Page 124 of From Drummer to Gamer

“Yes. I will, don’t worry.”

But Matty still didn’t look convinced. The show was starting in minutes, and he had to go out to the stage. His eyes darted to Raphy, who was busy soaking up the attention from a younger roadie with pretty cotton candy hair. “Raphael.” Matty’s booming voice snapped his eyes from the girl. “Come here.” He beckoned.

Surprisingly, without whining, he was at our side in a second.

“Stay with your sister and make sure you never leave her alone. The crowds can sometimes get rowdy.”

“You got it, big man.” Raphy grinned, folding his arm around me. “I’ll take care of my pest of a sister till I can hand her over to you.”

I rolled my eyes, and at the same time, Matty barked, “Don’t call her that.”

“Jeez, calm down.” Raphy lifted his hands in surrender. My brother liked to joke around, but he was too adorable this morning when he wished me happy birthday and got me a limited edition gaming keyboard that I’d been wanting for a while, stating he bought it with his first paycheck. It made me feel like a proud-ass sister.

Matty gave me one last lingering look before he started toward the stage with a security guard following him. Raphy and I quickly scurried to the front pit from where we would watch the show.

It felt so weird how I could feel the excitement buzzing in the air and seep into my skin.

Soon, the stage lights hit, and the crowd roared so loud when J.J.’s velvety voice crooned through the microphone, kicking off Lan’s low notes and Mikey’s bass.

But did I really hear any of that? Of course I didn’t.

My sole focus was on the man behind the drums, and somehow his eyes were on me.

Locked on mine. Lost to the rest of the world.

His muscles moved with seasoned practice, the drumsticks hitting the kit in perfect rhythm. His eyes said it was my presence that he was consumed by, but his hands worked like his entire attention was on creating the perfect beats.

That night, I screamed off-key lyrics, danced my ass off, and jumped like a little kid. Not giving one fuck about it.

Did I say that today was the best fucking birthday ever? I think I repeated it a hundred times already, but I didn’t care. I think you’re allowed to think about something that excites you over and over and over again and never get bored.

And he excited me.

Today was only special because ofhim.

Matty Evans already had my heart in his big fucking hands. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew he would take good care of it.

CHAPTER 26

SIERRA

“Omg, Matty, I think I’m in love with him already,” I exclaimed with a sigh as I watched little Luka’s brow furrow as he smashed the drums with such slow, concentrated moves.

I wasn’t surprised when Matty told me that every Thursday, he drove to Iona to volunteer at our local school because he was that kind of man—too good a man that sometimes doubts led me to fear that he didn’t deserve me. He deserved someonebetter.

Because what more could I offer other than my silly self?

In respect, he just had too much to give. And he gave it all to me, all the while looking at me like I was his favorite star in the sky.

“I know the feeling,” he whispered softly as his eyes focused on the little man who was taking his time to learn the pattern that Matty taught him.

“You’re a good,goodman, aren’t you?” I added lightness to my tone to muster some of the pride, because I was. So fucking proud of him, of the man that he was and it felt like I had no right to be.

He shrugged, a slight flush creeping over his nose.

“Sometimes, I can’t believe it,” I blurted without thinking.

“Believe what?”