33. Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

Carissa

This isn't the first time I've been to a Liam Connolly concert, but this is definitely the first time I've had a VIP pass, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to being a regular concert-goer because I have officially been spoiled. We have our own sectioned-off area near the front of the stage so we don't get mauled by the mosh pit of screaming women, and we can order whatever drinks and snacks we want without paying for them. I even got a free signed Liam t-shirt, though I gave that to a girl in the main crowd who burst into tears as soon as I handed it to her.

Cole rewarded my generosity with a kiss, which made me curious to see what else I could give away, but then the show started.

Liam Connolly is, in a word, phenomenal. I've loved his music since he first got his big break, but there's something about a live performance that makes the music so much more real. Liam isn't just talented; he's passionate, and he connects with his fans the instant he strikes the first chord on his guitar. I sing along to his songs with everyone else while Cole hangs back and grins at me like he's never had more fun than watching me dance and scream with the crowd behind us.

Two songs in, Liam grabs his mic and makes his way down the walkway that leads deeper into the crowd, close to where we're standing, though I don't think he's seen us yet. He likely knows we're here, but he's focused on his fans.

"What's up, Portland?" he shouts into the mic, holding it up to catch the cheers and applause from the audience. "Man, it's good to be out playing again. I've missed you guys!"

Cole's hand is suddenly on my back as he comes up to where I'm standing, but his focus is fully on Liam, his eyes narrowed. What is he looking at?

"Let's give it up for Layla Knight!" Liam continues, talking about his opening act. "Wasn't she awesome? I wish I could play the piano as well as she does. That was brilliant!"

"He didn't," Cole mutters incredulously. As Liam starts talking about his latest album and how he came up with the next song he's going to sing, Cole turns wide eyes to me. "You were about to say wife!"

My stomach drops. I hoped he'd forgotten about that after all the drama with Sage and Javier. "What? Nnnnnn…" I can't lie to him. Not after what he said to Sage about wanting us to be more. "Maybe," I amend. "But how—"

Cole sticks his thumb and middle finger into his mouth and whistles so shrilly that the whole arena goes quiet for half a second.

Liam looks over, catches sight of Cole's glare, and says some sort of curse in another language into the mic before remembering to drop it. Though he looks properly spooked, he recovers quickly and flashes a bright smile at the crowd. "Wow, this crowd sure is expressive tonight! Sounds like you want more music. Yeah?" He turns to head back to the main stage where a roadie waits with his guitar ready for him, but he pauses just long enough to look down at us.

"You and Kasey got married ?" Cole growls. Thankfully, we're close enough that Liam seems to be able to hear us over the cheers of the crowd.

Clenching his jaw, Liam adjusts his earpiece and glances around to make sure no one else heard Cole. "How did you figure it out?"

Cole rolls his eyes. "Dude. You have a ring tattooed on your finger that wasn't there a week ago."

Liam glances down at his left hand, where sure enough a dark band with a Celtic design loops around his ring finger. He curses again and heads to grab his guitar with the look of someone who knows he messed up.

"We're not done talking about this," Cole warns before he gets very far.

Liam pauses, glances back with a thoughtful expression, and smiles. "Wanna bet?" He takes his guitar and slings it over his shoulder before counting off to his band.

"I'm going to kill him." As a keyboardist starts off the song, Cole grabs his phone and is about to start a text to Derek when I grab his hand to stop him.

"Don't," I say.

Cole furrows his brow. "But he didn't tell—"

"Let Liam be the one to tell everyone. You know that's why he hasn't said anything yet, right? He wants to tell you in person, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was planning on breaking the news to you tonight after the show."

Groaning, Cole runs a hand through his hair, leaving it a deliciously mussed up mess because it's insanely warm and humid in this arena. "How long have you known?"

I bite my lip. "Kasey told me the night you came by my apartment. "

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Hey, I can keep some secrets." Except, I'm pretty sure I technically gave this one away this morning, even if I didn't finish the word ‘wife.' But I almost kept the secret!

Cole can't sit still during the song and starts pacing in the small space. He looks like a cat. Like, a big cat. A jaguar who has too much energy and nowhere to put it. I have a few ideas of where he can use that energy, but Liam finishes his song and says a few things to his band before he's back on the microphone as they shift to different instruments.

"I don't know how many of you have been lucky enough to fall in love," he says, eyes landing on Cole on that last word. He moves to a gorgeous grand piano and leans against the body of it like he's having a casual conversation with the crowd rather than putting on a show. "But it's kind of the best, and there just aren't enough words to describe how it feels, you know? I had to write a whole album to express even a fraction of what I feel for my Kasey, and it will never be enough." He has to pause when the crowd goes crazy, and his grin is wide and genuine.

"Recently my friend Bonnie met a great guy who's head over heels for her." Another pause for cheers because the world loves Hank. "The guy's a freaking novelist, and he still can't find the words to say, which isn't a great sign for the rest of us, you know?" He looks at Cole again, and something in his expression turns mischievous. "I was going to play a different song next, but something tells me one of you out there is having a hard time finding the words, so we're going to change it up a bit and sing one of my favorites."

Several people shout guesses of which song, but Liam's smile turns downright devious as he sits in front of the piano and puts his microphone in the stand. "Nah, this is one you haven't heard yet."

I gasp along with everyone else. "A new song?"

Only a few measures into the intro, Cole swears under his breath and turns pale. "Don't you dare," he breathes, his eyes on Liam .

Liam meets his gaze as he plays the opening notes, and there is a clear challenge in his eyes.

"I have no idea what's going on," I say right as Liam starts singing.

You got that look in your eyes,

One you can't seem to hide,

And you try to keep it quiet

But I think that you should try it.

Don't matter 'bout the past

Or if you think that it might last

'Cuz the more that you deny it,

Well, the less anyone buys it.

Cole looks at me like he's about to tell me I got a failing grade on my last final. Or maybe like he's about to be sick. "What's your take on public displays of affection?"

I'm more interested in the chorus Liam is about to sing, and I cock my head, trying to figure out why Cole's fingers are shaking. "What?" But my attention turns back to the song.

Say it loud, say it proud,

Let your heart do all the talking

When your head is full of fear and doubt

All you gotta do is—

"Shout," Cole moans, finishing the lyric as Liam grabs his mic and repeats the chorus while he makes his way down the walkway again, heading right for us as the energy of the song rises. His eyes are locked on Cole, who definitely looks like he might throw up but has a determined glint in his eyes. "Carissa," Cole says, "whatever happens in the next two minutes, don't think less of me."

I don't have time to wonder what he means because Cole reaches for Liam's hand and climbs up onto the stage. For a moment the two men stare at each other while the band holds a note, like they're waiting for something to happen.

"Make or break time, big guy," Liam says with a smirk. "Give them something else to talk about."

Cole rips the microphone out of Liam's hand, and in the next moment he's singing. Cole is singing at Liam's show for the whole arena to hear.

And he's dang good at it.

I don't have words. I simply gape at the man who sings about being in love and being too afraid to admit it out loud. Love . My heart is stuck in my throat as Liam grabs another mic and joins in, and the song was clearly meant as a duet because it's basically a conversation between the two of them.

Where Liam's voice is clear and strong, Cole's has a rougher quality to it that I can practically feel rumbling through my chest. Their voices shouldn't mix as well as they do, but the two of them combined are magical. I swear the audience is losing their minds just like I am, though I doubt half of them realize who Cole is. They will soon; they're clearly fans now.

Back off, ladies. He's mine.

Cole is mine . I feel that from my head to my toes, like my whole being has tied itself to this beautiful, sweet, wonderful man in a way that may never be undone. I've known for so long that he's special, but watching him drop all of his shields in front of a crowd of I don't know how many thousands, I realize I have severely underestimated just how amazing Cole is.

When the song hits the final chorus, the band drops out and Liam rushes back to the piano to accompany Cole as he sings the final words.

Sings them right to me.

Cole crouches directly in front of me, looking amazing in his button-down and slacks and dark eyes fixed on me as he sings an altered version of the chorus.

I'll say it loud, I'll say it proud,

I'll let my heart do all the talking

'Cause with you I've got no fear or doubt

And all I gotta do is shout…

"I love you," he says into the mic. The crowd goes nuts, chanting for more, but Cole's eyes never leave mine. A staff member takes the mic from him, and he jumps back into our box and pulls me into a kiss to end all kisses.

The rest of the concert is a blur.

"I still can't believe you actually did it." Liam looks exhausted, but he also looks like he had the best night of his life as he lies stretched out on a couch in the green room after the show. He hasn't stopped smiling since playing the final notes of Cole's song.

Which, apparently, is called "Cole's Song." Really original, Liam.

"And risk being the first to back down? No way." Cole, reclined on a second couch, pulls me closer even though I'm literally on top of him, my back pressed into his chest and his arms tucked around me. I can't possibly get any closer.

"I was worried you never learned the words," Liam says.

Cole chuckles. "I know you better than to be unprepared. "

I could fall asleep right here if given the chance, but I have too many questions. "I need to know everything," I say, which hopefully sums up most of my confusion.

Cole and Liam both laugh. "It's always a bad idea to leave the two of us alone for very long," Liam says. "We have a habit of making bets and stupid challenges."

"Okay?" I would twist to look at Cole if I wasn't so darn comfy. "Keep explaining."

"We made a bet like a year ago," Cole says. "Liam thought I was too chicken to propose to Sage."

"I was right," Liam adds.

"And he said I was going to take so long that he would be married before I ever popped the question, even though at the time Liam was pretty against the whole idea of marriage and relationships."

Liam grins, running a hand through his blond hair. "So I said that if I ended up married before he struck up the nerve to propose, he had to come to one of my shows and sing that song to do the deed."

I do twist around now so I can catch sight of Cole's face. "But you didn't propose," I point out.

Blushing, Cole kisses the tip of my nose. "I've known you less than a month, Carissa. I think even Liam can accept that it would be kind of crazy to ask you to marry me tonight. Bet or no bet, I couldn't do that."

"I'll count it," Liam agrees as I settle back into my spot against Cole, kind of disappointed.

And then, almost so quietly that I don't hear it, Cole adds the word, "Yet."

I nearly squeal with pleasure but rein myself in despite a swarm of excited butterflies flooding my belly. "Okay, but since you did your part, does that mean Liam owes you something?"

Liam's eyebrows dip low. "I don't know about—"

"That only seems fair," Cole says, and I can hear the mischief in his voice. "But what would we have him do?"

"There is no ‘we' in this bargain," Liam complains. "And that was never part of the challenge."

"We'll think of something," I say and cuddle up close to Cole again. I probably shouldn't get too comfy, so to keep myself awake, I ask something that has bothered me for two days now. "Hey, Cole?"

"Hmm?"

"What did you say to me at the vending machines?"

Cole's hand splays across my stomach, fingers digging in slightly like he's revisiting that night in his mind just like I've done a million times. He buries his nose into my hair and speaks softly, but his words wash over me like a tidal wave. "I said ‘I wish I could keep you.'"

My heart does a somersault in my chest. "Really?"

"Really. I meant it then, but now I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen. No more passively letting life pass me by."

If this is how love feels, I was so wrong when it came to Peter and every guy before that. Nothing I felt for any of them comes close to the way I feel about Cole. It's like we were made for each other. "I want to keep you too," I whisper.

Cole squeezes me and kisses my temple. "Ready to go to bed?"

"Yeah." I really could fall asleep right here, but I'm sure the venue will be kicking Liam out eventually, so I reluctantly get to my feet. As soon as Liam is standing as well, I attack him with a hug that nearly knocks him over.

"Whoa! What's this for?"

"I'm really happy for you and Kasey."

Liam's not a scrawny guy—he nearly caused a wave of swoons when he used the hem of his t-shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead, showing off an impressive set of abs—but hugging him isn't nearly as satisfying as hugging Cole. I don't last long before I'm slipping back to Cole's side and tucking myself under his arm.

Liam laughs and grabs a bottle of water before following his bodyguard out to where his limo is waiting. "Thanks. It wasn't a planned thing, but after I proposed to Kase, I had this vision of never getting the chance to call her my wife because of something going wrong while I was on tour, and I panicked."

"Great reason to get married," Cole grumbles.

"I don't regret anything. And I was going to tell you."

Cole sighs. "I know." He releases me long enough to give Liam a hug, and then he's back at my side. "Congrats. Even if I'm mad you didn't let any of us be there with you to celebrate."

"We can celebrate when I get back."

"After you get a proper honeymoon," I throw in.

Liam snorts, a wistful look entering his eyes. "Yeah, after that. Come on," he says, nodding toward the car. "Let us give you a ride."

By the time we get to the hotel, I'm dead on my feet and so ready to crash, and Cole is the only reason I make it to the elevator upright. He pushes the button for the third floor, and I push the number five.

"I thought you were on the same floor as me," he says, frowning at the button like it offended him.

"I was, but there was a mix-up with the second night when Mel was checking out, so I had to switch rooms this morning. It's fine."

The elevator stops at the third floor, and Cole reluctantly steps out, looking back at me with an expression I can't quite read.

I smile. "I'll see you in the morning for breakfast."

The door slides closed, and I slump against the handrail as the last of my energy slips away. This weekend was a wild ride, but like Liam, I don't regret anything. Except maybe the fact that I didn't kiss Cole goodnight. That was stupid of me .

The elevator slows on the fourth floor and comes to a stop, and when the door slides open, I shift to make room. Only, it's Cole who stumbles inside, gasping for air, and I stand up straight in surprise as he boxes me into the corner.

"Did you just run up the stairs?" I ask in alarm.

He nods, still heaving, and then his mouth is on mine, hungrily claiming that goodnight kiss I was too tired to remember until it was too late. We reach the fifth floor, but neither of us moves to exit. I'm too busy memorizing the feel of his mouth because I'll have to go a whole night without him.

"No," he says against my lips, like he's reading my mind. "Stay with me tonight."

I stiffen. That's a big step. "Cole…"

He shakes his head, eyebrows pulled low and his caramel chocolate eyes fixed on mine. "I just want you near me. Please. Two floors is too far."

As the elevator door slides closed again, leaving us alone in a silver box, I smile and press my hand over his heart. "I couldn't agree more."

We kiss until someone triggers the elevator down to the lobby, and then we head back up to the third floor where I fall asleep in Cole's arms, dreaming of this and everything else for many nights to come.