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“I could talk to him,” Killian’s deep voice rumbled against my back.
Oh this sweet man,I wanted to let go and curl into him and tell him how amazing he was and apologize for never questioning why he left.
“I’m not ready for anything like that right now.” I slid my arm around him, my mind jumping with all the thoughts in my head.
I wanted to ask him why he never told me how he felt. When did he realize he loved me? Did he still?
Luke, always one to read a room, changed the subject. “Remember when Killian tried to crowd surf at a gig here?”
“Oh, God, yes! He ended up face-planting because there weren’t enough people to catch him.”
Luke recounted the story and had us laughing—him so hard he was crying.
I remembered that night very clearly. The guys made sure I didn’t drink when I watched them play, saying they didn’t want to contribute to the delinquency of a minor. I was pretty sure it was because they didn’t want to babysit my drunk ass.
“Hey,” he protested, a smirk belying the annoyed tone he’d affected. “I was trying to be a cool rockstar.”
“You never had to try, Killian.”
I think the man actually blushed.
Well. How about that?
As if embarrassed by the compliment, he turned back to the guys.
I loved watching Killian interacting with his friends. He was laid back and always had a comeback for whatever burn they tried to get over on him.
I’d missed this side of him. And tonight I saw the old version of him again—the one that was sweet and caring—before he became a badass rockstar.
I wondered what life would have been like if we’d gotten together.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when my phone buzzed with an incoming text. I pulled it out of my purse to check the message.
PETER
Call me.
“Everything alright?” Killian asked.
I tucked my phone back into a side pocket and nodded. With the way I was feeling about Peter right now, it was best I didn’t call him back until I cooled down.
I had a lot to say to him.
And besides, tonight was about Killian and me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
KILLIAN
When the guys left the bar, Tris and I lingered a little longer. The air between us was thick with unspoken words. I had let the manager know I’d lock up when we were done.
After the place cleared out, she wandered the room, exclaiming over the things that had changed and remarking on the things that had stayed the same.
Tris stilled by the stage. “Would you play something for me?”
“It’s late.” I knew my hesitation was because when I free-played my emotions let loose, and I had no idea what would come out.
“Please. Just this once.”