Her Biggest Fan (Book 3 of JAF series)

Chapter 20 I'm Falling Faster And Faster And Faster

I rush back behind the drum set that waits as my band scrambles for their positions. As we begin drumming out a rhythm my mind pounds with a million thoughts, each louder than the last. The finale feels like it takes forever, in my head I jump back and forth. She likes me; she's teasing me; she's trying to make me happy; she's confused... I can't focus and I have 3 minutes before I finish.

I make the decision, if she's waiting for me it means she cares, if she's not... well then she thinks she made a mistake. The suspense is painful but finally we finish and I go through the movements of wrapping it up.

Finally, I'm heading off of the stage and I have to wait at the top for the jam of people to clear but I am so tempted to push my way through. A stage hand gives me a towel and I wipe my face, neck, and arms off before tossing it to the side. My eyes scan below and I am just about to give up when I see her leaning against the wall to the left of the stage.

I break into a grin and look down to watch my step so I don't trip. When I reach the bottom of the stairs I fight with arms and bodies as I walk through, people clasp my shoulder and pat me on the back, congratulating me on a job well done. I smile and accept their praise and move on. When I get to the spot where she was I find an empty space. Did I just imagine her? I turn and run my fingers though my hair, looking for her in the chaos.

I finally find her and start for her. She isn't paying attention, standing on her toes looking for someone... Looking for me.

I dodge for her and see a man rolling a cart full of sound equipment and he's just barreling through, expecting everyone to make way. Andi doesn't notice and I pick up my pace, throwing my arm out and grabbing her waist. She shrieks as I pull her out of the cart's way. She stares at the rolling shelf as it passes then turns to me. I swallow deeply. "That could've gotten ugly." I grin.

"Hi!" She looks around quickly and back at me, her eyes wide and I see fear. I see something else though and I forget any thoughts I had of her toying with me or being confused.

I release her and grab her hand, it always has fit so nicely in mine. I start to drag her through the crowd and finally we are sprinting down an almost empty hallway, both of us laugh and the noise echoes around us, the only other noise is our pounding shoes and quick breaths. The exit looms ahead and I push the handle so it opens and I yank Andi's arm a little too hard and she flies out behind me. Then she is in my arms again.

I am stuck in her gaze and she is stuck in mine. "So." I manage to push out. Pleased that she doesn't fight me, doesn't push away. Rather her hands rest on my arms.

"So." She barely whispers. I study her face, her mouth. How long have I wanted to kiss her? How many times have I wished I could just shut her up by pressing her lips to mine?

I close the space and she closes her eyes. When I'm about an inch away a little beeping noise sounds. Andi's eyes snap open and she moves her head back, thinking about checking her phone, I can see it in her expression. "Sorry." She says as she bites her lip a bit and that simple act is driving me crazy.

I don't care anymore. I'm going to kiss her before I explode. At first I am careful, making sure not to scare her. Getting used to the feel of us pressed together. My brain scatters and seems to come together all at once, this is different than anything else I have ever felt. At first she is completely rigid. Slowly I feel her relax in my arms, I hear her sigh. She is mine, I am her's.

Then she jumps slightly as a peppy tune starts and she steps back just enough to move her arms to her pocket and I don't stop her, I keep her in my grasp. She pulls her phone out of her jacket pocket and looks at the screen. I see her eyes grow wide. "I need to check this." She looks at me, saying a statement but asking a question. Reluctantly I let her go, I lean against the railing on the exit stairs as she walks a slight ways away, pressing her phone to her ear.