Melody of the Heart (5 page)

My gaze went from Tom to Brayden. His face flushed at Tom’s words, but he managed to wave to the crowd. When Tom motioned Brayden to the microphone, he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he strode confidently up there. “Hey guys, I’m Brayden. Hope you like what I have to play and sing tonight. I thought we’d start off with some Green Day and
When I Come Around
.”

The applause around me was somewhat more subdued than when Tom was up. Cupping my hands around my mouth, I screamed his name. As he adjusted his guitar and pick, he grinned at me. “Two, three, four,” he said. Then he strummed the opening chords of the song. The loud amps blared the music as the drummer came in.

“I heard you crying loud all the way across town…” Brayden sang into the microphone. Like being hit by a lightning bolt, I immediately fell in love with his voice. Even though the song didn’t call for it, his voice had a deep and soulful quality. I couldn’t believe that until the last six months of his life he hadn’t been singing, least of all playing the guitar. He had such a natural talent for both.

When it came time for the guitar solo, Brayden totally nailed it. The audience screamed their approval, which caused Brayden to grin. The song came to a close, and he took a bow. “Thank you,” he said breathlessly into the microphone.

I clapped until my hands were blood red and stung from my efforts. Gripping the microphone, Brayden said, “To change things up a little bit, I wanted to do one of my favorite songs from Bush—
Glycerine
.”

Brayden pinched his eyes shut and strummed the opening chords of the song. He looked so sexy when he was deep in concentration, focusing on the music and the lyrics. I thought he was handsome walking around school in jeans and a T-shirt. The muscles he’d developed from playing football were not really hidden behind his shirts, but tonight they seem larger than life. But it seemed amplified by a thousand with the glow of the lights on him, his fingers working magic over the strings of the guitar, and his heart and soul being poured out as he expressed the lyrics.

He finished his performance to another round of applause and cheering. He ducked his head, but I could see the grin that spread across his cheeks. “Thank you again. You guys have been great,” he said.

Tom slid over to stand beside Brayden. “So what do you guys think? Should we give the fucker a chance?” Tom asked, to which the crowd roared their approval. I yelled until my throat burned. Tom grinned and turned to Brayden. “I guess you’re in.”

Brayden’s face broke into a beaming smile. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” He then turned to the crowd and held up his hand. “Thanks to you guys, too.”

As Brayden started to leave the stage, Tom grabbed him by the arm. “Where ya going, man? We still got a show to play.”

A red flush crept along Brayden’s cheeks. “Oh, yeah, sure, I’ll stay.” He then eased to the side to let Tom take back the lead singer role. I didn’t know if Brayden was prepared to play with them or not, but when they started up the next song, he fell right in.

“Wanna dance?” Mitch asked.

Since it was a fast-paced song, I didn’t think it could hurt. “Sure. But if you try to molest me once, I’m going to knee you in the balls.”

Mitch threw back his head and laughed. “I’ll be a good boy. I promise.”

True to his word, Mitch didn’t try to grind on me or do anything disrespectful. After two fast songs, it changed to a slow one. We just stood there staring at each other in the middle of the dance floor. “I can still be a good boy even though the song is slow.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay.” Tentatively, I reached out to wrap my arms around his neck. He pulled me close against him.

“So you think you’re going to like it here in Roswell?”

“Yeah, I think I am. I mean, everyone’s been so nice, it’s hard not to like it.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve lived here all my life.”

“You’re really not missing anything. Moving basically sucks.”

“But then you get a chance to meet new and interesting people. Especially guys.”

I laughed. “I guess so.”

When I glanced over Mitch’s shoulder, I noticed Brayden glaring at the two of us. Feeling uneasy about what I was doing, I tried to pull away. “Where are you going?”

“This isn’t right. I shouldn’t be dancing with you.”

Mitch tugged me back to him. “You’re not dating Brayden, so there’s no reason why you can’t dance with me.”

Thankfully, the song came to an end. “Thanks everyone. Give us a ten minute break, and we’ll be right back.”

The loud screech of a guitar came from the stage, and when I looked up again, Brayden had torn off his guitar and stormed off the stage. He made his way through the crowd to us. But then he started past me. “Brayden, where are you going?”

“Don’t talk to me right now,” he growled, as he brushed past me.

I didn’t even have time to ask what was wrong before he shoved Mitch hard against the wall. “Fuck you, man!” he shouted. He then stalked out of the room. Without a word to Mitch, I rushed after Brayden.

“Would you please wait!” I called after his hastily retreating form.

Brayden ignored me. He blew through the front door and stomped out onto the porch. I followed close on his heels. “Look, I’m sorry I danced with Mitch. If I had known it would bother you so much, I never, ever would have done it.”

He whirled around and pinned me with a glare. “You can’t possibly understand it. Mitch is never satisfied until he has exactly what I do. It’s been that way since we were kids. He knew how I felt about you, but he wasn’t going to be happy until he had you, too.”

“But I’m not his.”

“It didn’t look that way in there.”

My eyes widened at his accusation. “It was just a slow dance, Brayden. There’s nothing going on between Mitch and me, and there never will be. In case you forgot, I came here to be with
you
tonight. You and only you.”

He shook his head. “Yeah, and that was a mistake.”

I gasped. “How could you think that?”

The clouds that had filled the sky for most of the day opened up and a driving rain started coming down. Drops slapped angrily against the sidewalk. Brayden glanced off the porch before turning back to me with a forlorn expression. “I’m really sorry, Lily.”

When he started off the porch, I followed right behind him. The rain pelted down on me, stinging my cheeks. I grabbed Brayden’s shirt. “Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

Without looking back at me, Brayden said, “Trust me, it’s for the best. You’re too good for me—too beautiful.”

“That isn’t true.”

“I’ll always have to be fighting some guy for you.”

“Stop it. You don’t know me well enough to be saying that.”

“No, but I know me.”

I skidded to a stop. Glaring at his back, I shouted, “You know what you are? A fucking coward.” My hand flew to my mouth, but it was too late to stop the harsh words or cursing. When Brayden froze, I almost apologized. But then I thought about the emotional whiplash he had put me through, and anger once again boiled within me. “You think that just because your dream of football was taken away that you’ll never be who you once were. In case you missed it back there, you rocked that audition. People were riveted by your performance. But more than any of the strangers in the room,
I
was riveted. Just hearing you sing and play made me feel things and want things I never had before. But now you’re telling me I can’t have them simply because you’re afraid I don’t want you? Or that you can’t bear the thought of having to vie for my attention with other guys?” I stalked over to him. “Man up, Brayden. Stand up and fight for me right now, and you’ll never have to worry about me and another guy again. You’ll have me.”

He stared at me, unblinking and unmoving, as the rain soaked us to the bone. I knew my words were heavy handed considering we had only known each other a week. But I wanted him to know how much I wanted him—that he was
worth
wanting. “Fight for me,” I murmured.

Just as I had resolved myself that the boy I was falling in love with was just an illusion, Brayden launched himself at me. His lips crashed against mine as his hands came around my waist. As his warm mouth moved against mine, he jerked my body flush against his. When I moaned at the contact, his tongue darted into my mouth. I shuddered as he ran his tongue against mine. My arms came up to encircle his neck.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The world around us melted away. We didn’t acknowledge anyone else around us. I didn’t feel the harsh rain on my skin. Instead, I felt the smooth touch of Brayden’s fingers as they wound their way through the strands of my hair or up my arms.

I don’t know how long we stood there kissing in the rain. When Brayden finally pulled away, I gasped in a breath. He cupped my face in his hands. “I’m sorry I acted so stupid.”

“It’s okay.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not. I promise you I won’t ever stop fighting for you.”

I smiled up at him. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll fight for you, too.”

He laughed. “You’re a little scrappy thing to be fighting, aren’t you?”

“I can be pretty tough when I need to be.”

Leaning down, Brayden bestowed another kiss on my lips. This time it was chaste, but I still enjoyed each and every second of it. No one had ever kissed me like Brayden had.

When he pulled away, he brushed his thumb across my cheekbone. “Wanna get something to eat?”

I nodded. “I’m starving.”

As Brayden surveyed our drenched clothes and hair, he exhaled a defeated breath. “I had planned to take you somewhere really nice tonight for our first date, but I’m thinking that’s not going to work right now.”

“I don’t care about any of that.” I swept a damp strand of hair out of his eyes. “I just care about the part where I get to eat.”

He grinned. “Come on, you can ride with me, and then I’ll bring you back to your car.”

“Sounds good.”

When we got to the car, he held open the door for me like a true gentleman. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied. Glancing back at the house, he grimaced. “Give me five minutes to go tell the guys I’m cutting out.”

“You won’t be in trouble, will you?”

He laughed. “No, I was only playing with them until the first break.”

“Oh, okay.”

He shut the door and then ran back to the house. It didn’t seem like he was gone a minute before he was back. He hustled around the front of the car and then slipped inside. “There’s some napkins in the dash if you need to clean up.”

“I don’t think they’re going to help.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry you got so wet.”

“I didn’t mind.” With a grin, I added, “It was for a worthy cause.”

“It was the cause of a stupid idiot.

“Hey now, that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about like that.” When the word escaped my lips, I realized it was too late to take them back. Brayden hadn’t asked me to be his girlfriend. We’d barely even had one date. “Well, um, you know.”

“You want me to be your boyfriend?” he asked.

“Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

With a grin, he said, “I asked you first.”

I smiled back at him. “This is all new to me. I don’t have a lot of experience with guys.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s the truth. I’ve dated a few guys, gone to the movies, held hands, that kind of thing.”

Brayden’s eyes widened. “So you’re a virgin?”

I couldn’t help the warmth that flooded my cheeks. Ducking my head, I questioned, “Is that a problem?”

“Of course not. Why would it be an issue?”

Shrugging, I replied, “Some guys aren’t interested in a girl that won’t sleep with them.”

“Those guys would be douchebags,” he answered, as we turned into the parking lot of an older looking restaurant. The illuminated sign with red letters read “The Varsity.” While there was a place to go inside and eat, Brayden drove over to the drive-in area.

Taking my hand, Brayden said, “If we’re being honest, I’ve never had sex either.”

Now it was my turn for the wide eyes of shock. “You haven’t?”

He shook his head. “Is that a problem?” he asked, repeating my question.

“No. Never.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As we sat there staring at each other, Brayden’s thumb rubbed circles over the top of my hand. “Lily, would you—”

A man’s loud voice bellowed outside the window. “Whadda ya have?” he questioned, with his order pad in hand.

“Shit,” Brayden muttered. After he rolled down the window, he said, “Can you give us a minute?”

The man nodded before he ambled over to one of the other cars. I glanced up at the menu. “So what’s good here?”

“Oh no, you’re not going to do that.”

“Do what?” I questioned innocently.

“Change the subject.”

Glancing over at him, I said, “I was trying to give you an out. You know, in case you felt pressured.”