Chapter Twenty-Nine #3
Sheri felt a warm bloom of pleasure spread through her chest. She smiled, slow and real.
“Good,” she said. “It’s a date, then.”
Mitty’s grin was wide and a little boyish, like he couldn’t quite believe his luck. “Yeah. It’s a date.”
He went back to folding tank tops beside her, but the energy between them had shifted, become lighter, full of possibility. Sheri found herself humming along with the distant sound of the band members laughing and warming up onstage, heart beating just a little faster than before.
Tonight was going to be a good one.
For more reasons than one.
***
Mitty
The show had been electric.
Marie’s was packed wall-to-wall, the crowd singing along to every new song like they’d known them for years.
The new merch flew off the tables. Sheri had been a force of nature behind the booth, charming fans and moving product with effortless skill.
By the end of the night, they were nearly sold out of everything.
Now, at 2:17 a.m., Mitty sat across from her in a corner booth at the twenty-four-hour diner a few blocks from the venue. Plates of pancakes and eggs sat mostly untouched between them while they talked—really talked.
Sheri was easy to have a conversation with.
She was funny, sharp, and genuinely interested.
She asked about how he’d gotten into playing, about the early days with OY, about what it was like watching the band find its stride.
Mitty found himself opening up more than he usually did, telling her about the chaotic months before Vic joined, about how good it felt to finally have a solid crew.
He couldn’t stop looking at her.
At some point between the second cup of coffee and her laughing at one of his dumb road stories, he worked up the nerve.
“So...I’m staying at the hotel a couple of blocks over tonight,” he said, trying to sound casual even though his heart was hammering.
“OY’s based out of Fort Wayne now, but I haven’t found an apartment yet.
Sometimes I crash at a RWMC member’s place, Bear.
I’m still living out of suitcases half the time.
” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you want to come back with me? No pressure. Just...I don’t want the night to end yet. ”
Sheri’s eyes met his across the table. She didn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” she said simply, smiling. “I’d like that.”
***
The second the hotel room door clicked shut behind them, Sheri turned and offered her mouth.
Mitty kissed her like he’d been starving for it all night.
It was hot, sweet, and fierce all at once.
Hands roaming, clothes hitting the floor in a messy trail from the door to the bed.
Sheri boldly pulled him down on top of her with a soft laugh that turned into a moan when he found the right spot on her neck.
They moved together like they’d been doing this for years—urgent but attentive, learning each other with every touch.
When he finally sank into her, deep and slow, Sheri arched beneath him with a breathless sound that wrecked him.
They found a rhythm that felt instinctive, building faster and harder until they were both gasping, chasing release.
She came first, nails digging into his back, his name on her lips.
Mitty followed right after, burying his face in her neck as pleasure crashed through him.
They collapsed together, sweaty and tangled, breathing hard.
Mitty rolled to the side but kept her close, trailing his fingers slowly up and down her bare torso. Goose bumps rose in the wake of his reverent touch.
“So,” he murmured after a while, voice husky. “Divorced? Or stubbornly single?”
Sheri let out a soft laugh. “Yeah. Divorced for several years now. You?”
“Same. Few years back.” He traced a circle around her navel. “No one currently?”
“No one,” she confirmed, turning her head to look at him. “You?”
Mitty shook his head. “No. Been too busy with the band.” He smiled, a little shy. “Until tonight, anyway.”
Sheri’s expression softened. “I might have to chase OY around for a while, working merch. If that’s okay with you.”
Mitty’s grin spread slow and wide. “That sounds really good to me.”
They were still smiling at each other when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Sheri reached over lazily and checked the screen.
“It’s Vic,” she said, amused. She read the text out loud: “Breakfast tomorrow? My treat. Want to introduce you to the rest of the crew properly.”
Sheri typed quickly, then showed Mitty the reply: *Only if Mitty’s invited too.*
The phone started ringing in her hand almost immediately.
They both burst out laughing. Sheri answered on speaker.
“You move fast, Montrose,” she said, still laughing.
Vic’s voice came through, warm and teasing. “Just making sure my two favorite people get along. Breakfast at nine? Bring Mitty.”
Mitty leaned closer to the phone, grinning. “I’ll be there.”
They hung up, still chuckling. Sheri set the phone aside and rolled back into his arms.
Mitty pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Best night in a long time.