"Look over here," Jet cried as he lifted his shirt up, showing abs I didn't even know he possessed.
Jessie and Amy were giggling at the boys’ antics. I tried to stay focused on Van and Jet, but my mind kept wandering to the man sitting a couple of seats down from me. I heard Kill get up from his chair and all three of us turned and watched him as he made his way over to Van, who was flexing his biceps.
"Come on, D, let's show them how the JackholeS do the Fourth of July." Kill nodded his head at D.
D grudgingly got up and stood next to his bandmates. The boys were starting to get more attention than the parade. Spectators were now standing up and pointing at the boys as they tried to get the whole block to do the wave.
I let out a snort when their efforts failed miserably, because most people were too busy gawking at them.
"Maybe you guys should just join the parade," I told them.
"That's a great idea," Jet cried as he tried to pull the boys into the street in front of the YMCA float.
"She was kidding," D screamed pulling Jet back onto the sidewalk.
Amy got up and scrambled onto Jet's back, waving at the wide-eyed people. Jessie got up and settled into Amy's abandoned seat.
"You shouldn't have said that," Jessie hissed as we tried to hide our laughter. Kill and Van had their arms around Jet and Amy, looking like the most awkward group hug. D was shaking his head, shooting dirty looks at me while they talked Jet out of becoming a late parade entry.
After threatening to hogtie Jet, we finally wrestled him into D's Highlander, so we could go home to BBQ. I insisted, it was a tradition and wouldn't be the Fourth without the smell of charred meat.
Earlier in the week, I’d made the boys prepare the grill while I went shopping for a traditional Fourth of July feast. A smile peaked on my lips when I remembered Kill trying to sneak away with me. The boys had guilt-tripped him into staying and helping them with the chores. The forlorn expression on his face when he’d realized he was stuck at home was burned into my head.
My heart nearly exploded with happiness when I saw the work they’d put in on the backyard. I hadn’t spent much time back there since I’d moved in and I was shocked to see how much work they did in order to enhance my favorite holiday.
Not only had they washed all of the patio furniture, but they’d also strung twinkling lights around the EZ-ups, and decorated it in red, white, and blue.
“This is amazing; you guys did a great job,” I said when I walked out.
They puffed up, and Kill winked at me when nobody was looking. I went into the kitchen to get the girls, so they could see the transformation of the backyard. Kill stalked in as soon as they walked out.
His arms pulled me to him until my breath came out in a puff as we collided together. "Come here," he growled.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before words came out he kissed me intensely. My knees went weak as his tongue circled mine. He pushed me back until I was pressed against the kitchen counter. As soon as my back hit the hard surface, he let me go, leaving me in a daze. He smiled when I didn't move from the spot where he’d left me.
“Hey,” he said, his damned half smile on his face.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied back, not bothering to hide the breathlessness to my voice.
He started toward me again, but before he could reach me, D walked into the kitchen.
"Do you need any help with the food?" D asked. He looked at me, and heat rose up my cheeks. His hazel eyes took on a hint of disappointment, as if he knew what we’d been doing before he’d walked in. His long hair was pulled back into a man bun, giving me a unhindered view of his disapproval.
I shot him a small smile that didn't ease the look in his eyes.
"Here take this," Kill said as he pulled everything out of the fridge, handing what he couldn't carry to D.
I let out a sigh still leaning on the kitchen counter. D's warning still bounced around in my head. He was worried about me, and what would happen if Kill hurt me. Dread built inside me. I needed to figure out how to handle the situation I was in, soon. If I decided to try being with Kill, I somehow needed to reassure D—and myself—that I could handle anything that came along. D didn't want to be put in a situation where he had to choose between me and Kill, and I didn't want to choose between Kill and a hardened heart.
Kill and I had been getting along better than I’d expected. He was so attentive when we were locked inside my bedroom. We talked and laughed throughout the night until we were too exhausted to continue.
When I was alone with my thoughts, my brain would question our time together. Making me wonder if we were cramming all our information in, because we knew our time was limited. The way Kill talked, it seemed as though he was positive we were in it for the long run. When he mentioned the future, he always included me in all of his plans.
Anytime he brought up the future, my heart would spasm painfully. I wouldn't let my brain or heart accept anything he said. There wasn't a future with him, and all the plans he thought we were making were merely fantasies to me.
I didn't tell Kill I was going to let him go when the JackholeS were discovered, refusing to taint the time we had together. He might be angry at first, but in the end, he would thank me. A brand new rockstar didn't need to be saddled with a girlfriend, especially one with enough baggage to fill her own tour bus.
After stuffing ourselves with a feast of American classics, we left for the fireworks show. I bounced around in my seat during the whole drive. Kill laughed at my excitement.
