Bea & the Broken Record

Chapter 29: Move Along, Move Along

It was like a dream, except it was real.

"You were so amazing out there," an all-too familiar voice spoke from behind me. A smile so big spread across my face before I could even turn around. She walked slowly toward me, I could hear her footsteps stop right behind me. She wrapped her arms around my back and rested her head against my back.

"Ew, you're sweaty," she giggled, but didn't let go of me. I twisted around in her arms and hugged so tight I thought she would squeal, but she didn't; even if I was sweaty.

"I missed you and I love you," I whispers so no one else was a part of our moment. "But why are you here?"

Bea chuckled and leaned up to kiss me on the lips. It had been a week since I'd seen her. We called and video chatted everyday, but it didn't compete with real life.

"I missed you so much." Her voice was muffled due to it being stuck in my chest.

"Seriously, Bea. You didn't have to come here just to see me," I told her, taking her hand and leading her out the backstage door and onto a small platform that connected to a set of stairs to a parking lot.

"It's kind of a long story..." she trailed off. Bea wrapped her arms around my bicep and leaned her head against my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head softly.

"I have plenty of time," I told her, anxious to hear why she was all the way in New York instead of back home with her dad in Pennsylvania. Had she finally escaped? Was she getting the future she wanted? To be an artist and to be free from all her burdens like she should be?

She was a free spirit and she needed the space to act like one.

"Actually, my mom's here. She wants to have dinner with us. If you go - if you can - I'll explain everything after dinner. I promise." The tone of her voice confused me. It was a mix of worry and happiness. It was anxious like she was itching to tell me.

"Okay, yeah, I can go. What time and where? I can meet you guys there," I said, hopeful that she had good news.

"How does seven sound? The restaurant is a nice Chinese place in the middle of town. I don't remember the name, but do you know what I'm talking about?" Her eyes were hopeful as she searched mine. I smirked.

"I've been here for about a week..." I laughed. "And surprisingly, I do know where it's at. Peking?" I rested my hands on her hips and pulled her against me.

"Yes! That's the name of it!" She said excitedly.

"So I should dress nice?" I asked to make sure. Bea nodded her head and smiled at me, grinning from ear to ear. I leaned down and kissed her again, holding her cheek in my hand to hold her still. She was glowing with excitement and her body was bouncing from it, making me laugh while kissing her.

"I really want hear this news." Our lips were inches apart.

"You will, I promise." She snuck one more kiss onto my lips before opening the door to go back into the arena.

I smirked at her, reaching over her head to hold the door back for her as I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Ladies first." She laughed and walked inside, running to hug Ben who had called her name excitedly.

I adjusted my shirt collar one more time before walking out of my hotel room and down the elevator, not worrying about anything in the world except what was about to happen. It felt like I was having dinner with Bea's mother for the first time all over again.