“We’ll be right back.” Jax grinned down at me before they disappeared into the crowd.
“I love that you’re dating a rockstar.” Ella sighed. “I could get used to hot men waiting on me and bringing me boozy cocoa.”
“We’re not dating,” I insisted. “We’re friends.”
“Friends.” Ella rolled her eyes, a slight smile playing across her lips. “Right.”
“What?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“You keep telling yourself that,” Ella sang, turning to watch the band. I opened my mouth to say something to try to refute her, but every reason I could up with seemed weak, even to me.
The band was playing bluegrass covers of popular songs. They’d covered The Beatles, Lady Gaga, and The Backstreet Boys by the time the guys returned with the drinks.
“I’ve got hot cocoa for Grace and a Monster Smashed for you, Ella.” Cash handed Ella her cup, and Brady gave Grace hers as they returned to their seats.
“A Monster Smashed?” Ella laughed.
Cash cocked his head. “Let’s just say, I’m glad you took an Uber here.”
Dallas sat and took a long pull from his cup. He grimaced. “I got a Hot Toddy, and it tastes more like whiskey that’s been set on fire.” He coughed into his elbow.
Jax settled next to me, handing me my drink. “And Jack-O-Lattes for us, which is their fancy term for an Irish Coffee.”
“Yum.” I took a sip, savoring the warmth of the styrofoam cup in my hands.
“We should see if we can get the band to sing an early birthday song for Aunt Livvie.” Grace grinned mischievously.
“Absolutely not,” I laughed. “I’m perfectly content with bluegrass Backstreet Boys. It’s the version of ‘I Want It That Way’ I never knew I needed.”
“Wait a minute,” Cash said. “It’s almost your birthday?”
I nodded, but Jax answered for me. “On the 17th.”
Dallas beamed. “We need to—”
“Excuse me,” a voice said from above us, “but are you Jaxon Slade and Dallas Stone?”
We looked up to see two girls, who couldn’t have been much older than Grace, staring eagerly down at the guys. One had colorful mermaid hair, and the other could have easily been Jessica Rabbit’s sister.
Brady’s posture hardened immediately, his arms crossing over his chest as though he were ready to jump into bouncer mode.
Jax laughed but stiffened slightly. “Yeah, we are.”
“Are Luca and Derek here too?” The mermaid girl’s eyes widened.
“No,” Dallas said. “It’s just us, I’m afraid. They had something else going on today.”
“Can we take a picture with you guys?” Jessica Rabbit’s sister asked.
“Sure,” Jax said, giving me a sympathetic smile as he and Dallas stood to take a picture with their waiting fans.
I felt my body tense as I watched Dallas and Jax interact with the two girls. Jax’s idea to start our own duo ping-ponged in my mind. As much as I wanted a career in music, I wasn’t sure this was something I could get used to.
“Thank you so much,” the mermaid girl gushed as Jax and Dallas sat.
“Are you guys famous too?” Jessica Rabbit’s sister looked at me, Grace, and Ella expectantly.
A feeling of unease bloomed in my chest. A meet and greet was one thing, but I wasn’t so sure I was ready for people to approach me out in the wild. I liked my privacy and being able to do something as simple as enjoying a day out with friends without being scrutinized. Ella furrowed her brows with concern in my direction, clearly in tune with my nervousness.
