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Rebel glances at me at the same time I look at him. We both grin before we announce at the same time, “Root.”
We both burst out laughing while everyone stares at us like we’ve lost our minds. Except Riot, because he gets it.
“Why is that funny?” Summer rests her jaw on her hand.
“Because when Rebel shot that movie in Australia a few years ago, I went to visit him. We went out on the Gold Coast and the women at the club kept coming up to us and asking us if we wanted a root. We had no idea what they were talking about.”
“No idea,” Rebel agrees. “Thought it was some kind of tea. Probably made with eucalyptus and other plant matter.”
“Yeah, so Rebel finally says yes and this girl led him out of the club, into a cab, and took him home. The minute they walk in the door she starts ripping off her clothes—”
“Which is when I hightailed it out of there,” Rebel adds. Even though that is not what happened, but fine, we’ll just gloss over my brother’s sex life for the sake of his love life.
“Turns out… wanna have a root is slang for wanna have sex. So yeah, you should be called Root, because clearly our brother wants to bang your brains out.”
“I…” Ro’s eyes widen.
She had to have known, but I guess the idea of a physical relationship is probably pretty scary for her these days. “Sorry, Ro. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s fine.” She gives my brother a coy look.
Riot takes it all in stride. Smooth as silk, he doesn’t miss a beat. “What happens between us happens on its own time.”
Summer gasps and her eyes light up as I take my seat back and snuggle up with Ivy. “Oh, you know what it should be.”
“What?” Ro asks.
Summer shakes her head. “Not yours. Sorry. Ivy and Rogue. Madd Love.”
“Damn, I actually like the sound of that,” I say as I lean my chin on Ivy’s shoulder. “Madd Love, baby, what do you think?”
“I like it. I’m just not ready yet. I want a little more time with just you and me.” She pulls my arm tighter around her like she feels bad about it. She doesn’t need to. I’m on board with the plan.
The conversation drifts to other topics. All the tension that had gathered around us earlier fades into the shadows. Of course it’s still there to be dealt with, but the decision not to let it rule the day is mutual. What happened isn’t going to change anything going forward. A little over two weeks from now everyone will be able to read about what that bastard did to Ro. My brother will be—if not a hero—hopefully forgiven in the eyes of the many.
“You want another drink?” I ask Ivy when mine runs out.
“Just a water.”
“Okay.” Once again we rearrange ourselves and she takes the seat so I can stand up.
As I’m collecting a bottle of water for Ivy, Kelsey Peterson steps out onto the deck, followed closely by Neil Travis.
The lanky dude stands behind the tiny chick with the half shaved hair and the biggest punk attitude we ever did come across, bar our own. Now she uses it to keep my brother and his band in line. Well, mostly in line. She’s definitely the brains behind the operation when the rest of them are out having fun.
Neil’s face is as pale as they come, juxtaposed with the kind of red-eyed look that really should have been handled with eye drops or shades. Luckily the mop of dark unruly waves he sports hangs in a way that obscures the obvious.
“I didn’t think you were coming.” I grin at Kelsey as I straighten. “Do you want one of these or is it going to be like old times?”
She shakes her head and groans. “That was one time. One. I haven’t drunk like that since I was sixteen.”
“Water it is.” I grab another bottle. Neil is already making a run at the scotch. Nobody will ever say that man does anything in moderation. Bianca dated him once. It was a disaster.
“Maybe I will have a drink.” Kelsey folds her arms over her chest and narrows her gaze on something behind me. One glance over my shoulder gives me a perfect view of Riot with his face nuzzled up against Ro’s ear.
“Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.” I tip my head in the direction of the table. “We can fill you a glass at the same time.”
“You want to introduce me to someone?” Her eyelashes are dark and there’s an artistic smudge of eyeliner that gives her thatstill a rock chickvibe even if she is wearing Vera Wang these days. And matching sapphire pins are holding her hair in place.
