Page 21 of More Than a Spark

Devin held his fist up and the band readied their instruments, the guitar players with their hands hovering over pickups and frets. When he dropped his fist, Silas and Axel strummed a harsh riff on their guitars and pranced to the front of the stage while Caleb thumped his bass in time with Gabe hitting his cymbals.

Milo struck his keyboard, coming in strong with a haunting and chaotic melody.

Starting in on the first chorus, Devin leaned to the side and shook his leg under his miniskirt to the building beat.

Axel came in with a stuttered chord on his blue guitar while Gabe pounded all over his drum kit.

My gaze landed on Milo, rocking back and forth in the lights as the chorus started and Axel, Silas and Caleb all hopped in unison, their hair flying up on their heads, all smiling.

The crowd jumped up and down and fists pounded the air.

I dropped my jaw open. This is what I’d been missing. Milo and his band were goddamned stars down here and I’d had no idea. I fixated on Milo, my heart swelling.

Milo swung his hips and rocked his head, always keeping his fingers on the keys. As the song built for the second chorus, he jumped up and down with the rest of them, his gaze searching the crowd and landing on me. A wide smile spread over his lips.

I whooped and swung my fist in the air, smiling back at him. “That’s my boy!”

Archer glanced at me with a smirk teasing his lips, then hollered at Milo, too.

By the third chorus, Axel and Silas were twirling on the stage with their guitars like mad men and Caleb ran back and forth, then stopped at Milo and thumped on his tan bass guitar, his back to Milo’s. As the song came to an end, Caleb twisted around to Milo’s side and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Milo’s head fell back as he laughed and side-hugged Caleb.

Devin panted in the center of the stage, holding the microphone to his mouth, then flopped his long bangs over his head. “Okay, now that we’ve got everyone going…Are you okay? Because?—”

The crowd screamed, “I’m Not Okay!”

I glanced at Archer. “Jesus, they’re taking the house down.” I drank some beer and settled in while Axel and Silas started up a fast, harsh riff on their guitars and jumped in a circle around each other.

Devin came in on vocals, his voice strong and proud, like he knew he owned the place. He stomped his booted feet and paraded across the stage, swinging his arm wide as if addressing the audience head on.

As the chorus came up, the whole band sang into their mics, Caleb joining Milo on his, cheek to cheek.

Somehow, I had a feeling this song was really important to them all. I’d have to ask Milo about it later.

* * *

The band finishedoff another song and the guitar players swung their straps off their shoulders and set their guitars in stands.

I leaned over to Archer. “Looks like they’re taking a break.” I peeked at him. “Have you ever seen them play before?” I couldn’t remember if Milo had already told me that.

“No, this is my first time, too.” He fingered the lip on his beer glass. “Milo sure is sexy up there.” He shook his head. “Damn.”

Focusing on the stage, I caught Milo slapping Gabe’s back and stepping off the stage with him. Would he come straight to us? How the hell was he going to get through this crowd?

Milo and Gabe walked off and through a doorway next to the stage, while the others followed.

Maybe he had some backdoor way to get around through the casino. I twisted on my stool to face Archer. Now that it was quieter, we could have a talk and get a better understanding of each other. “So, Archer. How did you meet Milo?” I drank the last of my beer and held up a finger to catch Simone’s attention.

Simone ticked her head at me. She was pouring drinks like a crazy woman.

“I met him on a hookup app.” Archer peered at me, his cheeks flushing. “I was dating this girl from my classes, and she was…wasn’twhat I wanted. I wanted to try dating a guy. I’d only hooked up with men at parties and shit.”

“What are you studying?” I sat back in my chair and propped my elbow on the bar, then rubbed my chin. Maybe he could give me some insight into this whole bisexual business, too.

“I’m a senior studying exercise science. I’ll probably go on to get my master’s. I like hockey, but I don’t think I’m good enough to get a contract after this year.” He sucked his upper lip between his teeth, then released it. “Don’t think my dad would like that, either.”

“Does your dad know you’re dating a guy?” I winced. Why had I blurted that out? Wasn’t it too personal?

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