~ Excerpt ~ Edge of Glory, chapter 9

 

Obviously not the official cover, but the image I plan on using for advertising purposes until the cover is done

 

“The guitar is a reflection of what you put into it, giving back what you give it, just like life. Put the love in, get the love out.” ~ Nancy Wilson from Heart

It was another clear night, when the stars could be seen in the sky, and the moon floated just aimlessly out in the indigo nothing, as the Trans-Am pulled up to Rex’s house later on. As always, Rex opened the passenger door for Lindsay, holding her hand as they walked to his door. Lindsay was relieved to be back in a familiar place, even as Rex put his arms around her and started kissing her again before they even got to the end of the walkway. His affection was both blissful and overwhelming. She couldn’t say whether it was confusing her more or convincing her that she had feelings for him. She forgot where they were when he kissed her like that, and it left her slightly light-headed. All she knew for sure was that he made her happy.

“I had a wonderful time,” she told him as he held her against him.

“I’m glad you did,” Rex replied sweetly. “The night isn’t quite over. I figured we could go inside and watch a movie or something. Like I said, trying to keep a low profile. I want you to enjoy yourself, not worry about who you’ll run into.”

“That’s very thoughtful. A movie will be fine,” Lindsay said. She’d had quite enough of being around people anyways and was looking forward to some peace and quiet with just Rex. Lindsay was pretty sure she embarrassed herself enough that night as it was.

Rex unlocked his front door and let her in first. Lindsay breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to act as publicly proper anymore, though got a bit nervous walking past his bedroom. The flashback of his skin on hers when she closed her eyes was a pleasant memory, but not one she was into repeating that night.

As if reading her mind, Rex closed the bedroom door as they passed it by. Somehow it made her less nervous.

“Want a glass of water or anything?” he offered.

“That would be lovely,” Lindsay replied. “I’ll just be in the washroom for a minute, to freshen up.”

She closed the door to the small bathroom behind her. Just breathe, she told herself. There had only been on hiccup to the entire evening and other than that, she held herself together quite well. It surprised her that actually going out on dates was so much different from just hooking up. It seemed obvious that there should have been a difference.

She glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a bit messed up from Rex running his hands through it; though right then her hair was the least of her concerns. It made her feel a bit more normal, though she wished for her jeans and a t-shirt to wear again.

Mentally pulling herself together, and calmer than when she was at the restaurant, Lindsay wandered down the hall to rejoin Rex. A soft, slow melody drifted down the hall to Lindsay’s ears, the delicate strumming of an acoustic guitar. She hummed along with it to herself as she entered the living room. Rex had pulled out his acoustic guitar and was messing with some chords. He was playing a soft melody to himself, those blue eyes closed in relaxation, and he had unbuttoned his shirt, his hair falling over his shoulders as he sat back on the couch, his feet up on his coffee table. It was a charming sight that had Lindsay slightly mesmerized as she leaned against the door frame, closing her eyes as she found herself spinning lyrics on the spot to his playing.

“Something in the way

You looked at me

Made me feel alive that day

Wild late night love

Sweet summer morning dreams…”

Rex glanced up at her with a soft smile as their eyes met. “Sit down, let’s record something.”

He paused his playing to pull out his cell phone, flipping through the apps on the touch screen. Lindsay was surprised at how freely those lyrics had come out of her mouth as she sat down on the couch beside him. Rex set his phone down on the coffee table between them, with the recording app pulled up on the screen. He sat back again, nodding to Lindsay as he started playing the same melody again.

Without needing to talk anymore, Lindsay sang out those lyrics again, with Rex adding something in every so often, and together they wrote the song, though it seemed to come together naturally on its own. Lindsay had never co-written anything before. But just like everything else with Rex and her, it seemed to come just as smoothly and free as they loved to be. She could have sat there all night with him, gazing into his eyes while they sang together. It was almost as good as the sex had been, if not better, more exhilarating and freeing. It was as beautiful as the lilac scent flowing through the open windows there in the summer night.