Uncovering You: The Complete Series (Mega Box Set) (232 page)

And just like that, Spencer starts to play.

He does not make the song his own, as Monica did. He does something much greater.

He makes the words his own.

Anyone can take a famous song and perform an artful cover. All that takes is talent and practice.

It takes more to do what Spencer does. He does not merely sing. He lays his soul out in the open with every beautiful line, each wonderful lyric. The harmony of his voice blends with the sweet music of Irene’s guitar, creating an intoxicating swell that lifts the spirits of the crowd.

Rescue me from the mire,

Whisper words of desire,

Rescue me, darling rescue me.

The song pierces deep inside of us because we know it comes from deep inside of him. The first verse goes by in a daze. Then comes the chorus. The chorus is where I get the sense I am witnessing true magnificence.

Do I have to say the words?

Do I have to tell the truth?

Do I have to shout it out?

Do I have to say a prayer?

Must I prove to you, how good we are together?

Do I have to say the words?

To match Spencer’s performance, there has to be a reason. A cause. The hint of reward that might come after taking so great a risk.

…I never needed anyone, like I’m needing you today…

That line reveals it to me. Now, I understand. I understand what drives him. I understand that the arranged words are so perfect that they might have been lifted from the depths of his soul.

He is not just singing. He is giving us a glimpse of his heart.

The distinction is almost imperceptible. Few will know his performance for what it really is. Few will sense the richer, more subtle layer hidden beneath the words.

The people around me will not know. It is through no fault of theirs. It does not mean they are immune to Spencer’s spell. All it means is that the song is not for them.

It’s for me.

Come to me,

Darling rescue me…

Spencer’s voice fades into a hollow silence. No one dares draw breath. No one dares be the first to break the spell.

This is a magic moment. It is almost as if, for a long, drawn out second, the entire outside world ceases to exist. And all that we know is the sweet aftertaste of Spencer’s golden melody. The first impression of a memory being formed, like the spots in your vision when you close your eyes after looking at the sun.

Next comes the applause. It’s just a trickle at first, from the few intrepid souls brave enough to venture back to reality. But it builds. Oh, how it builds. Soon, everyone in the audience is clapping. More enthusiastic members pound fists on tables or stand and stomp their feet. The very foundation of the building shakes. The sound overtakes the room like a rolling thunderstorm overtakes a parched desert.

The moment flutters away. Spencer looks up. And his eyes find me.

Let me say this. It was worth the whole uncomfortable experience in his bedroom just to be here tonight. It was worth every doubt, every awful insecurity. It was worth fear and uncertainty, shame and apprehension, just to feel my first tiny sting of love.

I doubt even I recognized it for what it was at first. But when Spencer’s eyes met mine, and he looked at me—at me, really
at
me—and took all of me in… I felt something change between us.

It was not bold. It was not dramatic. It was nothing like the crash of a wave on a pristine shore. It was not a thunderbolt.

It was more like the first spark of a match, just before the flame catches. It was the bit of necessary friction that is impossible to quantify but equally impossible to deny.

It was the first wisp of enchantment.

Charlie claps Spencer on the shoulder. People stand to give Spencer the ovation he deserves. And my line of sight is broken.

I jump and cheer, stunned by my exuberance and reveling in the unfamiliar feeling in my heart. I’m shorter than the people in front of me, so even though I’m standing, all I catch are glimpses of an excited circle clamoring around Spencer as he walks off stage.

My chest swells with pride. This is undoubtedly Spencer’s moment. But the fact that I contributed to it, in some little way, appeals to my vanity.

I see Charlie get on stage and hold his hands up to calm everyone down. The swell of energy that’s surging through the crowd is hard to control. Irene pulls Charlie down, saying something in his ear. He laughs. If I were a betting woman, I’d say she told him to wait out the storm.

I notice a ripple in the crowd coming toward me. When I look, I see Spencer squeezing his way through. Everybody wants congratulate him. He indulges a few of his new fans, smiling apologetically at me as he does it. I laugh and wave, motioning for him to take his time.

Eventually, Spencer nears me. It’s about the same time that Charlie retakes the stage. The excitement in the room has subsided a bit. Charlie starts speaking into the mic. His words are lost on me as I am consumed by the magnificent man reaching my side.

I jump and throw my arms around his neck as soon as he’s close enough. Spencer’s hands go on my waist, and he spins us around. As Charlie invites the performers back on stage, Spencer whispers in my ear, “You want to get out of here?”

I nod eagerly. He takes my hand and leads me out. His fingers feel warm and strong wrapped around my palm.

Spencer opens the doors into the night. We step into the cool air, leaving the noise of the café behind us.

I have so many things I want to say. How sorry I am for getting him wrong this whole time. How amazed I am at his sublime talent.

And, most of all, how close he is to stealing my heart.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“You’re awfully quiet,” Spencer notes as we walk down the street, swinging my hand. “What’s up?”

What’s up?
Only that I had the most soul-rending performance I’ve ever witness dedicated to me by a near perfect specimen of masculine sexiness, that’s what.

No big deal, Paige.

“Spencer, that was…” I trail off, shaking my head. “I can’t even think of the right word. Amazing. Astounding.
Perfect
.”

He turns to me with a slanted smile. “I take it you liked it?”

“Liked it? It was more than that! You were magnificent up there. When you started playing that first song, I thought I’d sent you to your grave. I would have died of embarrassment if I could only play something as weak as that. But that was all part of your plan, wasn’t it? You sly devil. You had me worried!”

Spencer laughs it off. “Nah. I didn’t want you worried. I was just going for a bit of surprise.”

“Well, you fooled me.” I grin. “And what’s up with all the false modesty, Spencer? You know you’re great. Why pretend you’re not?”

“You’re giving me too much credit, Paige.” He sounds very thoughtful as he directs us to a wooden bench under the glow of a streetlamp. “It was only a song.”

“No, Spencer. What you did was amazing. You held nothing back. I would have never thought you had it in you.”

“I guess we all have our little surprises, huh?”

“Or plain, God-given talent,” I say. “And the way the crowd reacted when Charlie announced your name. They knew you from before.”

He shrugs. “Some of them probably just recognized my name.” He turns to me and flashes a little smile. “I remember what you said about my
reputation
.”

I shake my head. “It wasn’t that. They knew you from the café. You said you stopped playing. Why?”

Spencer exhales and stretches his arms out. “That’s a long story. The short of it is, that’s not my scene anymore.”

“But,
why
?” I ask. “You’re so good. Remember what Charlie said about the first girl who went up? All of that applies to you, but like, ten-fold.”

Spencer shakes his head. “You’re very flattering tonight. What happened to the girl who couldn’t look at me without grimacing?”

I stick my tongue out at him. “She’s still here,” I joke, “if that’s what you prefer.”

Spencer laughs. “No, no. I like this version of you much better.” He puts an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s just not get carried away, hmm? Tonight was basically… a one-off thing.”

I push away and look him in the eyes. “How can you say that?” I demand. “You have this great gift. To deny it from the world—”

“What if I don’t want to share it?” Spencer snaps. “What if I want to keep it hidden? What if just
don’t want to play
?”

I shy back, startled at the outburst. “I didn’t know it was such a hot button topic for you.”

Spencer sighs. He turns to face me again. “No. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten angry.” He reaches out to take my hands and holds them between us. His fingers run over my knuckles as he talks. “I’m sorry. You just—you don’t know anything about me, but still, somehow, against all logic, you see the good in me. And I don’t think I deserve it. Not from you.”

His face is pained when he looks up at me. “I want you to know my story. But I’m afraid it will scare you away.” His fingers tighten around mine. “And I’m a greedy bastard. I want to keep you close to me for as long as I can.”

My hearts swells in my chest. I think I am about as close as I can get to falling in love in one night.

“There’s nothing you have to hide from me, Spencer. I have secrets, too.” It feels strangely liberating to say the words. “I won’t push you to reveal anything you don’t want. I know first-hand how delicate trust can be. How much courage it takes to trust another person.”
How much courage it takes to love another person
. “We’ve had our share of bumps on the road, you and I, but I think we’re getting there.”

Spencer looks at me without answering. A comfortable silence settles between us.

When I first arrived on campus, I thought a moment like this would only be possible with Andrew. And only months after we’d passed our self-imposed relationship embargo.

Maybe I never had real chemistry with Andrew. Maybe that’s why, in the span of a week, I’ve gone from being disgusted around Spencer to feeling completely at ease around him.

Maybe
this
is true chemistry.

“You are too precious,” Spencer whispers softly. “I don’t deserve you so close to me.”

I turn to look at him. I’m captivated by the way the light reflects off his stunning gray pupils, framed by those long, dark lashes. “This is where I want to be,” I breathe.

A small, secretive, seductive smile forms on his lips. He leans toward me.

My lips part in anticipation and I close my eyes.

His lips touch mine. It’s like a brush of silk against my skin. Soft and gentle. Light and sweet. Cool like the crispness of the night, yet warm like a cottony dream.

It lasts only a fraction of a second. Spencer pulls back, smiling. I sigh, relishing the remnants of his taste.

He takes my hand. “Can I walk you home?”

“Yes,” I smile. “I’d like that.”

There is something wonderful in the air tonight. Spencer told me before that he wants to show me his world.

I think this is it.

It is not the world I expected. It has nothing to do with his on-campus persona, his tattoos, or his bike.

It’s deeper and more substantial than that. Tonight, Spencer showed me a side of himself that he keeps carefully hidden. It’s layered far beneath the cocoon of indifference he displays to the outside world.

I spoke earlier of trust. I meant what I said. I really think that he and I are getting there. I trust Spencer more than any other person I know, except maybe Katy. And he trusts me enough to show me who he really is, without pretense or insincerity.

That means everything to me.

“Can I ask you something?” I say as we stroll arm-in-arm down the street.

“Of course.”

“It’s kind of personal. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Uh oh.” Spencer eyes me warily. “I have a feeling this is one of those tests you girls love so much.”

“No test, I promise,” I assure him. “And I won’t freak out based on what you tell me, either.”

“Now you’re making me apprehensive,” he jokes. “But I’m curious what you want to know. Shoot.”

“Okay.” I gaze up at him. “I’m just trying to understand you better.” I take a deep breath. “Here goes: Have you ever been in love?”

“Oh.” Spencer looks away, and we walk a few steps together without him answering. Then he sighs and says, “Yes. Only once. A long time ago.”

I don’t want to delve too deeply into his past, but I have to know this. “How long?”

“When I was eighteen.”

We walk quietly for few moments. He’s been honest with me. I decide I should be honest with him, too.