“God, I hate that he has that brutal picture hanging up.” Ty buried his face in my neck. “It’s mortifying.”
“I love it.” I traced Ty’s face in the picture.
“I’m sorry about all that talk about dicks out there.” Ty wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “And, I’m sorry you found out about the virginity thing that way.”
“It was before me.” I peered up at him. “Obviously, I knew you weren’t a virgin.”
“God, it’s sure not my proudest moment.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I really just wanted to get it over with.”
“Did they scare you off?” Carter interrupted our conversation and sauntered in beside us, surveying the photos.
“No, they were just trying to get a rise out of Zoey, so we came inside.”
“Ah, well. Musicians. We’re at best, heathens.” Carter shrugged.
“I love these pictures.” My voice was barely a whisper, still nervous because of my comment outside, not to mention a fangirl reaction to Carter up close and personal.
“Me too. Zane has always been the light of my life, my little dude. He was the mascot of Limelight when we had our first gold record.” Carter looked at me. “But I got caught up in booze, blow, smack, and any mind-altering substances I could get my hands on. I fucked around on Zane’s mom. It’s not an easy road for the girlfriend of a rock musician. Lianne ditched me and took Zane away for many years, which I deserved.”
“I bet you’re glad that you’ve reconnected.” I tentatively touched his arm. “I know how important my dad is to me, and Ty tells me you’re like a father to him.”
“Shit, I don’t know about that.” Carter laughed sharply. “When Zane brought Tyson home, I was just glad that he had a friend to spend time with while I figured my own crap out.”
“It worked out pretty well.” The reverential way Ty looked at Carter warmed my heart.
Carter’s laid-back coolness cracked a bit. “Zoey, Ty has the most inner determination of anyone I’ve ever known. It has been an honor to help in some small way.”
“Well you are lucky to have each other’s back.” I untangled myself from Ty’s embrace. “But now I need to use your bathroom.”
“Right over there. We’ll be right across the hall in the rehearsal space, come find us when you’re done.” Ty gestured to a door.
“Okay.” I waved and entered into the beautiful coffee-colored tiled bathroom. Needing a few moments to myself, I breathed deeply and stared at myself in the mirror. Until today, Ty’s home life was something he had been reluctant to share with me. Now, the full impact of how Ty had grown up, hit me.
The old cliché about people from opposite sides of the track being attracted to each other held true for me and Ty. I didn’t have much experience to draw on, but it felt like in all the ways that mattered we were a perfect match despite our different backgrounds. Ty had found a way out of an unstable childhood with his absent, addicted mother. It was mind-boggling for me to comprehend, coming from a normal household in a nice neighborhood with parents who were still married and in love.
He was perfect, and he was mine, and I couldn’t believe my luck at having found my person at such a young age.
Chapter 6
TYSON
As grateful as I was to have a few minutes without Zoey to clear my head after Zane embarrassed me, I knew I was going to get an earful from Carter. I was mortified that Zane outed how we lost our virginity, especially because Zoey and I hadn’t really talked about sex yet. I wanted her desperately, but she also meant more to me than a quick, meaningless fuck.
I hadn’t known it, but my heart had forever longed for what I had found with Zoey. Carter snapped me out of my thoughts by picking up one of his guitars and strumming.
“So, she’s pretty great, right?” I looked at him pointedly, daring him to say otherwise.
“She seems nice.” Carter didn’t look up from fiddling with the volume on the amp.
“She’s not just nice, she’s perfect. I think she’s the one for me.” I hopped up on another amp. “My only worry is that she’s too young.”
“Wow, Ty. That’s big.” Carter’s tone was noncommittal.
“Yeah,” I continued. “But I need this band to make it, Carter. I don’t have anything else to fall back on, I’ve got to get away from my mom.”
“I know you do, Ty. You have my full support.” Carter clasped my shoulder. “You are like my son, you have to know that.”
“Thanks, Carter. That means a lot.”
“How does Zoey being the ‘one’ fit into those plans?”
“I love her. I haven’t told her yet. I’ve never had any feelings like this, and she is just so beautiful. And kind. And sweet.” It was hard to put into words why she had come to mean so much to me in such a short time.
“So, why make it about love? Why not enjoy the summer with her and not take it so seriously?” Carter tapped his finger on his chin.
“Because loving her is serious for me. I know she’s going to college at Western in the fall and we’ll be on tour. It doesn’t matter. I want us to stay together. All the other guys are going to be partying and fucking around. I’m just not into it. I only wish there were a way for the band to be successful without always having to be out on the road.
