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Dev stopped immediately, setting Casey back on his feet, but keeping his arms around his waist. “Sorry.”
Casey laced his fingers behind Dev’s neck, his eyes practically glowing. “Don’t be. You were wonderful. And that song?” He blinked rapidly. “Crap, now I’m gonna cry in front of all these people.”
“Don’t cry, Casey.” Dev smoothed the soft curls off Casey’s forehead and kissed each of his eyes. “I never want you to be sad.”
“I’m not sad, you doofus. I’m… I don’t know. Thrilled. Touched.” He laid his palm along Dev’s cheek. “Happy. And so, so proud of you.”
“Me?” Dev scoffed. “All of this was your doing. If it had been up to me, I’d have been up to my ass in Port-a-Potties for no reason.”
Casey shook his head. “It wasn’t me. It was all of us. You. Kenny. Ty. Pete, Kat, Sylvia.” He chuckled. “The high school kids. Everybody pitched in. Everybody wants to save Home.” He lifted on his toes and kissed Dev’s lips gently. “And you’re its heart, Dev. Home wouldn’t be home to any of us without you.”
Flying again.
Dev carded his fingers through Casey’s hair and tilted his face up at the perfect angle for a deeper kiss or seventeen. Casey’s little whimper, his taste—of raspberries and sunshine—his lips so soft under Dev’s, the way he opened so sweetly for Dev’s tongue, the—
“Uh, guys?”
Still intoxicated by Casey kisses—the perfect capper to post-performance euphoria—Dev dimly heard Haru’s voice and… was that applause? The next act was probably taking the stage, so he ignored it and pulled Casey closer, so they were pressed together from chest to groin.
“Guys?”
The feel of Casey against him, the softness of his hair under Dev’s fingers, the sweetness of his mouth. God, this was home.
“Guys!”
Reluctantly, Dev lifted his head to glare at Haru, tucking Casey’s head against his chest. “What?”
“You’ve, um, kind of got an audience.” Haru cut his eyes to the side, and Dev realized that the applause wasn’t for the next act—the musicians were standing next to the stage, grinning like loons. Every face in the audience was turned toward him.
Toward him and Casey.
“Oh my god,” Casey murmured. “Crying in front of everybody is nothing. Dev, we practically humped each other!”
“Nonsense.” Dev kissed the top of Casey’s head. “We didn’t go that far.” Barely. Although if Haru hadn’t stopped them, Dev wasn’t sure what would have happened. But since the audience was applauding, cheering, and hooting, he just raised one hand in acknowledgement and, keeping Casey tucked safely against his larger body, covered the short expanse of grass and into the shelter of the willow tree.
Unfortunately, the space inside the leafy green curtain was more populated than Dev liked. Kenny grinned and gave them a thumbs-up. “Nice encore, Dev.”
Dev gave him the finger, but the grin that threatened to split his face probably canceled the effect.
“My dudes!” Owen punched Dev’s biceps and then held his fist out for Haru to bump. “Fan-fucking-tastic set. You’ve seriously gotta record those tunes.”
His arm still firm around Casey’s waist, Dev glanced at Haru. “I, uh, think we might have floated the possibility?”
Haru shrugged. “I’m there if you are.”
Dev looked down at Casey. “Haru’s interested in moving to Home, along with his music production equipment.”
“Really?” Casey asked, almost breathlessly. “Do you do video production, too?”
Haru glanced from Casey’s eager face to Dev. “Yeah. But nothing too elaborate.”
“That’s perfect.” Casey beamed at him. “I’ve got a couple of ideas I want to run by you. Maybe we can chat later?”
“Sure.” Haru’s hopeful smile faded, and he set his jaw. “But first, I’ve got to get through my farewell performance with POV.”
“Duuuude,” Owen groaned. “You’re leaving the band? Why?” He held up both hands. “Nope. Don’t say it. I know.” He looked at Casey. “Dickhead, am I right?”
Dev bristled. “Watch it, Owen. Casey isn’t—”
