Page 82 of I Just Want to be Yours

“I did the pictures last time, didn’t I?”

There’s a slight lift to his lips. “Yeah, and you only criedabout it twice. You’re the pretty one. We need you to cooperate.”

“Dave is pretty,” I say as I give a slight nod to the guy next to me.

“Yeah, what the hell? I’m pretty,” Dave chimes in.

Brian sighs. “You’re both pretty.” Brady lets out a bark of laughter, and Brian glares at him before turning back to me. “But you’re younger. Don’t get me wrong, you’re talented. You might even be one of the best guitarists to come out of Florida after Don Felder and Tom Petty, but you’re still the pretty one.”

I stare at him. “You think I’m that good?”

Brian’s lips lift in amusement, but I don’t care. He’s never complimented me like this, and I respect his opinion. “Yes, kid. You’re that good.”

The words knock me right in the chest. Margot has told me I’m good. Matt and Rae have told me I’m good. And the guys in the band hired me, so they obviously don’t think I suck. But no one familiar with the industry has ever dished a compliment as great as the one Brian just did, and my brain doesn’t know how to process it. I’ve never felt this way after someone compliments me. The only thing I can compare it to is what it must feel like when your dad believes in you without a shadow of a doubt. My throat is thick with an emotion I wasn’t prepared to feel.

Luckily someone comes to deliver another round of drinks, and I’m able to mutter a quick, “Thanks,” before downing half the glass with one sip.

48

margot

Golden morning lightshines through the windows of Matt and Braden’s apartment. Matt called Rae and told her we needed to come over now if we wanted pancakes. That’s all it took for us to run here barefoot, wearing whatever we slept in.

“Braden, you need to have Friday nights off more often, so you don’t sleep in. Matt never makes us pancakes on Saturday mornings.”

“Does Matt ever make us anything?” I ask with a laugh.

Matt’s eyes widen as he sets plates on the kitchen counter for us. “Wow, Margot. I hand you the love of your life on a silver platter, and this is how you thank me?”

Rae rolls her eyes before saying in a low voice, “If you and Jackson ever get married, I hope you’re ready for his speech.”

I shake my head, amused.

Matt spins around like he forgot something important. “Actually, I handed you Braden on a silver platter, too. So, you should be thanking me for the love of your lifeandthe pancakes.”

My eyes jump to Braden just quick enough to catch him grimace before he laughs to himself and flips another pancake.

Before I can stop myself, I open my mouth. “Aw, come on. Braden is good for more than just pancakes.”

Braden looks over his shoulder at me and winks.

Rae sighs. “I’m telling you, Braden, one day you’re going to makethe besthusband. I wish I had more single friends to set you up with.”

He shrugs. “That’s okay. I’m not really looking to date right now.” He looks over his shoulder at Rae with a small smile, but his eyes quickly jump to me before he turns back to cooking.

Matt slides into the barstool next to Rae. “He means it, too. I’ve seen him turn down the opportunity more than once.”

Braden shoots him a glare. “They weren’t my type.”

Matt huffs and mutters to Rae, “I’m starting to think no one is his type.”

Braden shrugs. “I’m sure she’s out there.”

“She definitely is,” I say as I look down at my phone on the counter. There’s a new notification from the American Thieves account, so I tap on it to find a picture of the guys all sitting in a big, round booth together at some type of bar or restaurant. They all have huge smiles plastered on their faces, and there are plenty of empty shot and drink glasses in front of them. I read the caption.

Thanks for a great night, Lexington. You gave us more than one reason to celebrate!

They certainly look like they were celebrating something. I barely recognize Brian with his shirt unbuttoned and his hair a mess.

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