer.
“Take a hint, Jake,” her voice comes through the door. I close my eyes in relief and lean against the jamb.
“If you won’t open up, just listen to me. I have no problem talking through this door, Addie. And I don’t give a fuck if the neighbors can hear.” I swallow hard, gathering my thoughts. “God, I miss you, baby. It was so good to see you tonight. And I know that missing you is my fault. I fucked up big-time.”
I shake my head, and I think I hear her say, “No shit.”
“I got scared, Addison. I mean, there are all of these reasons for why I reacted the way I did, like thinking that I would somehow end up ruining your life, or disappointing you, but in the end, I realize that it was just pure fear. When I thought it was you in that accident, well, I didn’t know that I could feel terror like that. It put me in a bad place, sweetness.”