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He winced as he ran his hands through his hair "I just irl--a coe You understand what it’s like to deal with the industry and what a gift and a curse theTo top it all off you’re so out with and watch stupid coirl in front of ets you?"

"Thanks," I murmured My cheeks instantly fla at me, I finally admitted, "By the way, that was much better on the compliments"

"You’re welco surprise for you"

"Once again, I really, really don’t like surprises," I protested as he dragged e

"You’ll like this one"

Finally, alked through the wings Instead of stopping, Jake pulled e arena Tilting my head, I spun around and took it all in "Wow, this place is intense"

"I love it when it’s like this," Jake confided,around with equipment "It’s like the calm before the storm" He bounced on the balls of his feet, and his whole body hummed with excitement

"The storhed "That would maybe be Tropical Storm Jake and more like Hurricane Runaway Train"

I suys out of the equation No Ada"

Jake shook his head "The label tried that bullshit for a while right after we hit But it’sover, I tapped his chest "Such a good heart in there"

His hand closed over ainst his shirt "You don’t knohat it h all the bullshit"

"I see you a lot better than you’d ever iine"

"And?" he prompted

I sed hard under the intensity of his stare "I like what I see A lot"

He then brought my hand to his mouth and tenderly brushed his lips across lad to hear that"

My heartbeat thumped like a cannon blast in my ears, and I was sure Jake could hear it Just when he leaned closer to e, "We’re ready when you are"

His eyes ruet this show on the road"

"Show?" I questioned in a squeak

Jake turned back to ht after your phone conversation with that assmunch--"

"Garrett," I corrected