Page 1 of More Than a Spark

ONE

MILO

Ifussed with a lock of my curly brown hair while looking into my phone’s camera, then my gaze caught on my green eyes. There was still some turquoise eyeliner around them from last night’s gig at the casino. I liked it. Maybe I’d start wearing it all the time. What could it hurt?

With a sigh, I set my phone down on the wooden dinette in the band house, next to the cinnamon toast Cash had made me for breakfast, then adjusted my pink sweats over the top of my lacy pink underwear. Cash didn’t need to be seeing those.

“You look lovely, darling.” Cash strolled by me and swiped his fingers along my shoulders, leaving a tickle, then sipped his coffee. “You better hurry or you’ll be late for work.”

I slumped my shoulders. “Yeah.” I was starting to hate that internship more and more. How the hell was I going to enjoy doing graphics for ad campaigns and logos the rest of my life? Even if I got through my last semester?

Cash slid a chair next to mine, sat down and flicked a messy brown bang off his brow. “What’s wrong?” He propped his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm, studying me with his light blue eyes.

“It’s getting harder and harder for me to go there.” I sighed. I loved that Cash, Silas’ boyfriend, had finally moved into the band house with us. He was fast becoming my best friend now that Gabe had Jeremy and worked in his dad’s law firm.

“But you’ve got to be learning so much.” He straightened and drank more coffee.

“I am, but it’s gettingboring. It’s certainly not the reason I took up art and graphic design.” I lifted a piece of cinnamon toast and ate a bite.

My phone buzzed on the table.

I snapped my gaze to it. “Fuck, it’s Ryder.” My heart flipped in my chest, and I fumbled with my phone, rushing it to my face and tapping.

“Oh my, your hot bestie from Flagstaff.” Cash gave me a sly smirk.

“Yeah.” My smile grew wide as I read his message.

Ryder

Guess what? I got the job in Chandler FD. I’m moving down there next week to start the fire academy!

Dropping the toast to my plate, I squealed and said, “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.” I flapped my hands over the table. This was almost too good to be true.

“What?” Cash set his coffee mug on the table and tilted my phone to his face. “Oh my…” He tsked. “Guess you’ll be getting your bestie back. Where does that leave me?” He snatched my hand and planted a quick kiss on the back of it.

“Oh, come on, a girl still needs her girlfriends.” I squeezed his hand.

Silas waltzed into the room and did a double take of us, shaking his shoulder-length, dirty blond hair out of his brown eyes. “What the fuck did I just see?” He planted his hands on his hips. “Whose boyfriend are you, Cash?”

With a roll of his eyes, Cash stood up and sauntered to Silas. “You know you’re my one and only, hun.” As he placed a tender kiss on Silas’ lips, Silas hooked his arm around his waist and hugged him.

With a satisfied grin, Silas said, “I know.”

Cash turned in Silas’ hold. “Our little Milo here is getting his best friend back.”

“Best friend?” Silas wrinkled his brows. “I thoughtwewere your best friends, as inthe band.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t grow up with all of you. I grew up with Ryder. We’ve been best friends for…” I thought back, tapping my lips. “Well, since fourth grade anyways. However long that is.”

“Dude, do the math. You’re twenty-three now, so that’s about thirteen years.” Silas scoffed, then released Cash. “Gotta get up to Fearless Kitty today.” He strode into the kitchen and popped open the refrigerator, then pulled out a slice of leftover pizza. “And the ride is going to be hot as fuck seeing as how it’s almost August and my AC isn’t working so great in my car.”

“Silas, I would have made you breakfast.” Cash shook his head with a soft giggle.

With a smirk, Silas bit off some of the pizza and chewed. “You know this is what I like.” He poured coffee into a mug that was resting on the counter, then added creamer. “So, who is the guy, Milo and why haven’t we seen him around?”

“Oh.” I shifted in my seat, my heart warming. “He’s been up in Flagstaff working in the fire department up there?—”

“Oh damn, a firefighter?” Silas’ smirk widened as he stepped to me and ruffled my hair. “I bet he’s got a great body.”

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