Page 107 of The Drummer's Heart

“I saw them kiss and overheard them talking. They’ve been seeing each other. It’s serious and sounded like it’s been happening for a while. He used the L word. Ronan said he wants to tell Atticus during the tour. But Kenzie was freaking out about it. She’s been the one holding back. She wants to wait until after the tour.”

Emily leaned in and whispered, “No one knows but you?”

“Pretty sure it’s just me.” I started to panic. “You can’t tell Tristan.”

“It’s not my place to say anything to anyone. Butyou’rekeeping this from Atticus?”

“I don’t know what to do. Do you think that’s wrong? I need your advice.”

“Shit.” She blew out a long breath. “I usually have an answer for everything, but I don’t know what the right thing is here.”

“I wasn’t supposed to find out. I feel like I should just try to forget and move on, let them tell him the way they want to. It’s their right.”

“But at the same time, that’s pretty big news to be keeping from your man.”

I pulled on my hair. “You would tell Tristan if you were in my position?”

She chewed on her lip. “You know what? As you know, when I first went on tour with the band, I was hiding a pretty damn big secret. I’d made the decision that I wasn’t going to say anything to Tristan until the tour was over. I’ve never regretted that because he was able to at least get through the North American leg without that interruption. I made the call I felt was best forhimat the time, not me. I’m thinking you know Atticus best, and if you think finding out will throw him off for the rest of the tour, you should wait.”

I nodded. That made sense and gave me the justification I needed to keep quiet. “Thank you. When you put it that way, I feel better about holding back, forhissake.”

“I’m certain Ronan and Kenzie will thank you, too.” She blew a breath up into her hair. “Gosh, I feel bad for taunting Kenzie now. The poor girl is stressed about sneaking around as it is. And there she was, thinking I was about to blow her cover.”

“She’d freak if she knew I heard them talking.”

Emily chuckled. “Let’s start a prayer chain now for Ronan’s well-being once Atticus finds out. Do you think he’ll go ballistic?”

I shook my head. “I hope he doesn’t. I hope he’s smart enough to realize that when two people are determined to be together, no one can stand in their way.”

CHAPTER 36

ATTICUS

We’d just arrived in Minnesota, and the guys and I were chilling on the bus while Nicole and Emily took the rental car to get lunch for everyone.

Ronan had left his phone behind while he went to the bathroom. When it lit up with a text, I thought I was seeing things.

Kenzie: Just wanted to tell you that I love you.

That doesn’t say Kenzie, does it?I blinked to even out my vision.

Itdidsay Kenzie.

What?Love?

Mynieceloves Ronan?

What the fuck is going on?

I willed myself to calm down. Maybe it was a different Kenzie.

What were the chances of that, though? My hand shook as I grabbed the phone and turned the screen toward Tristan. “What the hell is this?”

Based on his stoic expression, whatever fuckery this was didn’t come as a surprise to him.

“What the fuck is going on with Kenzie and Ronan?” I demanded.

“Take a breath.”