Page 15 of Spark

On the other hand, I’ve never gotten into an actual bed with Ruby. Especially not when we’re all alone.

My mind racing, I ask, “What if one of our bandmates sees you coming out of my room at the crack of dawn?”

“You think I’d leave at the crack of dawn?” She snorts. “Sir, I need my beauty sleep.”

“They might think something’s going on between us.”

Ruby scoffs so loudly, the sound not only hurts my ears, it hurts my feelings. “Nobody would ever think that. They all know you’re my best friend—like a brother to me. Now, stop acting like a weirdo and come on. I’m excited to test my theory about this.”

Still, I remain frozen. “Have you ever slept in the same bed as Titus?”

“Lots of times. At our grandma’s, we always had to do that, and it wasn’t weird in the slightest.”

“As adults,though? Have you ever cuddled Titus in a bed, as an adult?”

Ruby scowls. “Well, no. But so what? If Titus was suffering from chronic insomnia, and I had the brilliant idea that cuddling him might cure the problem, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Why not? Only a pervert would have a problem with that. So, come on, the only way to prove you’re not a pervert is to come with me.”

I chuckle. “That was brilliant logic, even for you.”

“Thank you. I thought so.”

Fuck it.Sighing, I take Ruby’s hand and rise from my stool. “Okay, cutie. Cure me. Save me. Through any means necessary.”

4

RUBY

“Thanks for trying to solve my Insomnia Rubik’s Cube, Ruby Duby,” Kendrick says as we step into the hotel elevator. I’m riding his back, piggyback-style, so he’s got to be the one to press the button for our floor.

“Cuddling with you is going to be a special kind of torture,” I deadpan. “But that’s the kind of friend I am. I’m a saint.”

“No, you’re a gem.”

It’s what Kendrick always calls me. His gem of a best friend.

“If it turns out your theory is wrong,” Kendrick says, “feel free to ditch my sleepless ass and go to your own room after fifteen minutes. No sense both of us lying awake in the dark.”

“Pfft. I can sleep anywhere. You know me.”

The elevator doors open, and we begin trekking down the long hallway toward Kendrick’s room, with me still on his broad back. Before we reach our destination, a door ahead of us opens and a dark-haired woman emerges, her backside facing us.

“I had so much fun, Kai.”

“Me, too,” Kai’s groggy voice replies from inside the room. “Take care now.”

“Call me, okay?”

“If I can.”

After blowing a kiss into the room, the woman steps out and pivots, letting the door shut behind her, and that’s when it’s plain to see she’s floating on air.

Quickly, Kendrick stops in front of a random door and pretends to be looking for his key as she passes. And the second she’s gone, he gallops past Kai’s room and toward his own with me on his back and both of us laughing like hyenas.

Inside the room, I slide off Kendrick’s back and buckle over with laughter as he imitates his brother’s comment:if I can.Soon, we’re falling onto his bed and belly laughing like a couple of goofballs.

Still chuckling, I turn onto my side and take in Kendrick’s handsome face. He’s mere inches from me, and he looks as drunk as I feel. “She looked really happy. Hopefully, having whatever she thinks is good sex and a fun story to tell her friends will soften the blow when he never calls.”

“Ye of little faith. Maybe Kai’s a changed man. Maybe it was love at first sight for both of them.”

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