Page 17 of Ride or Dies

I never told anyone that I’d only said it because I was a jealous little prick. Seeing her like that made me realize that I’d never been as completely consumed by anything or anyone as she was by music.

She began humming as she strummed a few chords. Her hand moved up and down the neck of her guitar, pressing different combinations until she was sure the sound was what she wanted. Then she straightened, tossing her curls over her shoulder, and I found myself waiting as much as everyone else.

“The sun in the sky / The wind in my hair / There’s something so sweet / In the summer night’s air…”

My stomach twisted as I listened to her words. She was singing to Jenna and Isabel, telling their love story, but there was something about it that felt like a punch to the gut. I didn’t know if it was the lyrics, the music, or her voice, but I couldn’t look away from her.

“Never thought I’d find someone like you / Never imagined my dreams could come true…”

“Evie’s such a great friend.”

Mom’s voice startled me. I hadn’t seen her move, but now she was right beside me. She wasn’t watching me, though. Her eyes were on Evie too.

“She could’ve just sung one of the dozens of songs she’s already released,” Mom continued. “Jenna would’ve been just as thrilled. But Evie’s always been the sort to go above and beyond.”

I grunted something that could’ve been agreement and crossed my arms, trying to pretend I was bored.

“I see my future in your eyes / Ever and always / For the rest of our lives…”

Mom put her hand on my arm, and I finally turned away from Evie to look down at her. “Yeah?”

“Ever and always / For the rest of our lives…” Evie’s voice trailed off as Jenna threw herself at her friend, already babbling on about how great Evie was and how much it meant to her and all that kind of thing.

“Evie really has grown up to be a lovely girl, hasn’t she?” Mom’s voice was soft, a knowing look in her eyes.

“I guess,” I said, my voice sharp enough for Mom to raise her eyebrows. I tried to soften it. “She’s Jenna’s little friend. That’s all.”

Mom gave me an amused smile, her eyes twinkling with her usual humor. “And was she ‘Jenna’s little friend’ when you kissed her?”

“Dammit, Jenna,” I muttered, before explaining to my mom what had actually happened. “That was nothing. I was trying to get her dirtbag ex away from Jenna’s place.”

“By kissing her?”

“Yeah, by kissing her,” I snapped, barely keeping my voice down. “I’m not interested in her, okay? She’s a kid, and we can’t stand each other.”

Mom gave me that look that said she was trying to see straight through me. I always hated that look because there were plenty of things I really didn’t want Mom knowing. How I felt about Evie wasn’t one of them, because she already knew how I felt. Evie was my sister’s friend. Someone to tease and push around because it was fun. Nothing else.

“I suppose that’s for the best,” Mom said finally. “I wouldn’t want my boys fighting over Evie, and you’ve never shared well.”

That got my attention. “What does that mean?”

“It’s just, I’ve seen the way Mason and Tucker are with her,” Mom said quietly. “They’ve always had a soft spot for her, and I wouldn’t be surprised if something comes of it.”

My hands started to curl into fists, and I had to force myself to relax them. “They just like flirting with her.”

Mom shrugged. “Maybe. But if they don’t scoop her up, someone else will. You mark my words. That beautiful, talented woman right there won’t be single for long.”

And with that, Mom walked back over to the others to give them her thoughts on Evie’s song.

I clenched my jaw, Mom’s words echoing in my head. Not the part about Tucker and Mason. No, I kept hearing her say that if one of us three didn’t go after Evie, then someone else would. And I knew Mom was right, because Evie was gorgeous and sweet and fiery and talented and…

Shit.

This wasn’t happening. I didn’t like Evie. I didn’t want her.

But I didn’t want anyone else to have her either.

Which was a bastard move on my part, I knew, but I actually didn’t give a damn. Maybe I wanted to fuck her. I could admit that to myself, because she was smoking hot. Any sane, straight man would want to fuck her. And, yeah, that included my brothers. But fucking wasn’t the same as really wanting.

---