“So, do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just under a lot of stress, and it’s making me irritable.”
Damon took a seat on the arm of the couch and looked up at her with those all-knowing eyes. He looked so good in a plaid button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark jeans. He’d done his hair for once instead of the mess it was usually in from his hat. But she still wanted to run her fingers through it. Looking at him made her realize how crazy she had sounded earlier. It was much easier to feel safe when she was with him.
“I know you’re under stress, but it’s more than that. I called to tell you the good news about talking to the manager, and you nearly bit my head off. I just wanted you to be happy for me.”
“I am happy for you.”
Damon questioningly raised his eyebrows.
She sank down onto the coffee table and faced him. “I want to be happy for you.”
“But…”
“But I’m also terrified,” she whispered. She hated how vulnerable she felt with that admission.
“You’re terrified? Why?”
“This whole thing is terrifying. We just started dating. I’m putting myself out on the line. And then, the first time things shake up, you ignore my call.”
“I didn’t ignore you,” he said immediately. “I was just talking business.”
“I know. I get it. I do. But when Preston didn’t return my calls, it was because he was with Lydia.”
“Trihn, I’m not Preston,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I’m not sure what I have to do to convince you of that.”
“I know you’re not.”
“Do you?”
Trihn closed her eyes and tried to calm down again. “If I thought you were like him, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”
“Okay.” Damon held his hands up. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I know you’re struggling with trust issues. You told me that, but please don’t hide what you’re feeling from me. I need to know, so I can be there for you.”
“I’m not used to talking about my issues, and I feel incredibly stupid about having any issues when your dreams are coming true.”
Damon reached out and took her hand. He looked her dead in the eyes. “You’re my dream come true.”
Trihn gave him a half-smile and a look filled with disbelief. “You can’t say those kinds of things when I’ve been a total bitch.”
He laughed and drew her into him, tucking her up on his lap.
“You’re not a bitch. You’re worried and letting it get to you. And I can say those kinds of things because they’re true.”
“I just…don’t want to put effort into this, only to eventually lose you,” she whispered her biggest worry. “Your music is taking off. You’re going to get busy and have crazy fans and Chloe and…everything. I don’t know how I fit into any of that.”
“Look, none of what you’re worrying about is set in stone. It’s all completely up in the air. We can’t stress about it before it has even happened. They could come back to me and say that the executives thought I sucked. No record deal. The end. You know?” he asked. He squeezed her a little tighter and pressed a kiss on her shoulder. “But either way, you’re not going to lose me.”
“You’re not worried at all?” she asked self-consciously.
Damon laughed lightly and ran a hand back through his hair. He seemed to have forgotten that he’d actually done it. “Of course, on some level, I’m worried. All I want to do is live in this moment with you, get to know you, and have a normal, easy relationship. I’m lucky to have this opportunity with you and with the music. Without you, I wouldn’t have any of this. So, I just want you to see that, no matter what happens in the future, I want to be with you. Just let me.”
Trihn snuggled into his chest and kissed his neck. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more open. I don’t want you to think you’re the only one invested in this relationship. I worry about the future because I don’t want to lose you.”
“I know.” He tilted her head up and kissed her lips.
She broke the contact with a smile. “Can you play that song for me, the one you turned in to her manager?”
“Which one?” he asked.
“You know, the one about the girl at the party. I’d never heard that before you showed it to me for the manager.”
“‘We Never Met,’” he said with a laugh. “You like that one?”
“Yeah. It’s catchy. Plus, who doesn’t like a good love story?”
Damon shook his head. He looked like he wanted to say something more, but he just stood and carried her into the bedroom. He effortlessly set her down on the bed, and then he took a seat across from her and tuned his guitar.
“Oh, acoustic,” she said with a smile.
He glanced up at her, and then he started singing. He was good with a soft, breathy tone to his voice that worked well with the pop and hip-hop beats. But this was raw and real.
“Walked into the club. Music up, crowds pumped.
With one smile you flipped my world.
Heaven knows you draw me in.
And only hell knows what I’d do for just one chance.