Page 66 of Second Sets Omnibus

“You’ll stay?” I ask as the other two meander toward the door but look back with hopeful looks. Leaning down, I get eye level, staring into the abyss of her moss-green eyes.

Her nose wrinkles, and she nods. “I’m calling my ma and making sure she’s okay. Then, I’ll text Rion and get you a spot at the studio. But yeah, if everything is fine there, I’ll stay,” she says, blowing out a breath. “But don’t get used to it.” A slight grin picks up the edges of her lips, and I laugh.

“River Blue,” I murmur, leaning forward and pressing my lips to hers. “Be a good girl and stay here. I’ll reward you later.” I grin when her cheeks flush, and her eyes dilate wide, letting me know she will enjoy the reward I give her later.

Images of River coming to California with us rush through my mind. Us at the beach. Her at our concerts, egging us on from the sidelines. It’s a beautiful image of a beautiful future I can’t wait to explore.

As band practice continues, River slowly makes her way down and rests on the ratty old couch in the corner while playing on her phone. We each watch her with different intensity levels, but she seems to bring out the good in us. Our music gets heavier and better. A new song emerges from the flames of our fingers, and we dive into a new chapter of our lives.

One with River in it at our side.

Forever.

So,this is what suburban hell feels like. Hot sun. Barbecue roasting. Loud country music. And hoity-toity moms and dads looking down their noses at me when I pass by with a plate full of food in one hand, Kieran’s arm around my shoulders, and Rad on my tail as the latter talks a million miles a minute. Sometimes I don’t think he takes a breath to speak. Is he even human?

As we pass people, Rad loudly introduces me, without shame, to each and every person and lets them all know I’m his girlfriend. I’m constantly reminding the fucker that we’re not in a committed relationship. We’re—well, whatever we are. Fuck buddies? Having a fun time? I mean, the way he looks at me gives me butterflies. But still. Do we need an actual label to put on ourselves?

He seems to think so because he’s constantly reminding me that we are in a relationship—I just won’t admit it. In Rad’s mind, we’re probably married by now and have two kids and a white picket fence.

It’s only been five days since we rolled around on Rad’s bed and had some of the best sex of my life. Since then, we’ve taken advantage of our time together. Any chance I get, I’m at Rad’s, watching him and Callum play some game called Angel Warrior while doing my homework. I’m falling into a weird routine with them: they pick me up from home, take me to work, and then take me back. Every step of the way, they’re there. Always following me. Their faces are all I see, and I’m beginning to get used to it, halfway expecting them to be there every turn I make. Rad, Callum, or Kieran make an appearance every night outside my sliding glass door, begging to crawl into my bed. Some nights we rest together, but most nights, we have our wicked ways with each other until the sun comes up and I’m exhausted. It’s gotten to the point where I rarely lock the door, opting to leave it open for them to slip through.

“I can’t believe we’re going to be in a recording studio in a month,” Kieran murmurs with a grin, squeezing my shoulder with happiness.

Wednesday, the one day a week I make it on campus for classes, I signed the boys up for a recording session after talking to the guy in charge. Come October first, they’ll be nestled away in the recording studio, making their dreams come true. And mine. The more I’ve thought about it, the more excited I get for the adventure to California with the guys to watch them perform.

Come December, I'll be walking the cold beaches and shivering in the waves. Something I've always dreamed of. You crave change when you've lived almost your whole life in one town surrounded by bean and corn fields with no ocean in sight. I want to breathe in the salty waters and watch as the waves crash down. I want to walk the beaches without any stress.

And maybe… just maybe, I'll find my father and brothers, too. It can't hurt, right? They may have forgotten about me forthe past nineteen years, but I haven't forgotten them, even after all the rejected letters I received. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I’ll know for sure when I meet them face to face.

“Yeah, and my only reward for being such a big help is these ribs and wings,” I quip with a grin, nudging playfully into Kieran’s ribs as he chuckles at me.

My mouth waters at the sight of the delicious barbecue ribs and wings filling up my plate, and on cue, my stomach erupts with growls begging for the food. I haven’t had anything this good since my ma took me out for my birthday to the local buffet, where I ate anything and everything I wanted. And now is no exception. No matter the judgy eyes following me around and watching my every move. What do they think? That I’ll steal their TVs while they’re outside or something? Sheesh. They need to cool their jets. I’m no thief. I work for everything in my life. Just because I come from the other side of town means nothing. So, they can shove their judgmental glares and whispers up their tight assholes and go back to minding their own business. I’ve got food to demolish. Finally, we make it to a picnic table set up in the middle of the cul-de-sac, fit with a white tablecloth, salt, pepper, and even a fancy napkin holder set up in the middle.

The warm breeze blows through my hair as I watch the cookout in full swing and marvel at their dedication. They've literally blocked off the entrance to their block with police barricades and a sign that says, road closed to traffic. How they pulled that off, I'll never know.

People meander around, carrying plates. Their gossiping whispers and wandering eyes pierce through me, but I don't give a shit. I'm eating homemade ribs dripping with barbecue. And I'm in heaven. Screw their mean glares and noses in the air.

“K!” I raise a brow when a cute little girl throws her arms around Kieran, hugging him tightly and nearly knocking him over.

A marvelous smile lights up his face, chasing away any ounce of darkness bringing him down when he happily chuckles at her antics. He doesn’t hesitate, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her little body. When she pulls back, a huge grin lifts her lips.

“I didn’t know if you’d make it,” she says in a small voice, her big, blue eyes dancing around the cookout. “I thought maybe…”

“Nah! We made it, Cam,” he murmurs, straightening out her perfectly curled brown locks. “Cam, I want you to meet my girlfriend, River.” My heart pounds double time, nearly melting, when she turns to me and politely offers me her little hand. “River, this is my little sister, Camilla.”

“Nice to meet you,” she whispers, biting her lip when we firmly shake hands.

“Nice to meet you, too,” I say with my heart in my throat, watching the two of them interact with each other in such a loving way. With every word Camilla says with excitement, Kieran leans in and listens attentively. He doesn’t take his eyes off her until she skips away when her mother calls Camilla over to her.

“She seems sweet,” I mutter through another bite of food, nearly coming from the glorious taste hitting my buds. I swear, if the boys tasted half as good as these barbecue ribs and wings, I’d never leave them alone.

“She is,” Kieran mumbles, rubbing his chin as something odd sparks across his pensive face. Something darker brews between Kieran and his parents, judging by how his eyes narrow in on the man moving toward Camilla and her mother.

“You having fun yet, Pretty Girl?” Rad asks with a grin, putting an arm around my shoulders when he settles into the seat next to me with a big plate of food.

“You kidnapped me on my day off. I'm just here for the food,” I groan, ripping a bite off the ribs like a damn animal.

So. Damn. Good. Fuck what I thought about these assholes before. They can cook. Well, the people they hired can cook, that is. They've been milling around, filling the pots with more food in their white chef outfits. I swear I've seen the guy on TV somewhere. Probably one of those barbecue competition shows. Because damn, this is tasty food!