Page 8 of Ballads of Lines Blurred

“I didn’t think you weren’t.”

“Maybe I did.”

I couldn’t lay my soul bare to him, but I felt his words. I understood what he meant. How many times had people seen me as the rock star and not as a human with feelings? How many times was I flirted with, asked to go somewhere private? I was there for a good time and nothing more. But didn’t I do the same to Milo when I left my card with Dexen? That was awful of me. I needed to fix it.

“I’ll go.”

“Yeah?” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Yeah.”

“And hey, if it goes to shit and we decide we don’t want to continue down this road, no hard feelings, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Okay, I’ll pick you up on Sunday. Text me your address.”

“Wait. You’re going to pick me up?” I couldn’t remember the last time that happened. Then again, it had been years since I was on a date.

“I’ll even bring you flowers or candy. I’ll be all romantic and shit.”

It was my turn to chuckle. “You’re winging this, aren’t you?”

“You don’t get to learn all of my secrets before our first date, rock star.”

“No?” I loved this back-and-forth between us.

“Nope. Now return to whatever you were doing with Casper and text me your address. I’ll pick you up at four on Sunday. We’ll arrive fashionably late and eat all the good food. I’ll get to show off how hot my date is.”

“You’re really laying it on thick.”

“This is just the beginning.”

4

CODY

Xaiden was throwing a party for his brother. I didn’t think Dexen was overly excited about it, but he would do anything for Xaiden, including letting him go all out for his birthday. We spent the morning decorating and setting up outside. It wasn’t Dexen’s fiftieth, but his forty-ninth. Xaiden said he knew Dexen wouldn’t want a party for turning fifty, so he was celebrating forty-nine instead.

Right before the party was about to start, Dana, the talented chef at Untouchable, arrived with his brother-in-law, Vail, and started setting up the food. I’d met Vail once before. He was friendly but seemed to be content to stick to the sidelines.

Untouchable was closed for the day, so the employees could come to the party. The club would have been a better place to have the party, though Xaiden said he didn’t want to have it there. He wanted a more personal touch. With twenty-five acres of land and a backyard big enough for multiple tents, there was no issue having it here. Thankfully, there was no rain in the forecast.

I had my own nerves fluttering in my stomach. I’d heard Slater was coming. My nerves weren’t solely based on seeing him. I wasn’t sure how to feel about him showing up as Milo’s date. As far as I knew, Milo didn’t go on dates. He was the guy who liked to have a good time and not form an attachment except to friends. It helped Milo was hot. His looks weren’t lost on me, but I hadn’t tried anything with him because I was nervous and unsure if he’d look at me like that. Then I met Slater and things changed. I still thought other people were attractive. Slater took my feelings to another level. Could I really try to insert myself between him and Milo tonight? No, that would be a shitty thing to do. That didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to him, talk to both of them.

The jealousy I felt at Slater being on a date didn’t sit well. I wanted him to be mine. Arriving on the arm of another man was going to be tough to witness. From what I’d heard through the gossip mill, which consisted of the men and my sister I shared the house with, this was their first date. Milo had texted Xaiden, asking if it was okay to bring someone. When Xaiden told him it was fine, Milo readily said it was Slater. Why did he bring it up? I had no idea. Of course, my family told me, not wanting me to be surprised when they showed up together.

Instead of dwelling on it, I threw myself into preparations for the party, volunteering to do anything and everything. If my mind was on this, it wasn’t spiraling down the pit of why Slater was coming with Milo, and why he couldn’t show up for me.

Olivia brushed by me onto the patio. “I hope I never behave like you.” She was turning seventeen this year. Her curled lip let me know what she thought.

“Please, last month it was Chloe this and Chloe that. Just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean you have to give me shit.”

She whirled, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t bring her into this.”

“Whatever. I’m merely pointing out that you can’t get on me about Slater when you’re not any better.”

“She’ll be here in a bit. Don’t you dare say a thing to her.”

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