Page 84 of Burn It Down

Tim winks at Jake and before I can read too much into it, the front door opens again. It only takes a split-second for me to register who the fuck is stepping outside.

My head whips to Jake.

“What the fuck?!” I shriek, dropping Jake’s hand to cover my mouth. Jake just laughs as Ryan Battle, Beautiful Deceit’s bassist approaches our group. Ryan may be the only guy on the planet that can make Tim look like a normal-sized human. Jake claps his hand into Ryan’s massive palm and they slap each other on the back like they’ve known each other forever.

Meanwhile, I’m starting to hyperventilate. I think I’m going to pass out from trying to play it cool, when in reality, my heart rate is about two-oh-eight and I feel a scream building in the back of my throat.

“Ryan, thank you so much for letting us stay here this weekend.”WHAT THE FUCK?“Congratulations again on the birth of your daughter. I trust everyone’s doing well?”

“Hey man, anytime. Yeah, Em’s putting Jane down for her nap now, but you’ll meet her at the bonfire tonight.”

Jake nods and turns to me. “Ryan, this is my boyfriend, Dylan Ryder.” He says it with full confidence this time. “Dylan’s a raging Beautiful Deceit fan and until this exact moment, he had no idea that my brother is your personal bodyguard. He thought we were just coming up for the show tomorrow night.”

“Man, I don’t know what I’d do without Tim. Fucker made a diaper run at one a.m. the other day,” Ryan casually says to Jake before turning to me. “Hey Dylan. I’m Ryan. Nice to meet you. I love the hat.”

I shake Ryan’s hand and struggle to find my words. My mouth hangs open like a drooling idiot for thirty solid seconds.

“I don’t even know what to say. Like, I want to say something really cool and shit, but honestly, like,what the fuck?”

Everyone laughs and Tim looks at Jake. “I think he’s surprised.”

“I think I’m having a stroke and my brain is making all this up.” Everyone laughs again and thankfully, Jake begins to explain. But first, he wraps his arm around me and kisses my shoulder.

“You’re not having a stroke, baby. Tim lives on-site. We’re staying at his place just over the little hill there. Before every tour, the guys have a get together at Noah’s house and we’re going to that tonight. Tomorrow, we’re going to watch their show from the front row and hang out backstage during their intermission. And as long as it’s still alright,” he pauses and looks to Ryan for confirmation, “we’ll go out with them after the show, hence the reason I had you pack a suit.”

My eyes dart around the circle of men in front of me unable to believe what I’m seeing or hearing when the front door opens again and a woman I recognize as Ryan’s wife, Emma, comes down the steps. As soon as he can reach her, Ryan pulls her in front of him and rests his hands on her shoulders.

“Em, this is Dylan, Tim’s brother’s boyfriend.”

Emma reaches her hand forward, a warm smile on her face. “Dylan, it’s so nice to meet you. And Jake, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Likewise, Emma. Sorry it’s been so long. I can’t wait to meet little Jane tonight.”

Emma’s smile glows at the mention of her daughter.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I finally choke out, way late to the party.

“Well, we’ll let you guys go get settled. You’re welcome to ride with us tonight. Tim’s driving.”

Ryan and Emma head back inside and I fall against the passenger door of the Range Rover in total disbelief.I’m going to meet the whole band?

Jake appears in front of me a second later.

“Hey, you alright?”

“Yes? No? This is un-fucking-believable.”

He grins. “I’m glad you like it. Now come on, I want to do dirty things to you, take a shower, and catch up with Tim before we have to head to Noah’s.”

“Head to Noah’s,” I scoff, mostly to myself. “Like we’re best friends with Noah Kinkaid. Like we just show up at his house and hang out as if he’s not the lead singer of the best fucking band the world has ever heard.”

I’m still mumbling to myself in a state of shock when I hear Tim laugh up ahead. “I think you broke his brain.”

Jake chuckles. “Maybe I should’ve given him some warning.”

But this is so perfectly Jake. Dropping into my life without warning, kissing me before even telling me he’s gay, and now giving me the most incredible experience of my life…out of the blue.

I hoist my bag on my shoulder and pull myself together as I catch up to the brothers ahead of me. “No, this was perfect. Thank you. I’m in total awe. I can’t believe…any of this.”

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