Night shifts black

Tuesday.

 

 

Casey and I fall asleep on the couch that night after being up late talking. I learn a lot more about him, all minor compared to the game-changing character traits I’ve gotten to witness over the last several days, but still worth every second. I can’t believe it hasn’t even been a week since all this started. It feels like a lifetime. Casey doesn’t seem as concerned with the timeline, and I wonder if it’s because the pace of his life doesn’t allow him to be overly cautious. Once he let go of his fear of getting close, he seemed to have no problem abandoning his soul completely to me. It’s an amazing feeling to have someone’s trust, their heart. I accepted the gift with reverence and offered the same in return, revealing things to him I thought I’d tucked away forever. We laughed a lot, cried a little, and I realized there was nothing about this person I didn’t find fascinating.

When I wake the next morning, still resting against him, I don’t want to move. My body gets in the way, however, and eventually I force myself up as quietly as possible. He stirs, but doesn’t wake, and I make my way to the bathroom. I decide to shower and dress while I’m there, never sure what the day will bring with these two.

I’m glad I did.

I can hear voices when I turn off the water, multiple voices, actually, and realize we have guests. There’s a lot of laughter, so I can at least assume they’re welcomed guests.

I’m startled by a knock on the bathroom door and wrap the towel around myself.

“Yeah?” I call through the door.

“Hey, it’s Casey. Can I come in for a sec?”

I swallow, excited and terrified at the thought that I’m naked five feet away from him. That’s normal, right? I’m still getting used to this whole boyfriend thing.

“Um…sure. Hang on, I’m coming out.”

I wrap the towel more securely, just in case. I’m not concerned or anything, this just isn’t how I pictured our first intimate moment as a couple.

I open the door and brush past him into the guest room to get dressed.

He stops. “Wow.”

I roll my eyes, but can’t help the smile. “Don’t get too excited. It sounds like we have guests.”

“Yeah but…wow…”

I laugh and shake my head. “You knew I was showering. What did you expect?”

He nods, but I’m not even sure he hears me. “Yeah…um…”

“You came in here for a reason?” I remind him, helping him along.

He clears his throat, and I’m tempted to completely unhinge him with a peek, but have mercy.

“Yeah, so, ok.” He shakes his head and actually looks away to regain his thoughts. “The guys are here,” he explains finally.

“The guys?”

“Sorry. Sweeny and Eli.”

His shy smile makes an appearance, and I immediately brace for whatever triggered it.

“Ok…”

“Yeah, so TJ told them we were hitting the studio Friday.”

“Hitting the studio?”

“Recording.”

“They’re recording?”

“Songs? Music?”

I give him a look. “I get that. I mean, I’m surprised they’re here to record. I thought you were just going down by yourself on Friday to fool around.”

Casey cringes. “Yeah, about that…So TJ pretty much wet his pants when I sent him the work tape. The Label went nuts and is sending a trailer with our gear.”

I stare at him. He’s clearly not finished explaining what that means.

“Ok…”

“Well, so, basically they booked the studio for the day and want us to track the entire song.”

“The song? What song?”

“‘Greetings from the Inside.’”

My eyes widen. “Wait, our song? You’re going to record our song? Your actual band. Night Shifts Black.”

Casey grins and nods. “Yeah. I think we are.”

I let out my breath, stu

He shrugs. “Maybe at first, but it’s really good, Callie. Even Luke thinks it’s worth a shot. The guys are here now and we’ve got three days to work on it together. By Friday we should have something worth laying down.”

I shake my head, amazed, terrified, confused. “Won’t they be upset?”

“That we’re actually moving again?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, they don’t even know me and now I’m butting in?”

“Butting in?”

“Lyrically speaking.”

He laughs. “Is that even a thing?”

“I don’t know. Is it?”

“If it’s good, they won’t care. Luke and I do most of the writing anyway. We’re the ones getting our toes stepped on. Ok, well, I should get back to them.”

 I nod. “How’s Luke with all of this?”

Casey shrugs. “Good, actually. I’m surprised, but he’s with them now. It’s almost noon so we’re having some food sent up.”

“And how are you with it?”

He looks confused. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. You’re about to introduce your controversial new girlfriend to your band-mates?”

He grins. “I’ll be fine as long as you don’t let them see you like that.”

I laugh and swing at him, but he ducks away, suddenly pulling me toward him instead. My blood starts to pound as his eyes meet mine with a breathtaking intensity. He’s going to kiss me again. Right now. Right here, and I almost gasp at the fire ripping through my body when our lips collide. I reach into his hair, pulling him against me with a greedy abandon that surprises both of us. I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.

“Casey…” I breathe, eyes closed as his lips caress my neck, his hands gripping my towel, dangerously close to starting something we both know we can’t finish right now.

“I know,” he groans. “I know.”

But he just feels so good. My own fingers are on the waist of his jeans, instinctively pulling at the clasp. I almost hate our guests for taking this from me. I don’t care, I don’t want to let him go, and allow our kiss to take on an urgency I know he won’t be able to resist. Especially when I undo the top button of his jeans and pull his hips into mine. It’s not fair, but I want him to suffer as much as I am right now.

He breathes a curse, pausing as he rests his forehead against mine. We hover like that for a minute, momentarily paralyzed by our mutual denial. When he finally manages to pull away, I can see the longing all over his face. We’re both breathing hard, staring at each other, wondering if there’s some way to alter Time so we can have this moment we both so desperately want.

He takes a deep breath and shakes his head with a wry smile. “You did that on purpose,” he charges.

“Did what?” I ask with a mischievous smile of my own.

He gives me a mock glare, but his return grin betrays him. “Come out when you’re ready, you vixen.”

 

∞∞∞

 

I spend a little extra time on clothes and makeup after Casey leaves, still burning from our heated encounter. I almost regret trying to stir him up, since I’m paying just as high of a price now. I can still feel his firm body pressed against me, begging to be explored, to give itself over completely. He was mine for a second, and now I’m addicted. I suck in a deep breath, willing my racing pulse to calm itself, and finally manage to focus on reality and the u

I glance at my reflection again and sigh. There’s no hope for my hair, which is soaking wet, so I comb through that and hope for the best. At least my casual look will prove Casey, Luke, and I are close enough to be past the “trying too hard” stage. If only they knew.

I brace myself and draw in a deep breath, nervous for some reason. It’s not that I care what the others think for my sake, but for Casey’s. Obviously, his life will be a lot easier if they like me.