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I blinked, trying to focus on his face. “Huh?”
Chuckling, he repeated, “You don’t have to go to Dash’s. No one said you had to work this out right now.”
“If I don’t, then when? We have jobs to do, music to make. We can’t do that when Slater is hardly functioning and I’m not speaking to him.”
“Slater’s mental health doesn’t rest on your shoulders. Dash is with him. He’s not alone.”
I sighed. “I know that, but I caused it this time. To think of him like that and us not helping him, I hate it.” It wasn’t even me who was usually there for Slater besides Dash. It was Casper. Yet Slater talked to him like Casper was nothing more than the scum on his shoe. I couldn’t think about the words he’d said. I had to just focus and go. “Move,” I said, reaching for the door. “I need to leave.”
“Reed?”
“Yeah?”
He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine before dropping his forehead to my own. “I know I don’t say it often enough, but I love you.” Every time I heard him utter those three words; my body immediately reacted. Chills spread over my skin, a smile tugged on my lips, and my heart rate increased. My cock also twitched.
“I love you too, baby. As much as I’d like to stay here and have you fuck me, I need to fix this shit with Slay before the label gets on our asses.”
Casper brushed his lips over mine before leaning back. “I think I’ll go to the restaurant and hang out with El.”
“He won’t get anything done with you there. You’ll distract everyone on the floor.”
“So what?”
A grin lifted my lips. “Get out of my way. Let me fix this so we can move on with our lives.”
“Only fix it foryou, ifyouwant to.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. I had to repair the damage because Slater was my friend, and decades of that friendship wouldn’t end over a fight, even if he lashed out at one of the men I loved.
Finally starting the SUV, I put it in gear and left the garage, closing the door behind me. The drive to Dash’s house, where Slater still stayed, wouldn’t take me long. They were neighbors and didn’t live far from us. I still took my time, trying to gather my thoughts on the way over.
Two houses couldn’t look more different, but that was Dash and Slater. They were brothers, however, outside of some of their looks, they were very different.
Dash’s home was modern with a light tan stone and tall windows, very open with sharp edges. It was built into a small hill where the front door was level with the ground. There were stone pillars on either side of the entryway with a metal roof over top. To the left, stairs led down the hill to a beautiful patio and an in-ground pool. A walkway stretched from the lower level of the home in the same direction, over the pool to connect it with the other side of the hill. I loved the look of the home at night when the warm amber light spread out on the ground. A passerby might think it was cold inside, but Dash’s house was warm and inviting.
The house next to it where Slater lived resembled a renovated barn. It wasn’t, but that was the feel. Dark wood adorned the two-story home with the center stretching both stories in large windowpanes, giving the space plenty of light. The bottom glass panel had a sliding door. A tall stone fireplace could be seen within, one Slater and I had spent many nights in front of while we wrote.
The roof pitched down on either side where more windows and doors were. On the right was the door we normally entered through. On the left, the door led to an in-law suite for when their parents would come and stay. Slater’s house was also warm inside but more natural, with earth tones like my home was.
So many times, I saw Slater’s place as a second home. Now, it felt different, and I was glad I wasn’t going there today because of the emotions stirring within me.
With the homes set back from the road and security systems in place, Slater and Dash didn’t worry about people bothering them. None of us really did. Our fans respected our need for space. Not that some didn’t drive on our roads or outside Casper’s building, but no one had gotten too carried away, which we were all grateful for. It also helped the local police department knew who we were and were more than happy to assist us when needed.
Dash leaned against the open front door with his arms crossed as I spun my key ring in my hand while I walked toward him. “’Bout time,” he said.
“I don’t need to be here, Dash. I can leave. Don’t start giving me shit before I even get in the door.” I loved him, I really did, but I wouldn’t put up with this.
“Fuck’s sake,” he muttered and pushed off the doorframe to meet me on the walkway. “I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around me. “Slay’s a mess and I’m at a loss. I didn’t want to push you more than I already have, but I was ready to drive to your house again.” Dash was looking out for his brother. I couldn’t fault him for it.
I squeezed him for a moment before releasing him. “Where is he? Still on the couch?”
“I was able to move him to the lounge chair by the pool. Fucker needs some vitamin D, or he’s going to turn into a vampire.”
“I’ll talk to him. If you hear yelling, don’t be surprised.”
“Just try to go easy. I know what he said hurt, and he regrets it, but fuck, Reed. He’s loved you for so long.”
Shaking my head, I turned away from Dash to go down the stairs toward the pool. I didn’t dismiss Slater’s feelings; however, I shouldn’t be made to feel guilty because he’d harbored those feelings for me.
