guitar started the high keen of feedback from the amp. It was a perfect synchronization of sound, all that was needed was a rhythm and words, and — that's where I came in. "…let's do this."
Once I started singing it was like I lost time. I spent most of my time trying to be numb, but when I was up here playing my heart out, singing the lyrics that I'd written, it was like an out-of-body experience. I've spent the majority of my life hiding behind a giant wall, but once I started writing music and singing, I could say how I truly felt but said in a way that kept me safe. To everyone else they were just words, but to me… well, they were everything. Tonight I wanted to try and show Lily that I could feel, that there was more to who I was, and that I wasn't just some douchebag who would eventually screw her over.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Lily
I WAS IN COMPLETE AWE.
My words escaped me as I heard Todd's rough voice pull through the speakers, his tenor created a blanket of heat that covered my entire body. I'd never heard such an incredibly sexy voice in my entire existence. At first I thought maybe I was being silly, but as the emotion of each lyric hit me like a freight train, I was overcome with admiration. I was grateful the customers were all watching the show, so I could as well. Jace and Tiffany were busy arguing about something as I leaned against the back of the bar. I couldn't be bothered; all I wanted to do was watch Todd as he sang with his eyes shut, brows furrowed, and heart on his sleeve. My pulse beat heavy behind my chest, the bass of the song was deep, and the lyrics were so sad that I couldn't help the tears that started to well up. Todd's eyes opened just as he started to sing what I assumed was the chorus.
Who are you to bring me here?
Who are you to ask me to stay?
Why can't you see it's killing us,
Loving you this way.
These words, they were his past, and his past was crashing over the wall he had so firmly placed around him. His intense voice trapped me in place. Part of me wanted to stay here and listen to it all, listen to his heartache… But this was too much, he was too much, and everything that was happening between us was all too soon. He was turning me inside out.
Just as I was gathering the courage to leave, the song came to a close and the crowd exploded into praise. Todd smiled bigger than I'd ever seen him smile, his deep dimples making him look five years younger. I reached up and started to twirl my father's ring in-between my fingers. I hadn't even noticed my hands had started trembling until now. This man was bringing me to my knees, and I felt helpless to stop it.
"We thought we'd mix this shit up a bit and play a cover. You guys game?" Todd spoke with a smile in his voice into the microphone. The audience went nuts. "I'll take that as a "yes" then…" He chuckled, and my stomach flipped. God, he was so good looking, it really wasn't fair. "…How do you feel about " Stay" 30 Seconds to Mars style, yeah?" The crowd hollered in acceptance again, and Todd threw his head back and laughed with such feeling it was impossible to look away. I was sure I would never know all the sides of this fractured man. Graden, at least I thought that was what Tiff said his name was, placed his guitar on the stand and sat down at the piano. The crowd fell silent as the familiar piano riff started to play.
Todd's eyes locked with mine as the exquisitely gritty tone of his voice poured over me. It felt as if he was singing to me, his darkly intense gaze pulled me in. All I could think about was the other night, his mouth against mine, his hot hands pulling hard at my hips, how perfect my name sounded falling from his lips as he came. I ached for him, and without noticing it, I started to move toward the stage. I walked out from behind the bar as if I was stuck in slow motion; the music was loud and infused the air with tangible feeling. Before I knew it, I had abandoned Tiff and Jace behind the
Once I started singing it was like I lost time. I spent most of my time trying to be numb, but when I was up here playing my heart out, singing the lyrics that I'd written, it was like an out-of-body experience. I've spent the majority of my life hiding behind a giant wall, but once I started writing music and singing, I could say how I truly felt but said in a way that kept me safe. To everyone else they were just words, but to me… well, they were everything. Tonight I wanted to try and show Lily that I could feel, that there was more to who I was, and that I wasn't just some douchebag who would eventually screw her over.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Lily
I WAS IN COMPLETE AWE.
My words escaped me as I heard Todd's rough voice pull through the speakers, his tenor created a blanket of heat that covered my entire body. I'd never heard such an incredibly sexy voice in my entire existence. At first I thought maybe I was being silly, but as the emotion of each lyric hit me like a freight train, I was overcome with admiration. I was grateful the customers were all watching the show, so I could as well. Jace and Tiffany were busy arguing about something as I leaned against the back of the bar. I couldn't be bothered; all I wanted to do was watch Todd as he sang with his eyes shut, brows furrowed, and heart on his sleeve. My pulse beat heavy behind my chest, the bass of the song was deep, and the lyrics were so sad that I couldn't help the tears that started to well up. Todd's eyes opened just as he started to sing what I assumed was the chorus.
Who are you to bring me here?
Who are you to ask me to stay?
Why can't you see it's killing us,
Loving you this way.
These words, they were his past, and his past was crashing over the wall he had so firmly placed around him. His intense voice trapped me in place. Part of me wanted to stay here and listen to it all, listen to his heartache… But this was too much, he was too much, and everything that was happening between us was all too soon. He was turning me inside out.
Just as I was gathering the courage to leave, the song came to a close and the crowd exploded into praise. Todd smiled bigger than I'd ever seen him smile, his deep dimples making him look five years younger. I reached up and started to twirl my father's ring in-between my fingers. I hadn't even noticed my hands had started trembling until now. This man was bringing me to my knees, and I felt helpless to stop it.
"We thought we'd mix this shit up a bit and play a cover. You guys game?" Todd spoke with a smile in his voice into the microphone. The audience went nuts. "I'll take that as a "yes" then…" He chuckled, and my stomach flipped. God, he was so good looking, it really wasn't fair. "…How do you feel about " Stay" 30 Seconds to Mars style, yeah?" The crowd hollered in acceptance again, and Todd threw his head back and laughed with such feeling it was impossible to look away. I was sure I would never know all the sides of this fractured man. Graden, at least I thought that was what Tiff said his name was, placed his guitar on the stand and sat down at the piano. The crowd fell silent as the familiar piano riff started to play.
Todd's eyes locked with mine as the exquisitely gritty tone of his voice poured over me. It felt as if he was singing to me, his darkly intense gaze pulled me in. All I could think about was the other night, his mouth against mine, his hot hands pulling hard at my hips, how perfect my name sounded falling from his lips as he came. I ached for him, and without noticing it, I started to move toward the stage. I walked out from behind the bar as if I was stuck in slow motion; the music was loud and infused the air with tangible feeling. Before I knew it, I had abandoned Tiff and Jace behind the
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