42. Ford
Ford
Well, he hadn’t meant to kiss her in front of a pub full of people, or announce that they were married. But once his arms were wrapped around her, all he’d been able to think about was: what if she’d got hurt?
He needed to protect her.
He needed her to be by his side.
And in that moment, he'd forgotten completely about all the eyes on them; kissing her had seemed as necessary as breathing.
As the last song drew to an end, he surveyed the packed pub. It had been a long time since he’d been this close to people, and not up on a stage, somewhere untouchable.
He liked this.
He wanted to do this more.
“Okay, everyone. That’s it for us. We’ve played every song I can remember.
I’ve messed up more lyrics than I can count and made you guys sing a few when I couldn’t remember them at all,” Ford said with a laugh.
“And as long as the Landlord is happy, we’re going to hang out for a while and sign anything you guys want. ”
A cheer rippled through the pub, and Ford saw Donnie appear out of the staff room with a box full of posters, weaving his way around the tables, handing them out to anyone who wanted one.
Ford’s gaze left the audience and snagged on Sie. She was flushed, her glasses were steamed up, and she was grinning, her brilliant blue eyes dancing with happiness.
Ford strolled over to her, lifted her guitar off—placing it onto the stand—grabbed her hand and yanked her towards him until she was pressed against his chest.
“How are you feeling?” He smiled down at her.
“Fantastic.” Sie grinned back up.
Ford bent his head and kissed her. Smirking against her lips when he heard Sie’s friends whoop. He pulled away and said, “It’s been an eventful evening.”
“It has.” Sie chewed on her lip, suddenly looking nervous. “I need to ask you something.”
A frown tugged at her eyebrows—one that Ford was tempted to reach out and smooth away—but he didn’t, wanting her to tell him what she needed without him distracting her.
“Yeah?” he prompted.
“Where do we go from here?” Her eyes darted between his.
Ford shrugged. “You let me move in with you.”
He said it so casually that Sie didn’t seem to catch his words. “What now?”
He grinned and couldn’t stop himself from dropping a brief kiss on her lips. “Now I have you back, I’m not letting you go again.”
“You want to move into my small townhouse?”
“Yup.”
“But it’s tiny, you’ve lived in bigger hotel rooms.”
Ford shrugged again. “Sie, wherever you are. That’s my home.”
Sie swallowed, and tears gathered in her eyes. “Yes. I want you to move in.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s settled. Let’s go and meet the fans.” He stepped away and caught hold of her hand, giving it a gentle tug when she didn’t follow him.
“You guys go. They won’t want to meet me.” Sie tried to pull free.
“Nope. You wrote most of the songs, and you’ve always been a band member… even if we didn’t know it. They’ll want to meet you.” He tugged harder, and she went without any more protest.
He led her over to the table of her friends, gently nudging her forward. They were interested in her, not him. Except for one man, who gazed at Ford with a dropped jaw.
Ford stared at him for a moment, then took a guess. “George?”
This must be the husband who wouldn’t leave the house until he collected all his Midnight Thunder memorabilia. The expression on his face was one that Ford saw on a lot of superfans.
George nodded, and Ford held his hand out. “I’m Ford. I hear we’re coming to your house tomorrow to sign some things?”
George nodded again, still unable to speak, and he didn’t make any move to take Ford’s hand.
“Oh, my god. Has he gone mute?” Sadie pulled out of the hug she’d just given Sie and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah. It appears he has,” Ford chuckled.
“George, darling. You’re friends with Taylor Anderson. How has your brain exploded now? I am so sorry, Ford. Usually he’s really intelligent and funny.”
“That’s alright. It’s tough meeting someone you never thought you would.” Ford couldn’t help it; his eyes strayed to Sie, the woman he thought he would never meet again.
“Yes, but this is bad.” Sadie waved her hand in front of her husband’s face. When he didn’t respond, she rolled her eyes. “George, say anything so we know you haven’t had a stroke.”
“Hi,” George croaked out. Then he stared for a while longer before managing to say, “Ford.”
Sadie grabbed her frozen husband’s hand and lifted it up so he could shake Ford’s. The other man’s paralysis lasted for ten more seconds, then finally broke.
George cleared his throat. “I am so sorry. That’s embarrassing.”
Ford clapped him on the back. “It’s all good, mate. Although you’ll have to get used to me, as I figure you’ll be seeing a lot more of me, as I’m moving in with my wife.”
“I mean, I guessed that from the way you two behaved on stage,” Sadie said, wiggling her eyebrows at Sie, who flushed, then giggled and snuggled into Ford’s side.
He looped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.
“I would say you two are disgusting. But I hang out with Clara and Taylor.” Sadie shuddered. “I swear I’ve needed eyeball bleach a couple of times with the way they carry on.”
“Yup,” Sie said happily from her position under his arm.