Page 76 of Fractured Rhythm

“It’s okay. I just…” She trailed off.

“Cas, you have to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’d wanted to say it over a romantic dinner or at some other perfect place, but seeing you here, with my parents, and our friends, at the table where we grew up and had so many memories, I just…”

Her smile was soft as she stepped into my body.

“It was perfect. I love you, Bash. You know I’ve loved you since we were kids. Even when you found me annoying, I still loved you.”

“I never really found you annoying,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and wishing we were away from everyone so I could show her how much I truly loved her.

“You’re such a liar. You told me more than once how annoying I was when I was still in elementary school and you’d moved on to junior high.”

“Moody teenager. Don’t hold that against me,” I said, brushing my lips against hers.

“Bash, we really shouldn’t.”

But her protest was weak as I deepened the kiss, fitting her mouth perfectly to mine. Her soft sigh whispered across my lips, and I was a goner. Always had been. Always would be.

Her hands gripped my shoulders, her thumbs brushing the back of my neck, and I wanted to take her on my childhood bed. We’d fooled around in here when we were in high school, everything a silent frenzy, much like it was now with everyone down the hall.

She broke the kiss, biting her lower lip as she pulled away. My hard cock brushed against her belly, and she looked down between us.

“Uhh. You know we can’t deal with that right now,” she said, waving her hand around. “Down, boy,” she whispered.

My laugh was pained. “Not helping, Cas,” I growled. I leaned in and nipped at her lips, bathing the spot with my tongue and swallowing her soft sigh.

“Seriously. We have to stop, Bash.”

I groaned, pressing my forehead to hers. “I know. I know.” I took in a few deep breaths, willing my erection to go away. “Give me a minute.”

“I’ll go back first. Give you time,” she said, waving her hand again and not so accidentally brushing against my cock.

I gritted my teeth. “You play dirty, little girl. I’ll make sure to return that favor later tonight,” I said. Then I spun her around and pushed her toward the door. Her light laugh did nothing to quell my desire.

“Anything you want to share with the class, Wolfie?” Jax taunted when I walked back into the dining room five minutes later.

“We have to be at the bar in under an hour, so finish up,” I said, ignoring his quirked brow. I didn’t owe him shit.

“Testy. Testy,” he muttered.

“I’m excited to see you guys play tonight,” my mom said.

There was a twinkle in her eye as she looked between me and Cassie. As secretive as we’d attempted to be when we were in high school, we’d clearly sucked at it, since it looked like the only ones who thought we had kept it hidden was me and Cassie.

Two hours later,I lounged in one of the back rooms at Connors, tweaking my guitar. My tech had tuned it perfectly and had it waiting for me when we arrived almost an hour ago, but my nerves were getting the better of me, so I aimlessly tweaked while I nursed my second glass of whiskey of the night.

We hadn’t played at Connors in years, well before Jamie’s final spiral, but this is where we’d started. A bunch of young idiots playing in a college bar almost a decade ago. Hell, I think we were barely eighteen when we played our first gig.

And now we were back—without Jamie. Fuck. It was weird as hell. Charlie knocked out a beat with her drumsticks on the leather couch arm and gazed around the room. I wondered which one of us was more nervous. It was probably me, though this was her first time playing live with us.

I remembered the feeling of playing live in front of a crowd of people, with adrenaline coursing through me. At least she didn’t look like she would puke. I bit back a laugh remembering the first few shows. Jax puked for a good year before every show. Glad that was over.

I had adrenaline running through me tonight, but I also had resolve that this was the true start of Steelwolf without Jamie. I hoped at some point that thought wouldn’t sting anymore, but I was doubtful. How did you get over that? When was it okay to truly move forward?

Cassie was a massive help. We’d talked about this first show for weeks now. It might be rough, but it might be epic. At least that’s what Jax kept telling us as he bounced around the room. I wished Cassie had come with us. I wanted her next to me to calm my hands and settle my nerves, but she’d said that it should just be the band getting ready. She’d be in the crowd when we stormed on stage, singing her heart out.

I couldn’t wait to see that, to see my girl, now that we were hopefully past the bullshit and my fuckups. I still couldn’t believe I’d told her I loved her at the damn dinner table, but shit happened.

“What’s that grin for?” Tristan asked, nudging my arm.

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