Page 124 of Before Now

Foster’s words caress my ear. “He’s all confidence,” he commentates, sending a shiver rolling down my spine from his low, raspy voice. “His hold on the throat, where the handle curves, stays loose. Now, when he throws, stay with him and not the axe.”

Christian’s arm lifts, the axe head drawing back until he brings it forward and releases. My gaze sticks on him through thethwackof the blade hitting the wooden target. His expression remains cool, and he turns, giving a smug nod to Felix.

“I still don’t get it,” I tell Foster, tilting my head to see him. It brings our lips inches apart, very distracting. “How is any of that art?”

He smirks down at me. “Because Christian has no fucking clue what he’s doing. It’s all a performative piece, convincing you and everyone else he was completely knowledgeable and in control the entire time.”

I look as Christian slowly strides to the target and jerks the axe out from where it landed, several inches from the inner circle. And sure enough, when he comes up the lane, he notices us watching and winks at me.

Foster kisses my temple and then leaves my backside cold to grab the necks of two beers off a table where he must have set them. He tucks a bottle of water under his arm and swipes one more beer. “Last one’s for you.”

Following him with mine, I pluck the water from him too. His mouth lifts on one side.

“What?” I ask as we walk over to the brothers and Val.

He shakes his head. “I just still can’t believe you’re here sometimes.”

But I am. And I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

When we reach them, Colton takes two of the beers, passing one to Val, and Foster directs me to Chase.

“The water’s for him.”

Chase flashes me a smile as I hand it off. “Thanks. Drinking screws with my meds.”

I nod, and Foster tucks me against his side. Since he left right after Colton and I arrived the other day, I haven’t seen how the three of them interact together. But the dynamic I’ve witnessed between Foster and Colton for months seamlessly adjusts to fit Chase until I forget he hasn’t been part of it all along.

Their competitive natures quickly kick in, and soon everything becomes a chance to show each other up. And not just with axe throwing. Who finishes more of their beverage in a single gulp, and which of them checks their phone first. Then out of nowhere, they’re trying to throwworsethan each other.

Half the time I don’t even realize they’re competing until one claims victory.

But no one cares in the end. No one keeps score—except maybe when they all text Colton and Chase’s mom at the same time and Mrs. Wilde replies to Foster first.

Val’s perched on one of the overturned barrels, cackling at them when I unpack my camera.

Foster and Felix notice and prove themselves well-trained, moving to side-by-side lanes without me asking. They bicker and laugh with each other, and it’s exactly what I need.

With so little downtime for the guys outside of the break, we have limited B-roll of them like this. Dev has a handheld with him in Arizona, so I might have something to use from his trip. Otherwise, I’m starting to think I’ll have to fly to LA after the tour for footage of the three together in a relaxed environment.

I need Colton to command chill time for them.

Once I finish, I drop down by my camera bag off to the side of the group where they’ve all congregated.

“Bad news, baby.” Foster’s walking over as I pull the zipper closed. “Colton bet my everything and lost.” He stops beside me. “Chase gets everything that’s mine, so…”

I shrug, pushing to my feet. “I guess that means I live in Austin now.”

“Nah, I’ll smuggle you out of here.”

Val laughs from farther down. She’s beside Chase, his hand on the outside of her thigh while they talk to the others. His thumb skims over her jeans, and she lights up every time she looks at him.

“How long have they been together?”

Foster glances over at them. “About three years.” He grasps my sides, hands wrapping around my ribs.

“Were they together before his accident?”

Outside of what Foster said and Val saying he had a spinal injury, no one’s told me anything more. I haven’t asked either, not wanting to pry or open wounds. Chase is Chase with or without me knowing the details, and Foster will talk to me about what happened when he’s ready.

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