Happy birthday to a very special blogger and someone
I consider a friend. Brooklyn is just about the sweetest girl, and I couldn’t
be more happy and honored to help celebrate her big day! Since I can’t be there
to party with her in person, I thought the next best thing would be sending the
uber gorgeous and extremely talented (ehem) Holden Marks to wish her a happy
Bday ;)
So here’s a special scene, just for you, Brooklyn. I
know how hard we both like to rock out, ha! So I thought this scene was pretty
fitting. Holden sends his love and happy birthday wishes, also, and says to
live life to the fullest—but to keep him on your mind, because you’re on his.
enjoy your day!
EXCERPT
Club
Scene
I’m
focused on the band, but his proximity is hard to ignore. His body heat rolls
over me. His cologne invades my senses. I’m dizzy from the music, atmosphere,
and him.
Melody climbs to the bottom rung of
the guardrail and raises her hands. Darla gets lost in the crowd as they dance
and thrash. And I just let go. Fuck it. I jump up and down, raising my arms,
shouting along with everyone else.
The band really is that good. They
do their own songs, but a lot of covers, too. And so far, I’ve loved everything
they’ve played. I’m bumping into Holden, but I don’t care. He’ll just have to
deal. Then I turn toward him. “Spot me?”
His head jerks back in confusion,
but I don’t give him time to ask. I climb up beside Melody and lean my thighs
against the top bar. “Yeah!” she screams, clasping my hand before she goes back
to cheering.
Then I feel Holden’s hands on my
thighs, supporting me, and heat that’s not from the overcrowded room washes
over me. The band jams through another two fast-paced songs, tearing up the
stage, and then the lead singer hushes the crowd.
“We’re slowing it down with a cover
from the Misfits.” Her raspy voice booms through the speakers. “This one’s for
someone I’ve loved and lost. Come back, Tony.”
My heart tightens. Holden’s hands
are suddenly too hot, seeping through my jeans, scalding. A wave of
embarrassment crashes over me. I know what song she’s about to sing, and I
don’t feel safe standing on my own two feet anymore. My legs lock at the knees.
A quick drum solo leads into a heavy
guitar riff, and I swallow down the ache in my throat. I’m suddenly fourteen.
Listening to the Misfits because they’re one of Holden’s favorite bands. And
then I’m in tears. Hitting repeat on the song Come Back. Unable to understand how I lost him after only just…
My legs buckle, and I’m falling
forward. Crap. Holden’s arms reach
around my waist and stop me from hitting the floor face first. My back presses
against his chest as he pulls me off the guardrail. I reach behind me and wrap
an arm around his neck.
“Are you okay?” he shouts. He grabs
my thigh and swings me around, like I’m nothing but a doll in his arms, as he
turns me to face him.
“Yeah.” I close my eyes. The song
pumps hard in my ears, the lyrics puncturing a hole in my heart. Or reopening
one I thought was healed over.
Holden’s not putting me down, I
realize. And when I open my eyes, his face is just inches from mine. His arms
secure me to him, and he quickly adjusts me so that my legs are anchored around
his waist. I allow my other arm to wrap around his neck. We’re locked together.
Just like too many years ago under the tree.
And I’m trembling all over again.
Unable to break away from his eyes. Drowning as the phantom feel of rain water
submerges me in memories. The singer hits the chorus, repeating come back, over and over.
The look he’s giving me…I’m
terrified. As if this song means something deeply to him. As if the words
pumping through the speakers are driving right home for him. Then his lips
move, just barely, but they do.
He mouths, come back.
A current pulls me closer to him,
and like static electricity, I’m clinging. One of his hands releases my back to
snake into my hair, griping at my nape. His force is pulling me to him. Only
we’re motionless. Frozen. In a sea of dancing bodies time stops. And I’m
falling so hard into him that I halt breathing.
Then, like being thrust suddenly and
violently out of a dream, the overhead lights come on, and Melody is saying
something to me. My head rings. The music still blasts my eardrums as I’m
dragged out of my daze.
“Best fucking show they’ve ever
done!” Melody shouts.
I blink, and Holden swallows. His
hand is still in my hair. His arm still wraps my waist. He closes his eyes and
sets my feet on the ground. The spell is broken.
