Page 91 of Fractured Rhythm

“I want the exact same thing,” she said. Then she turned her head and sealed her lips to mine, sinking into my body, and fitting like she belonged there—because she did. She always had.

The following night,I fiddled with the strings on one of my guitars as we waited backstage for the show to start. Our show at Connors the other night had been epic, but it’d been small—a warm-up.

Tonight was the true kickoff of our tour at a decently sized venue. Not the tens of thousands we’d played to over the years, but at least a couple thousand. Tickets had gone on sale less than two weeks ago and had sold out in record time, which had pleased the label to no end.

“You guys ready?” Jax asked, bouncing on his toes again like he was a prizefighter.

One day the guy would trip over his own feet and I’d laugh my ass off—just hopefully not before a show.

“Nervous, Charls?” Jax asked. He’d been testing out a new nickname for our drummer, much to her annoyance.

“As I’ll ever be, Ellie,” she fired back.

Josh shook his head. “Fucking Ellie. How the hell did we not come up with that years ago?”

“I got skills,” Charlie teased.

“Yes, you do,” Josh said, his eyes locked on her.

I almost growled at my manager to keep his eyes to himself. Josh was a player in all senses of the word. Like Jax.

I linked my arm around Cassie’s waist and pulled her close. “You look gorgeous. Can’t wait to get you back to our room tonight,” I whispered before I nipped her ear, my need ramping up a notch at her stuttered exhale.

She turned and put her hand on my chest, no doubt feeling it race beneath her palm.

“Oh, rocker boy, I have plans for you tonight,” she said, leaning up to kiss me.

My tongue swiped over the seam of her lips, and she let me in instantly, her tongue darting out to tangle with mine.

“Get a room,” Jax grumbled, and I smiled against Cassie’s mouth, giving her one last hard kiss before ending it.

“Avert your eyes if you have a problem,” I fired back. The first time we’d been together we’d hidden it from everyone. I wouldn’t do that again.

“Shut up, Ellie. Let them enjoy each other,” Tristan said at the same time.

I couldn’t stop my bark of laughter, and Cassie giggled, turning her head to face the guys.

“Seriously, Tristan? Not you, too?” Jax moaned.

Tristan shrugged. “Hey, it works. Flows right off the tongue, Ellie.”

“You know I’ve always been nice to you. I never came up with an annoying nickname, and now I’m going to have to spend all my time on stage tonight trying to come up with the perfect name.”

“Try not to injure yourself with all that thinking,” Tristan fired back, and my shoulders shook.

Fuck. I’d missed this. We’d had our moments since we’d gotten back together after the last two years, but this—this felt like the ease I remembered. The comradery of three guys that had known each other through all the ups and down from childhood until now.

Yes, we were missing a big piece of us, but Jamie would always be here in spirit. I tamped down the guilt swirling in my gut that he wasn’t here to joke along with us.

Cassie squeezed my hand. How did she always know what I needed before I did?

“If you all are done with this juvenile display, how about you get your asses on stage?” Josh said.

“Don’t have a rack attack, CH,” Jax said.

“What the hell,” Josh said.

Jax put his finger to his lips. “Undo the calamity that is your mammaries?”

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