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“You’re beautiful,” Julie slurs. She looks up at him, eyes big and dark, batting her long lashes at him.
And Luke just needs a moment. Releasing a long breath, he takes her in. Her eyes are glassy; her pupils are blown wide, and a blush is blossoming on her cheeks.
Julie isn’t totally drunk. But she isn’t sober, either. Neither is he, to be honest. Maybe that’s why it takes him so long to register her words. When he finally does catch up, his brain blanks, and he blinks, baffled.
“What?” he croaks, voice husky.
But Julie just giggles. The sound nearly makes Luke’s knees buckle. And then Julie suddenly raises an arm, hand reaching out. Luke sucks in a sharp breath and holds it. He’s bracing himself for the impact. His heart is thudding wildly in his chest.
Julie’s fingers come to rest on his left cheek - a gentle caress - and it takes Luke his entire willpower not to close his eyes and lean into the touch. He can’t. Julie is off-limits.
Years ago, when they had been just a bunch of kids with nothing but big dreams and raw talent, Luke realized that his feelings for Julie differed from those for Alex and Reggie. He loves Alex. He loves Reggie. But he is in love with Julie.
And that’s a problem. Because they are a band. A family. Over the years, Luke has seen many bands breaking apart over love affairs and internal quarrels. But Luke had never believed that it could happen to them. They were young and brave, and their bond was so much stronger. Music had tied them together for the rest of their lives. They were destined to be a band. As teen, Luke had genuinely deemed them invincible … until he got into an argument with Bobby. Luke can’t even recall the details of their fight. But things between them escalated quickly and drastically, and eventually, Bobby quit the band. That day, Luke learned a crucial lesson. They aren’t any different. They aren’t invincible.
So, when he met Julie (and naturally fell in love with her), Luke made a vow to himself. He can’t, under any circumstances, let Julie Molina know how he feels for her. The band must always come first.
Reggie thinks it’s a stupid plan.
Alex and Willie think it’s a stupid plan.
Flynn, Ray, Carlos, and his parents think it’s a stupid plan.
Even Aunt Victoria thinks-
(You get it; it’s a long list.)
Luke, on the other hand, thinks it’s brilliant. So, for all her cares, they can take their unsolicited advice and shove it up their asses. He’ll never confess his feelings to Julie.
And while his friends, his family, and maybe even the rest of the world know about his plan, Julie is blissfully unaware of it. That’s usually great. She’d kill him if she knew. But right now, it’s a fucking disaster because Julie’s too close. Way too close. He can feel the heat radiating off her skin. He can see the golden flecks shimmering in her big, beautiful eyes. Her hand is still cupping his cheek.
“You’re beautiful,” Julie repeats. This time, her voice is steady, and her eyes burn with fierce determination. She won’t back off. Luke’s resolve begins to crumble.
He copies her actions, hand coming up to cup her cheek. Reflexively, Julie nestles into his palm. Her lips brush against his skin. A shiver runs down his spine. He shudders.
Luke knows he should say something. Anything. Luke’s a songwriter, for fuck’s sake. A pretty awesome one. But when it comes to Julie Molina, his mind blanks. There are no adequate words to describe her. Julie isn’t just the sun, the moon, and the stars. She’s his entire universe.
His thumb brushes the soft skin under her eye.
“Julie.” It’s all he can say. It’s all that’s on his mind.
“Luke.”
It’s just his name. But there’s so much more to it. Care. Nervousness. Yearning. Love. So many emotions that mirror his own.
Then, Julie smiles at him. It’s warm and tender and brutally smashes Luke’s rules into pieces. (Right now, Luke can’t find it in him to care. He’s never been a believer in rules anyway.)
Luke searches her eyes one last time. There’s no sign of doubt. Only love. Luke’s heart thuds hard in his chest. He sucks in a breath (it could very well be his very last breath – another thing he wouldn’t mind), then he bridges the gap and kisses her.
In his dreams, Luke has spent hours imagining what kissing Julie Molina would be like. Her lips are soft and warm – just like he imagined. Oh, and so, so addicting. He didn’t quite expect the taste of rum and lime juice. But he considers that a bonus.
His right hand, once cradling her face, moves to her waist. His left hand follows soon. His fingers are splayed on her back. Julie is on her toes by now. Her arms loop around his neck, pulling him closer. Deeper. Her lips part. An invite. Luke would be a fool to reject it.
Kissing Julie is truly intoxicating.
Luke’s not sure what the future holds for them.
Maybe they’ll make it.
Maybe they won’t.
Maybe she’ll wake up tomorrow with the biggest hangover in history but no memories of their kiss. That would be … yeah, Luke’s not sure how he’d feel about that. But they’ve crossed the Rubicon. There is no going back. Not that Luke would want to go back. And he’s always been a spur-of-the-moment kind of person, anyway. Time will tell.
But he hopes.
And he clings onto that hope even when they have to break apart, gasping for air.
Even when Julie trips over her own feet, and he has to catch her, pressing her flush against his chest.
Even when Julie’s head lolls onto his shoulder, suddenly asleep in his arms.
Even when he hoists her up and carries her upstairs and tucks her in.
Even when he leaves, and Julie’s front door shuts behind him.
He hopes.
Because he’s truly in love with Julie Molina.