Page 5 of Next to Everything We Wanted

Ivan had finished speaking to other fans and now made his way to our table, the beam on his face enough to make me melt. The way his face lit up whenever he spoke to fans turned my insides into a puddle, like chocolate left unattended on a hot day. Sometimes his bandmates would join him, but never Everett. It surprised me, because he looked just as alive as the rest of his bandmates when he performed. Another point for Ivan.

“Hi, Ivan!” Emma shouted as she shot up next to me, waving at the boy with eyes that could pierce me. She looked around the table before taking Dallas’s songwriting notebook. “Can you sign this?”

“Hey!” Dallas snatched his notebook back. “He can’t sign that.”

“I just need a page,” Emma pleaded.

Adam picked up a napkin before pushing it across the table. “He can sign this.”

“He’s already signed napkins for me.” Emma frowned. “It’s getting boring.”

“Nothing that Ivan touches is boring,” Adam countered.

“Guys, behave,” I hissed. “Don’t make a fool of yourselves in front of Ivan.”

Adam blinked at me. “Look who’s talking.”

I scoffed. “I don’t?—”

Ivan appeared at our table, and the rest of my words died on my tongue. I tried to find something to say, anything. All that came out was a squeak.

Raina let out an ugly snort. “She means hello.”

Ivan’s smile lit up his entire face. “Nice to see you too, Sienna.” Those ocean-blue eyes glowed, and my heart tripped over a few beats.Don’t freak out, act normal.

“H-hey,” I managed to say, my blood pounding in my ears. “You guys killed it like you always do. I’m in love.” I covered my mouth. “With the music. I’m in love with the music.”

Ivan’s smile widened, something I didn’t think was possible. Who allowed him to look so freaking handsome when he did that? “Thank you,” he said. “I’m happy to see you guys tonight.”

“We wouldn’t miss a gig for the world,” Hayden said as he dabbed his eyes with another napkin. “If I can’t keep my cool around you, that means you’ve done a fantastic job. I’m usually great at keeping my cool.”

Dallas scoffed. “In what universe?”

“The ones you’re clearly not a part of.”

Ivan laughed, the black cloud tattoo on his throat constricting. Yes, he even had a tattoo. He ticked all the boxes. “Oh, you guys are too funny,” he said. “And thank you. Tonight’s performance was a lot of fun.”

“Can you sign my napkin?” Adam asked, holding out a napkin.

“Again?” Ivan blinked. “Don’t you have a lifetime supply?”

“Not yet.”

Ivan smiled before whipping out his blue flair pen, the one that he signed almost everything with. He signed his name on Adam’s napkin and drew a few stars on it. “There you go. I hope it fits well with your collection.”

“Thank you!” Adam smiled. “You’re so friendly.”

Ivan’s freckled cheeks flushed. “I love my fans. Especially you guys.”

“Hear that?” Raina said, and I knew she was saying it to me from the teasing grin on her face. “Helovesus.”

My heart nearly lodged itself out of my chest.Not the L-word. Oh gosh, what do I say?“T-Thanks,” I said, trying to focus on him without losing my train of thought. “We love—enjoy your music?—”

“She means she loves you too,” Emma said. “She loves you very much.”

Is there a sinkhole under this booth? I need to be swallowed whole immediately.

“N-Not like that,” I stammered, all the blood in my body rushing to my cheeks. “I’m just a fan.”