Page 40 of More Than a Spark

“Thanks, Archer. You’re a good guy.” I dropped my gaze to my sneakers. Maybe it could have worked with us in some alternative universe that didn’t include Ryder. “Friends?”

“Hell yeah. I do want to see you guys play some more. Maybe I’ll meet someone special at one of your shows.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, maybe.” My gaze wound to Ryder. What the hell was he doing?

The twink now sat next to Ryder on the couch holding a fruity-looking drink and they both laughed, the twink with his hand covering his mouth.

My chest heated. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll see you around, okay?” Ryder was easy prey in a place like this.

“Yeah, see you. Bye.”

“Bye.” I hung up the call, then flung the patio door open and stomped to Ryder and the twink. Planting my hands on my hips, I said, “Hey, baby, who’s this?” I held my palm out to the blond.

“Oh, name’s Romeo. And you are?” He stood up and held his free hand out to me, palm down.

“Milo.” I gave his hand a quick squeeze and flashed a glare at Ryder. “So, what’s up?”

“I was just shooting the shit with Romeo. I guess he’s a regular here. He was telling me some things about the place. You know, the dos and don’ts of a gay bar.” Ryder did a double take of me, then dropped his mouth open. “Oh, come here and sit, uh, baby.” He patted the couch next to him.

Romeo figured Ryder was fresh meat, more like. “Oh, I see.” I brushed by Romeo to drop in next to Ryder, then picked up my beer from the coffee table. “So, you’re a regular?”

“I am.” Romeo narrowed his blue eyes. “Wait a minute.” He sank into the couch opposite ours and took a quick sip of his drink, then flapped his fingers at us and squealed. “I know you.”

“Who, me?” I pointed my thumb at my chest. Shit, had he seen me here dancing and getting dirty with guys? Or worse yet, had I done that with him? My chest clenched.

“Yes, you. You’re in the queer band, Knot Me. Right?” Romeo spread a wide smile over his face.

“I am.” Warmth covered my hand, resting on my thigh. I looked down. Ryder was holding my hand. My heart did a happy dance. God, I loved this man.

“You’re not bad to look at, but your guitar player with the black hair? Oh my God, gorge.” He wiggled and fanned himself. “I’ll bet he’s hot in bed.”

I stared at him a moment, then let a grin tease my lips. “You’re talking about Axel. Yeah, guys are always falling all over themselves to get to him. He’s got a boyfriend now, though.”

Ryder lowered his brows and dropped his gaze to our entwined hands. “Did you um, did you ever fall all over Axel?” He crinkled his nose.

I faced him. “What? No.” I shook my head. “Gross, we’re like brothers. We used to live together in the band house.” Was Ryder jealous? If he was, it was cute on him.

Romeo freed a long sigh, waving his gaze at the ceiling. “Too late for me, I guess.” He darted his gaze to us. “Hey, you two aren’t interested in a?—”

“No.” I snuck a glance at Ryder. “We’re exclusive and we don’t share.” I held his hand to my chest and squeezed it.

Ryder raised his brows. “Wait, what was he going to ask?”

Standing up, Romeo waved him off. “I’ll let your baby tell you.” He sighed. “Anyways, it was nice to meet you and maybe I’ll come see you again at one of your shows.” He lifted his chin. “If you change your mind, let me know. I follow the band on Instagram.” With a pivot and a flourish, he walked off.

TWELVE

RYDER

“What the hell was that?” I watched Romeo’s swaying ass in his tiny shorts as he strode away from us. Was I being hit on? By a guy?Fuck, you’re in a gay bar, stupid.

“He was looking for a hook up and he was open to a threesome.” With narrowed eyes, Milo’s gaze chased Romeo, then he shook his head and giggled. “I leave you for what, a few seconds and you’ve got a twink all over your ass?”

“I wasn’t prepared to be hit on by a random uh, twink. That’s never happened to me before.” I gulped down some beer. Fuck, maybe a shot would have been a better idea? “You queer people are weird.”

“Speak for yourself.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “You’re one of us now, so I’m going to let you get away with that comment.”

I thought back over the exchange. “So, I guess you’re my baby now?” A grin played over my lips and warmth filtered into my chest. I couldn’t say I didn’t like the sound of it, especially when he’d called me that.

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