Page 17 of More Than a Spark

“I suppose you’d find a lot more bears up there, huh?” Cash arched a brow and stirred his drink.

“Yeah.” With a soft snort, Ryder downed his beer.

Ryder had never mentioned this gay friend of his. Or if he did, he didn’t tell me he was gay. Why not? My gut tightened. “What’s his name? Your gay friend in Flag?”

“Tate. His name was Tate.” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, then scratched his eyebrow. “Where’s Simone? Shouldn’t we order food?” He looked around the bar.

I watched him, narrowing my eyes. That was an interesting response. “Did you hang out with Tate a lot?”

“Some.” He focused on me, then shifted his gaze to his empty beer glass. “We weren’t always on the same shift, but when we were, we played cards and shot the shit.”

“Did he know about me?” Heat circled my chest. Why the hell had I asked that? I sounded jealous. Was I?

His gaze locked on mine. “Yeah, he knew about you. I told him a lot about you, actually.” He clenched his jaw and dipped his gaze, then unfolded his silverware setting and set his napkin in his lap.

I eyed him. There was something he wasn’t telling me. I could see right through him. I leaned in. I was going to get to the bottom of this.

Cash grabbed my arm and tugged me toward him, slowly shaking his head.

I mouthed,what?

In a whisper, Cash said, “Not here, not now.”

Inhaling a calming breath, I forced myself to let it go. Cash knew things. I needed to listen to him. I waved Simone to the table.

“You two ready for more beer?” She smiled at us and tucked a long lock of hair behind one ear.

“I am.” He picked up a menu from a pile in the center of the table, then glanced at me. “You ready, Milo?”

“Yeah, I always get the same thing. The patty melt with the truffle oil, please, Simone.” I drank the rest of my beer.

“Oh damn, that sounds good. Get me the same.” With a warm grin, Ryder tossed his menu back on the pile.

“You got it.” She sauntered off toward the bar.

Axel popped up out of his chair and strolled toward us. “Hey, Ryder.” He snagged a chair from a nearby table and swung it around backward between me and Ryder, then sat in it, his legs sprawled out on either side and his forearms resting on the back of it.

“Oh boy, here comes trouble.” Silas, sitting next to Cash, rolled his eyes and sipped his beer.

“What? I just want to know our new band wife a little better.” Axel gave Ryder a lop-sided smile. “So, I hear you’re a firefighter.”

“He’s not really a band wife. We’re just friends and he’s straight.” With a scoff, I inhaled a long breath. Axel was going to make this awkward.

“Oh, come on, Milo, he can be an honorary straight band wife.” Axel tagged my shoulder.

“I’d like that.” Ryder beamed at me.

“Yeah?” I forced a grin. Except I didn’t want honorary. I wanted arealband wife.

Simone set new beers down “Here you go. Food will be right up.” She left.

“Have you seen our little Milo onstage before?” Axel studied Ryder.

“No, I haven’t.” Ryder sipped his new beer.

“Well, you are in for a treat. This place fills up to standing room only and he’s got guysandgirls trying to get in his uh…” Axel twisted his lips and looked me over. “Very hot shorts.”

I tsked. “No I don’t, Axel. Don’t tell him that.” With a soft snort, I drank some beer. What was Axel trying to do?

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