Brooke poked out her bottom lip in a mock pout. “So, you’re going to make me wait out here all by myself?”

“Make you wait? Ah…yeah. You could say that. But, it’s okay. You’re a big girl and I’ll be right back,” Sam said flashing a bright smile.

Brooke laughed softly, then agreed, “Okay, but hurry back.”

Sam winked as she got out of the car and shut the door. Before walking into the store, she turned back and leaned into the open window. “You don’t have any allergies, do you?” Sam inquired.

Brooke arched one eyebrow at the question; her curiosity peaked at the surprise Sam had been plotting. “Just one.”

“And that is…?” Sam asked.

“Surprises,” Brooke answered with a smile. “No, Sam…no allergies.”

Sam shook her head as she laughed at her date. “What am I going to do with you?” Before Brooke could answer, Sam added, “Don’t answer that,” she cautioned then winked and turned away from the window.

“I can think of a few things,” Brooke whispered under her breath, thinking the younger girl wouldn’t hear her but she did, and smiled to herself as she walked into the store.

Brooke turned the key in the ignition, killing the engine, then searched through the radio stations, not particularly pleased with anything she was hearing. Finally she settled on a station that was playing blocks of music from the same artists before moving on to the next. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the headrest as she waited for Sam to return when the DJ’s voice broke into the end of the song.

“And next we have a band that shot to the top of the charts over six years ago, only to breakup a short three years later when many believe they hadn’t even reached their prime. I’m talking about singer and guitarist, James Anderson; bass player, Peter Butler; and drummer, Brooke Loran. Otherwise known as, Anti-Zero. We hear that James and Peter are working on a new project together and we wish them luck. As for the mysterious Loran, no one knows exactly what she has been up to as of late, so the bombshell drummer remains just that, a mystery. Here’s the first song in our Anti-Zero block, Inside Your Head.”

Brooke opened her eyes at the first mention of the band, her head cocked to hear more. Full of mixed emotions, she listened to the familiar lyrics that she had written on the tour bus late one night. This song was all hers. Not like the majority of them where she had always written the lyrics while James wrote the music.

“Going crazy, caffeine hazy. Gonna watch TV all day, crash computer say: Superstar love, one I dream of. Could I be a millionaire? Would you even care?

Would you tell the truth of all the things inside your head? Would you lay it down, the secrets kept inside your head? If there’s gonna be time makes you and me never to fall down.

Am I jaded? Confiscated? Could I be a VH1 Hollywood movie son? Off the Love Line, she’s got my mind… Do I have a fighting chance? Can I really dance?

Would you tell the truth of all the things inside your head? Would you lay it down, the secrets kept inside your head? If there’s gonna be time makes you and me never to fall down.

You’ve got me all tied up. You rock me. All fired up.

Would you tell the truth of all the things inside your head? Would you lay it down, the secrets kept inside your head? Would you tell the truth of all the things inside your head? Would you lay it down, the secrets kept inside your head? If there’s gonna be time makes you and me never to fall down.”

Other than re-mixing the one song a few nights earlier, she hadn’t heard any of those songs since the last night she had played them on stage. She reached for the controls to turn off the radio all together but was distracted from her task when Sam reappeared with two grocery bags, rolled tightly shut.

“Okay. I’ve got everything we’ll need for tonight,” Sam stated as she sat down, placing the bags between her feet and clipping her seatbelt into place.

“Great.” Brooke turned the volume down on the radio when Sam stopped her.

“Hey, you don’t have to turn that down. Not that music.”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot that you liked them,” Brooke pulled her hand back from the knob and started the car instead.

Sam smiled, then closed her eyes. Her shoulders began to move as she picked up the rhythm of the song. It amazed Brooke to see the blonde getting into her music.

“That song always puts me in a good mood,” Sam stated as the song ended and the next song started. “Great. Anti-Zero, my favorite.”

“Yeah, it’s not bad,” Brooke added as she turned down a long private driveway.

Sam had begun to sing along with the radio and before long, Brooke found it contagious, joining in as well, singing the harmony she had recorded years ago.

Sam listened carefully with her eyes closed, wondering why she couldn’t distinguish Brooke’s voice from any of the others on the song. Maybe she’s just not singing loud enough, she finally resolved, opening her eyes to see the house as they slowly approached it. “Are we there already?”

“Yep. This is it,” Brooke answered as she pulled up in front of it and parked.

“Wow! No wonder C.C. never told me about it. I wouldn’t know how to describe it either.” Sam’s eyes roamed the exterior of the house.

Brooke smiled as she climbed out of the driver’s side door and walked around to open Sam’s door. “Well, let’s go.”

Sam got out of the car and turned around in a circle as she looked over the house and the land surrounding it. “Is all of this yours?”

Brooke walked up the steps to the front door to unlock it. “Yep. I made some wise investments a few years ago.”

“Obviously. But, I mean…you don’t have any roommates or anything?”

“Nope, just me and Mario. Speaking of which…” Brooke opened the door and whistled for the black and white husky.

“So, when do I get to meet this…oomph…” Sam found herself flat on her back as the large ball of fur proceeded to lick her face. “… Mario?”

Brooke laughed at the antics of her dog as she reached down to help Sam to her feet. “Sam, meet Mario. Mario, behave.”

Sam reached down to pet the dog. “You know, a simple handshake would have done just fine. You’re just a big mush ball like your Mommy, aren’t you?” the blonde gazed up at Brooke as the dog paid attention to her every word.

Brooke reached down and began to pet Mario as well. “You know, I was just thinking, that wasn’t quite what I thought you meant when you said you had a kiss for ‘Auntie’ when you came to the car. I think Mario got more than me.”

Sam blushed, slightly. “It wasn’t, huh?”

“Sam, why are you blushing?” Brooke asked as she tilted her head to the side.

“I was just thinking that I wished you had met me the way we talked about.”

Brooke smiled and walked over to Sam, sweeping her up into the tall woman’s arms. “What…this way?” Brooke asked, then kissed Sam.

Shocked, Sam pulled her head back. ” You’re reading my mind. Yeah, that way,” she answered, returning the kiss.

“Guess what?” Brooke withdrew from their kiss, placing her forehead against Sam’s. “Your feet are dangling.”

Sam looked down; it was true, her feet were dangling. You are going to be in so much trouble soon if you don’t stop. “So they are,” Sam commented before kissing Brooke one last time on the cheek, then eased out of Brooke’s arms to stand back on her own two feet.

Looking up at Brooke, she saw that bottom lip poked out in a pout once again. “There you go again with that lip.” Sam pointed out as Brooke nodded her head in agreement. “Do you always get your way?”

“Nope. Never,” Brooke answered.

“Good, ’cause you’re not going to now, either. Show me where I can put these groceries.”

Brooke smiled down at her companion and held a hand out for her to take. “Come on.”

“Okay… Ah, let me just get these bags.”

“Need any help?” Brooke offered. “I promise I won’t look.”

“I don’t know. Can I trust you?” Sam asked as Brooke knelt down until she was eye level with the shorter blonde.

“You tell me.”

Sam tilted her head in thought even though she didn’t need to. The answer to Brooke’s question was a simple and quick, “Yes.” Regardless, she couldn’t help tweaking the older woman. “Yeah. You look harmless enough.” She leaned forward and kissed Brooke on her chin.

Brooke smiled as she grabbed the bags from Sam so the younger girl could carry her overnight bag. “Come on, I’ll give you the nickel tour of the place.”

Making their way to the kitchen, Sam smiled and winked at Brooke as she turned the taller woman around, pushing her gently back out into the hall. “Just give me a minute to put everything away.”

Brooke rolled her eyes but grinned anyway. “Oh, all right. Come on, Mario. We know when we’re not wanted.”

Losing no time, she started putting away the groceries, the young woman could hear Brooke running up and down the hall with the dog like a child. God, how can I not love her? Sam stopped what she was doing, to give full attention to her thoughts. Did I just say love?

The blonde shook her head then finished, walking out the doorway to join Brooke in the hallway where she wrapped her arms around the tall woman’s waist from behind. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Brooke turned around in Sam’s arms and raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you?”

Sam blushed slightly at the teasing, “But, of course. After you.” She held her hand out for Brooke to show her around.

Grabbing the overnight bag, Brooke toured her around the first floor of the house, then proceeded to climb the spiral stairs to the second level.