AllFreeNovel
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I was proud of my best friend. He was done walking on eggshells, but his journey was far from over. Max was a small hurdle compared to the fight he’s up against now. Cleo isn’t going to make this easy for him.
“Where’d you go?” Scarlet asks, running her hands up my chest.
She’s managed to shimmy out of her dress while I was lost in my own thoughts, and she’s standing in front of me in only a pair of black heels and a thong that matches.
“I was just thinking about the night he called me and everything that went down at the gala.”
“You mean Kane and Cleo?”
I haven’t shared Kane’s revelations with Scarlet. Not because I don’t trust her to keep it to herself, but because it’s not my story to tell. Eventually the truth will come out, when they’re ready. It always does.
Look at us. Our truth was staring us in the face. Our love was there all these years, and we hid it from everyone around us. From the people who knew us best. From each other.
But the second we were forced to face it, the truth was all we could see.
From the moment I first laid eyes on Scarlet, I knew I would love her for the rest of my life. Well, I wanted to try at least. And that path is brightly lit. She’s by my side now, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. No one else I’d rather traverse this crazy life with. Endure the ups and downs with. Celebrate the highs with.
Scarlet is it for me.
“I love you,” I blurt out. Not because I want to change the subject, but because I can’t hold the words back any longer. I’ve said it before, but not directly to her. Not in this way. Not as a confession from my heart.
“I love you too, caveman,” she replies, pressing up on her tiptoes as she pulls my face down to hers. Our lips connect, and I forget all about my meeting tonight. I forget about Kane and Cleo. I can’t focus on anything other than the way Scarlet feels in my arms.
Kissing my way down the side of Scarlet’s neck, I’m confused when she steps out of my embrace.
“Before I let you ravish me, which we both know you’re going to do until I scream your name so the entire house can hear…” Scarlet winks at me as her face lights up. “I want you to call the guys. You need to talk to them, explain the offer, and give them time to digest it, to think it over.”
“And you’re going to what? Sit here naked while I stare at you? I’m not going to be able to focus.”
Slowly backing away from me, Scarlet toes off her heels, pulls back the covers on my bed, slipping underneath and tucking them under her chin. Successfully covering every tempting inch of skin.
“Make the call. Make it quick.”
Shaking my head at her, I pull my phone from my back pocket and dial Ace’s number. He picks up after the first ring, and I immediately have him add Nash to the call.
“Why the fuck are we on a conference call this late on a Sunday? Some of us have to work in the morning,” he growls.
“And some of us have class,” I counter. “But this couldn’t wait.”
“Good news?” Ace asks, his voice filled with hope.
“Well, that depends how you look at it…”
Before they can interject, I launch into the details of my meeting with Darrien. His offer to have us travel with them on the next leg of their tour so we can write music together. The numbers aren’t as flashy as the opportunity itself, but we’d still be making more than our weekly gig at BJ’s.
“There’s still a lot of details to work out, but before any decisions were made or contracts were drawn up, I told him I needed to talk to you guys.”
“About what?” Ace asks, laughing. “When Seven Underground asks you to jump on their tour bus to write music with themandthey offer to pay you, you say yes. You don’t hesitate.”
“Well, I did. You know how I feel about us all being treated as equals.”
“Yet you went to a meeting without us,” Nash says. He’s been quiet most of the call, a clear indication he’s not happy with me. As long as he says yes, I don’t honestly give a shit. The more I think about it, the more I want to jump on that tour bus.
“I did. He asked to meet with me alone. Nothing would have been decided tonight anyway. I get that you want me to apologize, but I’m not going to. Like Ace said, when Darrien asks, you jump. And I’d like to jump at this opportunity … with or without you.”
My position is clear as the line goes silent. I’ve made my decision, and when I look over at Scarlet, she’s beaming with pride.
“I’m in,” Nash finally says.
