Page 90 of The Crazy Duet Box Set
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CHAPTER SIX
ANDI
Time is flyingby way too fast. We’re quickly approaching Christmas and, too soon after that, Luke will leave for the training camp. Even with not getting to see each other much, he’s always here when I climb into bed at night. More times than not, he wakes long enough to make sweet love to me. Our nighttime encounters are even more special, and he takes his time to make sure my body is thoroughly worshiped.
I’ve been getting up early in the morning just to spend a few minutes over breakfast talking to him. Our opposite schedules are hard right now, but I’m seriously dreading the first night that I climb into our cold, empty bed alone. Taking a seat beside him, I place his bowl of oatmeal and fruit in front of him.
“Thank you, baby,” he says and gives me a quick kiss. “How’s the rehearsing going?”
“It’s really good. I wish you had time to come by the studio and listen. In the last couple of weeks, my voice has really strengthened. The two duets that Travis and I have been practicing are almost ready to be recorded.”
Luke gives me a warm smile, and the gleam in his eyes says he’s proud of me. “I can’t wait to hear them, Andi. And, for the record, your voice has always been amazing. That first night I heard you sing in the club, you stole my heart before I even knew your name.
“Although, I have to admit, when you sang ‘Familiar Taste of Poison’to me during your skit, you completely owned me. I’ll never forget that,” he says. “That’s when I knew you were the only one for me.”
This big brute of a man melts me in every conceivable way. As if we can read the other’s mind, his arm moves out of the way just as I move over to my place in his lap. His muscular arm wraps around me, I snuggle into his warm body, and he finishes his breakfast with his one free hand.
“Luke, I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Hey, are you crying?” he asks, his voice thick with concern.
“I’ve just been thinking about when you leave and I come home at night. I love crawling in bed and snuggling up to you. Being apart will really suck,” I state flatly.
“Yeah, it will. No doubt about that. Our schedules will be fucked up during that time, too. Time zones. My days will start before dawn, and yours will probably just be ending then,” he says.
“Not every day, but the days around concert nights definitely will. We have press junkets to attend, shows to do, and interviews at radio stations. Some days will be spent traveling between cities, so that’ll be some downtime for me,” I explain.
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to make it work,” Luke promises.
“Me too. Even if that means getting up at whatever unholy morning hour I need to just to talk to you for a few minutes,” I vow.
“And if I have to stay up all night to wait for you, I will.”
I laugh at that comment because Luke really doesn’t know Joe at all. “No, you won’t, babe. Joe will have a tight leash on you and, if you defy him, he can kick you out of the camp. Don’t do that—it’ll cause too many problems.”
“This camp will be worse than boot camp in the military, won’t it?”
“Yep.” No need to sugarcoat it for him. He’ll see for himself soon enough.
Luke sighs heavily and wraps his other arm around me. “What about smuggling you in to stay with me when you’re in the area? Will that get me kicked out?”
“I’m hoping Pop has some pull with that. Normally, spouses are allowed a rare conjugal visit.”
“Great. Now I feel like I’m going to prison.”
I laugh and squeeze him harder. “You’ll consider prison as a vacation when Joe gets through with you.”
“Oh, think you’re funny, do you? Getting a little too much pleasure from my impending pain?”
When all I can do is laugh as a reply, Luke suddenly stands and carries me to the couch. Plunking me down on my back, he quickly covers my body with his. He holds my hands above my hand with one of his big hands, and his legs have my legs completely trapped. With a devilish grin, he threatens me.
“You know you have to pay for that now, don’t you?”
“What? Pay for it how? No, Luke!” I squeal as I see his other hand coming for my ribs and realize his intention.
For the next several minutes, it feels like we’ve found our way back to each other through a gigantic maze of obstacles. He tickles me relentlessly and I laugh hysterically. For a short time, we just have fun together and forget about everything else going on in our lives.
