Page 99 of 4-Ever

“What?”

I glanced at Brodie and Ronin, who were staring at me with concern.

“You okay?” Brodie asked.

“Yeah, just… ah.” A rare flush crept up my cheeks. “I need to get changed.”

“No shit.” Brodie shook his head. “Meet you guys upstairs in ten.”

He walked off and left me and Ronin standing in the hallway.

“What’s wrong?” Ronin asked.

“Nothing. What makes you think anything’s wrong?”

Ronan raised one eyebrow. “Everything was fine until Brodie mentioned Payton. You don’t seriously think I was really flirting with him, do you? I was just trying to help poor Len. I don't want anyone else but you.”

“I know that. It's just that you and me as a couple, it's all new. Amazing, incredible, but yeah, new. And, you know, you've always made it clear that monogamy isn’t for you.”

“It wasn’t. I didn’t want that with anyone else,” he confessed and pulled me in tight. “But I need it with you. I’m sorry it took me so long to finally get my head out of my ass, but?—”

I laughed at that. “We both took a while. But we made it.”

He kissed me, and then gave me one of his unforgettable hugs. I didn’t want to ever let go.

“Come on,” he reached down and squeezed my ass. “You need to change, and we both need to hydrate. Then, we’re gonna rock the fucking house down.”

He guided me back to the dressing room, where I selected another outfit and quickly changed. Payton was busy chatting up Holls, so I got him to fix my hair.

After a round of razzing by Holls, I was ready to head upstairs. When Ronin popped his head in and winked at me, Payton patted my shoulder and told me he was happy for me. And Ronin.

“I need to snag me a big, beautiful man like yours,” Payton sighed as he added texture spray to my hair to give it that bedhead look.

I didn’t see the difference in my hairstyle from when I walked in here, after Ronin’s hands had messed it all up. Tousled was tousled. Still, I had my creative art, and hair and makeup had theirs. It was not to be questioned.

“Well, you’re on tour with us for the next few weeks and so is Lennie so—” I started.

“I don't know. I mean, I don't know if he's interested in me.”

Payton sounded so unlike his usual confident self. He wasn’t shy or uncertain.

“Only one way to find out.”

“But isn't he always on the job?”

“There’ll be times when he’s off shift.”

“It wouldn’t work anyway. Between you, me, and my flat iron, I think I’m done with hook ups. I need a man who’s going to stick around for more than one night. But with my work schedule, all the traveling, forget it.”

Lennie entered the room and stopped short when he saw Payton. “You ready?”

Was he asking me or Payton?

“I’m good to go.”

Payton stared back at Lennie, but no words were exchanged. I got up out of my chair and headed for the door.

Payton was right. It was hot in here.

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