one for me. My insecurities are trying to resurface because I feel those lingering doubts taking root again. Am I good enough for her? Out of any guy she could have in the world, why would she want me?
“I love you, Luke,” she reassures me, like she’s reading my mind. “Only you.” She kisses me, and within seconds, I feel her smile against my lips. “Already?”
“Oh, yeah, baby. Again.”
CHAPTER NINE
ANDI
January
The past two weeks without Luke have been so hard. Every night when I finally get home, I climb into a cold, empty bed. After a while of tossing and turning, I finally pass out from exhaustion. The only positive aspect of this is the three-hour difference in our time zones allows me to sleep later and still talk to Luke for a few minutes while he’s in his room.
Mack originally planned to rent a house on the outskirts of town, but that meant they’d have to leave even earlier to get to the gym on time. It took some strong-arming of my stubborn Pop, but I finally convinced him to let me cover their hotel bill so they’d be within walking distance instead.
I couldn’t tell him that I also have very selfish reasons for doing that. Like feeling totally creeped out even thinking about having a private FaceTime chat with Luke while Pop or Shane are in the next room. Plus, when our tour bus gets close enough, or when we have a break in the schedule that’s more than a day or two, I plan to go stay with Luke in person. I definitely don’t want anyone else in the house with us when that time finally comes.
“Good morning, my love,” I coo when I answer his video call.
“Mmmm,” he replies sleepily. “It’s a good morning now. I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you, too. What’s on your agenda for today?” I ask, trying to stay as involved in his training as much as I can.
“More alcohol, wild parties, and easy women,” he deadpans.
“Don’t make me have to come out there and kick someone’s ass, Luke,” I threaten. “You know I’ll do it.”
“Whatever it takes to get you out here, babe,” he teases me with my smile—the one he reserves only for me. He knows it always gets to me. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and sexy, combined with mischief and innocence. It turns me to putty in his hands every time.
“You better hide her before I get there or they’ll never find the body.”
He openly laughs at this. “You know better than that, Andi. You own my heart and my body.” He looks down at his lap and moves the phone so that I’m looking at his crotch along with him. “It doesn’t even work without you here. You kept the remote control with you.”
“I’m not sure how I should reply to that,” I laugh. “Should I be grateful it doesn’t work or should I be worried it doesn’t work?”
“It’d be easier to explain it to you in person. That way I can demonstrate exactly what I mean.” He grins mischievously. “How long will it be before I see you?”
Grabbing the tour schedule and the calendar, I look for the first available break. “Umm, we have several days between stops during Valentine’s day week. Would that work with your schedule?”
“I’ll talk to Joe and Mack. Shane and I can probably arrange our schedules so we have our two rest days while you’re here. I’m sure Shane would love for Katie to come out, too.”
“Let me know when you find out for sure, and I’ll book the flights for Katie and me. I’ll still be on the East Coast leg of the tour at that time.”
“Still leaving tomorrow?” he asks.
“Yes. I have a whole day of packing and making sure my house sitters are all set. It’s a long time to be away,” I say, my voice relaying my uncertainty.
“It’ll be fine, babe. My parents and your friends have it covered.”
“It’s not that. I trust them. It’s just,” I pause as I mentally reach through the phone to my lifeline. “Am I going to get out there and make a fool out of myself? I just feel like
“I love you, Luke,” she reassures me, like she’s reading my mind. “Only you.” She kisses me, and within seconds, I feel her smile against my lips. “Already?”
“Oh, yeah, baby. Again.”
CHAPTER NINE
ANDI
January
The past two weeks without Luke have been so hard. Every night when I finally get home, I climb into a cold, empty bed. After a while of tossing and turning, I finally pass out from exhaustion. The only positive aspect of this is the three-hour difference in our time zones allows me to sleep later and still talk to Luke for a few minutes while he’s in his room.
Mack originally planned to rent a house on the outskirts of town, but that meant they’d have to leave even earlier to get to the gym on time. It took some strong-arming of my stubborn Pop, but I finally convinced him to let me cover their hotel bill so they’d be within walking distance instead.
I couldn’t tell him that I also have very selfish reasons for doing that. Like feeling totally creeped out even thinking about having a private FaceTime chat with Luke while Pop or Shane are in the next room. Plus, when our tour bus gets close enough, or when we have a break in the schedule that’s more than a day or two, I plan to go stay with Luke in person. I definitely don’t want anyone else in the house with us when that time finally comes.
“Good morning, my love,” I coo when I answer his video call.
“Mmmm,” he replies sleepily. “It’s a good morning now. I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you, too. What’s on your agenda for today?” I ask, trying to stay as involved in his training as much as I can.
“More alcohol, wild parties, and easy women,” he deadpans.
“Don’t make me have to come out there and kick someone’s ass, Luke,” I threaten. “You know I’ll do it.”
“Whatever it takes to get you out here, babe,” he teases me with my smile—the one he reserves only for me. He knows it always gets to me. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and sexy, combined with mischief and innocence. It turns me to putty in his hands every time.
“You better hide her before I get there or they’ll never find the body.”
He openly laughs at this. “You know better than that, Andi. You own my heart and my body.” He looks down at his lap and moves the phone so that I’m looking at his crotch along with him. “It doesn’t even work without you here. You kept the remote control with you.”
“I’m not sure how I should reply to that,” I laugh. “Should I be grateful it doesn’t work or should I be worried it doesn’t work?”
“It’d be easier to explain it to you in person. That way I can demonstrate exactly what I mean.” He grins mischievously. “How long will it be before I see you?”
Grabbing the tour schedule and the calendar, I look for the first available break. “Umm, we have several days between stops during Valentine’s day week. Would that work with your schedule?”
“I’ll talk to Joe and Mack. Shane and I can probably arrange our schedules so we have our two rest days while you’re here. I’m sure Shane would love for Katie to come out, too.”
“Let me know when you find out for sure, and I’ll book the flights for Katie and me. I’ll still be on the East Coast leg of the tour at that time.”
“Still leaving tomorrow?” he asks.
“Yes. I have a whole day of packing and making sure my house sitters are all set. It’s a long time to be away,” I say, my voice relaying my uncertainty.
“It’ll be fine, babe. My parents and your friends have it covered.”
“It’s not that. I trust them. It’s just,” I pause as I mentally reach through the phone to my lifeline. “Am I going to get out there and make a fool out of myself? I just feel like
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