Page 131 of Living on the Edge

“Bro—get a room!”

Alden.

I reluctantly pull away and turn to him. “Kinda busy here, kid.”

He laughs. “Hey, Ryleigh. Nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you too.” She smiles at him.

“Uncle Dad wants to know what the plan is for the rest of tonight.”

“Uncle Dad?” Ryleigh bites back a laugh.

“That’s what he’s calling him in private,” I say, shaking my head.

“It’s technically right,” Alden replies with a shrug. “Besides, he said he doesn’t care what I call him and that’s what I want to call him.”

“Tell Alex we’re going out. There’s a limo waiting to take us to a late dinner.”

“Okay. Glad you two are back together,” Alden says, looking over his shoulder. “He was miserable without you!”

“You know anything about being discreet?” I yell after him.

“You were miserable, huh?” She looks up at me. “How miserable?”

“Pretty miserable.” I wrap my arms around her waist. “What about you?”

“Beyond miserable.”

We stare at each other for a long time.

“We’re much better together.”

“Agreed.”

“The tour is over until our New Year’s Eve show—will you spend a few days in Manhattan with me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then we have to talk about moving in together.”

“All right.”

“And you going back to work.”

She pauses. “What does that mean?”

“It means, I don’t want you to work at a restaurant—and before you say something about me not telling you what to do—we both know you were born to be a writer. To write beautiful, poignant, human-interest pieces like the one I read before Rich changed it.”

“And you boughtRock Harder,” she says carefully.

“Technically, Alex bought it, but you and I are shareholders.”

“What?” She gapes at me.

“It was going to be your engagement present, but I don’t like keeping secrets anymore.”

“Angus!” There are tears in her eyes again. “Are you serious? I’m now part owner ofRock Harder Magazine?”

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