Page 86 of When We Burn

They don’t know it yet, but they’re about to be even more excited. I hope there isn’t any passing out.

“So, we’re going early for parking, obviously,” Dani says, turning to me. “But are you also being a bit of a workaholic, wanting to make sure the safety precautions are as they promised?”

“How do you know me so well already?” Pulling her hand up to my lips, I kiss her knuckles. “I’ll just check in with everyone really quick. Remington called me and told me to park at the farmhouse with the rest of the family.”

“That’s nice of him,” Dani says with a smile. “It’s nice to know people.”

Once we make our way onto the ranch, I deviate from the signs pointing toEvent Parkingand pull up behind the Wild family’s farmhouse. There’s already a line of cars here, all of them familiar.

“Holden’s here,” Dani says. “He and Millie must have come early, too. Oh, and Bee’s here.”

Everyone’s here.

After I help Birdie out of the back, I guide the girls over to the shop that I know has been cleared out for this party.

“What’s going on, Bridge?” Dani asks, frowning up at me. Birdie’s walking between us, one hand in mine and one in Dani’s.

“You’ll see.”

“You’re here,” Millie says, waving us in. “Just in time. This is so fun, I’m so glad that everyone came.”

“No way,” Dani whispers as Sidney Sterling, along with her husband and several other members of the Montgomery family walk into the shop, waving and smiling. “We get tomeet her?”

“She wanted to hang with friends and family before the show,” I tell Dani, leaning down to kiss her head. “Your brother’s married to a Wild. And the Wild family is married to Sidney’s family. So, here we are.”

“Daddy,” Birdie says with a shriek. “Oh, my gosh. Look!”

I pick my daughter up so she can see better, and Sidney must have heard her because she smiles our wayand waves at my daughter, who is now suddenly shy and buries her face in my neck.

I shrug at Sidney but wave back at her, and she laughs.

Dani slips her hand into my free one, and we’re sucked into the crowd of our friends and family, chatting and laughing.

And thenIstop dead in my tracks because a man just walked in, and it’s Leo Nash. The lead singer of Nash.

My favorite band of all time.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, and Dani grins up at me.

“Weird, isn’t it?”

“So damn weird.”

“But also super cool.” Dani kisses my shoulder, and I notice Holden watching us. “Hey, big brother.”

“Hey.” He pulls Dani in for a hug. “Do I need to kill him?”

“No.” Dani laughs and smacks him gently on the arm. “We’re good. I haven’t seen you enough lately.”

“We’ll have dinner at the house,” Holden replies. “All of us.”

“We’re in,” I reply with a grin, and Holden narrows his eyes at me, making me laugh.

“Have you met Leo Nash yet?”

“Are you kidding? I was waiting for you. Let’s go.”

Thinking that Birdie might loosen up if we make our way to Sidney slowly, I follow Holden over to where Leo Nash is chatting with a group of guys.

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