Chapter Six

Pen

" I love you," Declan whispers, slipping his hand into mine outside of the studio before practice.

I tip my head back to look up at him. "I love you too."

"Are you nervous?"

"About telling Saint and Jace about us?" I laugh quietly. "No. Why?"

"Just making sure." He hooks his finger through my waistband, hauling me up against him. "I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you into anything here. I just don't want to hide us. We've done enough of that shit."

"I know." I smile up at him. "I'm not worried about Saint and Jace, Declan. They already know how I feel about you anyway."

"Yeah? You think so?"

I nod, positive they do. Declan is the only one who didn't know. But we're all on the same page now. Finally.

It's strange. Yesterday, I dreaded practice, but today, I feel like I'm walking on cloud nine.

The two of us stayed up most of the night, talking and making love. Every muscle in my body aches in the best possible ways.

I can't wait to spend the rest of my life waking up in his arms every day. There's just something so right about it. It wasn't awkward or stilted at all. Everything feels natural…as if this is exactly what we're supposed to be doing. We just took a little longer to get here out than we should have. But maybe that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

He was absolutely worth the wait. And even if we weren't together like this, he spent every day of the last five years by my side. I got to learn him and love him in a different way every day for five years. Now, we get to skip all the awkward phases and go straight to the happily-ever-after part. I'm not mad about that.

I don't think Saint and Jace will be, either. If anyone will be rooting for the two of us, it's them. They love both of us. The want us happy. If we're happy together, they'll support us.

"Let's go share the news then, Rebel," Declan murmurs, brushing his lips across mine in a way that makes butterflies flutter in my stomach. "The sooner we get this day over with, the sooner I can get you naked again."

I groan, heat unfurling in my core at the thought of him getting me naked again.

He chuckles when I grab his hand, practically dragging him inside the studio.

Saint and Jace look up from Jace's keyboard when we stroll in, notice us holding hands, and then share a look. A slow smile spreads across Saint's face.

"Please tell me this means what the fuck I think it means," he says.

"She's mine," Declan growls.

"Obviously." Jace rolls his eyes, crossing his tattooed arms. "But is she leaving the band? That's the important question."

"No." I bite my lip, suddenly nervous even though I said I wasn't. "I mean, if you guys are okay with me staying as your drummer, I'd like to stay."

Saint and Jace share another look. This one makes my stomach churn. Are they going to make me follow through on quitting? Why didn't I think of that? Crap. Maybe I should have come up with a speech. I don't know. But I really want to stay, and it's going to break my heart if they make me follow through on quitting.

Judging by the way Declan is growling at my side, he's going to be pissed too.

I may cry if Saint and Jace decide I have to leave, and Declan ends up quitting, too. Actually, that's not true. I'll definitely cry.

"Well," Saint says, slowly striding forward. "I mean, we've put a lot of thought into it."

Declan tenses at my side, his rumbling growl growing louder.

"And fucking obviously you're staying," Saint says, putting us out of our misery.

My knees go weak. Declan immediately stops growling, his grip on me tightening.

"You really think we'd ask you to quit? What the fuck, Pen?" Saint pulls me into a fierce hug. "We've just been waiting for you to tell this idiot you were leaving so he'd get his head out of his ass and make you stay. We knew he wasn't going to let you quit. If he did, we were firing him until he got his head out of his ass. It's about goddamn time the two of you figured your shit out because, gotta be honest, it's not a band if Dipshit and I are the only two left in the motherfucker."

"Uh, Dipshit objects to being called Dipshit, you dick," Jace mutters, flipping Saint off. "But he agrees with the rest of the shit you just said." He grins at me. "Glad you're staying, and we aren't firing Declan. I like you two way more than Saint anyway." He glances at Declan. "It's about goddamn time you figured it out."

"Yeah, yeah. Everyone knew but me. Stop hugging her," Declan complains, gently prying me out of Saint's arms. "Go hug your own woman. Leave mine alone."

Saint grins, slapping Declan on the back. "Welcome to the club, asshole."

Declan just smirks, tugging me back into his arms. I go willingly, smiling brightly.

"See?" he whispers, his lips against my ear. "You aren't going anywhere, Rebel. This right here is where you belong."

He's right. In his arms and in this band is where I belong. This is home, and they're my family. And for the first time in a long time—perhaps for the first time ever—everyone is happy.

It's been a long time coming.