Page 25 of Ballads of Lines Blurred

“That’s what I like to hear.” I turned in my chair and put my elbow on the table to give him my full attention. “Tell me what’s going on. You were miserable until I graced you with my presence.”

“Not here. Can we talk after?”

“Sure.” I wasn’t opposed to that at all. Here, anyone could watch us. “My place or yours? Or we could find a diner and sit in a corner booth while we drink coffee and eat for hours. Your choice.”

“You really like food, don’t you?”

“Who doesn’t?” Given the right meal, it was close to orgasmic. Close, not fully. I never got off while eating, though anything was possible with Slater near me.

“Can we go to your house? I’d like to see where you live. I don’t know much about you.”

“Ah, well, I’m not that mysterious. If you don’t mind Hale and his men, we can go there. I live with them. Or they live with us. It’s Hale’s and my house. Our parents left it to us. His men moved in a while back. I like having them there, even if I know far too much about their dick sizes.”

He cocked an eyebrow. Even that was sexy. “Do I want to know?”

“Hang around at the house long enough and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Will it be quiet?”

“Their dicks? I haven’t known them to be noisy. If they’re fooling around, the person on the receiving end can be, which I don’t like thinking about because it’s my brother… ew.”

“The house, Milo.” Though I got a bit of a bigger smile.

“I’ll tell Hale not to be a pain in the ass and give us space. I’m sure he’s waiting backstage for me to tell him what juicy details I found out about you.”

Slater sat up; his eyes widening. “Do you tell your brother about me?”

“No.” I put my hand on his arm. “Promise. What’s said and done between us stays there. I love my brother, but he doesn’t need to be involved in my personal life. If, and this is a big if, anything comes of you and me, I’d want him to know about us, but your secrets are yours alone. If you want to tell Hale, Danny, and Simon, that’s your call. Never mine.”

He nodded as his shoulders crept down to their usual spots. “Okay, good. I need to talk to you. I don’t want to hide anything.” A tremor went through his arm to the point his fingers shook.

Sliding my hand down to those trembling fingers, I took them in mine. “Slater, whatever it is, you can tell me. I won’t judge.”

“Is there a place I can sit while I wait for you? Not out here, but close so I can see you. I feel like I’m on display sometimes here.”

“That’s because you are, if I’m being blunt. The guys who work on the floor and dance always know when you’re here. You’re a big deal to them.”

“What am I to you?”

“Jury’s still out.” I grinned, not wanting to bring my feelings into the conversation while we were here. Interlacing my fingers with his, I stood and tugged on his arm. “Come on. You can sit behind my booth. No one will see you but me and whoever is on stage. They’ll be too focused on what they’re supposed to be doing. I could also find you a quiet spot in one of the dressing rooms.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’d like to be near you.”

Leaning forward, I went with my instinct and rubbed my nose against his. He was so fucking cute; I wanted to bundle him up and hug him. “You can be as close as you want.”

11

SLATER

There was no point in trying to analyze why I did what I did any longer. It sent me down a quicker spiral into a panic attack instead of feeling better about my decisions. The truth was, I didn’t feel like anything I did was right. I waffled over decisions when it came to Milo and Cody, yet I was steadfast in business decisions with the band. How could I be so sure in some areas and completely out of my depth in others?

I was in my truck, following Milo to his house on the outskirts of the city. The drive wasn’t far, given the club was in West Dremest. The city of Dremest was large with a creek dividing it in two. I didn’t venture into the heart of the city often. Apparently, I was content to stay in Untouchable or in the homes of myself and my family and friends.

It was after midnight when we pulled up to the three-car garage attached to an ivory stucco home. Two stories where small lights lit the driveway from the road to the garage and the front door. This wasn’t what I expected of Milo’s house. I pictured something more along the lines of what Cody lived in, a bigger ranch. This was Milo’s parents’ house that they left to him and his brother.

Milo drove his car into the garage while I parked behind him. The space lit up with bright overhead lights illuminating a space far too immaculate for a garage. I got out of my truck and walked toward Milo where he stood at the base of three stairs, which led to a door to the house.

“C’mon. Let me show you where I rest my head at night and during the day, since my hours are fucked.”

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