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“Oil money.” He beams. “Can you imagine my dad’s face when I told him I didn’t want to get a degree in finance?”
I can’t help a small smile. “That pleased?”
“Thrilled.” He holds out the club for me. “You’re up, babe.”
God bless my weak heart and the way it’s fluttering. I make a quick sweep behind us to assure Liam didn’t overhear. I’ve been out of the closet since I was twelve, but I worry for Hail and what the world might think if it gets leaked that he’s taken an interest in me, of all people.
Could be I’m just scared to get found out after five years of crypt silence dwelling in the shadows. But honestly, I can’t name more than a handful of metal artists that have publicly come out. I can’t be included in that group because no one actually knows who the fuck I am.
Hail gives me a cocky grin. “Scared to lose?”
I drag my hoodie off, reveling in the way his eyes dip to the patch of skin above my boxers before my shirt falls back into place. Then I snatch the club out of his hand, my fingers brushing over his. How can even the simplest touches make me crave more? Though, I won’t be the one to pursue. I made a promise to myself not to get involved enough to hurt him. That’s the best thing I can do to protect his heart.
“You fucking wish.” I smirk, and Hail’s eyes shimmer with amusement.
After studying his form, I assumed I had a grasp on what to do. However, my first swing results in an absolute bloody miss that nearly pops my spine out of place. Malek’s wild laughter erupts from across the pond.
“Felt the wind on that one,” he shouts, bending in half to slap his knee.
“Fuck you, too.” I counter, and Griff busts out in laughter this time.
This feels… too comfortable. It reminds me of the simple days with Visage before we got a taste of success and everything fell apart. Is this what it could have been like for us?
I rub guitar-calloused fingers between my brows.Don’t go there.
My second swing is a success. The ball barely clears the pond, but hell, that’s a win in my book.
By the time we play through eight holes, I’ve drained my bottle of water. A lady the others have titled Queen Callie drives by with a drink buggy and passes out another round of beers and waters, beaming at the attention Malek and Griff are bestowing upon her.
“Sloppy drunks.” Hail shakes his head.
Tuning into the current of excitement, I jump into the driver’s seat before Hail can make it back to the buggy. He’s all smile as he slips in next to me. “Where you taking me, sunshine?”
I press the pedal to the floor, cutting Malek and Griff off before a narrow bridge over the pond. Hail fails to sip at his beer as the buggy bounces over planks, and I chuckle when he lifts a middle finger out of the buggy like a flag of victory.
Stealing a look at his profile, I want to soak in the absolute passion for life he radiates. There’s something to be said about surrounding yourself with the type of people you want to become. He’s a fucking gem, and I can only hope this bubbling emotion inside of me lasts forever.
He catches me staring. “Do I need to drive so you don’t crash this thing, Z?”
I grin. “You have freckles on your cheeks.”
Brows furrowing, he works his bottom lip between his teeth. “Do not.”
“You do. I like them.”
We reach hole nine. Liam seems satisfied to hang back and take his time, though his partner’s more interested in playing on her phone than participating. Malek blasts Atonement’s new album from his phone, earning questioning looks from the few golfers left out on the course at the late hour.
God, this night has done wonders to liberate me. We’re tearing shit up, bounding over hills and down valleys, whacking the crap out of a tiny white ball like we don’t have a care in the world.
I park at the next tee box. There’s a bit of a gap between us all now, Griff and Malek in a race to finish first, and Liam still highly concerned about performing at his best. He’s such a conundrum, both carrying an air of not giving a shit while also putting his all into his current task.
“You bored yet, Z?” Hail rests a hand on my thigh, and I shift on the seat as my dick twitches.
“Not at all,” I reply, unable to tear my eyes away from where he’s touching me. “I get why this sort of thing can be… fun.”
Only because I’m here with them. Only because they’re showing me what a real family looks like. Add in the warm evening breeze swaying the lush trees, and I feel like I’ve found new purpose. I have no power to shut down this happiness tonight. Even though I know it’s short-lived. It’salwaysshort-lived.
“Do you all do this kind of stuff often?” I ask, as I work my curls up into a tight knot to keep them off my sweaty forehead and out of my eyes. Hail’s lips part as he stares at me. He blinks and shakes his head in disbelief. Over what, I have no idea. The fact that my hair can be tamed?
