Page 24 of Spark

“I know that, KC.”

“Everyone in the band was dating someone at the time, or at least crushing hard on someone, and I just wanted to feel that way, too.”

I pull a face. Well, that’s not true. As I recall, I was the only person even remotely involved with anyone at the time—with Finn. Everyone else was extremely single.

“You don’t need to explain,” Laila says gently. “I’ve had plenty of crushes that went nowhere and weren’t even about the actual person. Like I said, you’ve got nothing to feel embarrassed about.”

When Kendrick shoots daggers at me again, I look at Savage and blurt, “You’re not upset with your best friend for having a tiny crush on your future wife, right? Because you know that happened before you and Laila got even together, and his feelings weren’t real.”

“Of course, I’m not upset,” Savage says calmly. “I actually tried to push them together at one point, before I realized my own feelings for her.”

“I was so pissed at you for that,” Laila says, swatting her husband’s shoulder, and they both crack up.

“And, of course,” I continue, “nobody here thinks Kendrick still feels that way about Laila. Not for a minute. And that’s my entire point. My schoolgirl crush on Kai was ancient history in a matter of weeks, the same as Kendrick’s crush on Laila. Which means Kai’s version of events is absolutely ridiculous.” I look at Kendrick with raised eyebrows, nonverbally begging for forgiveness, and his blazing eyes and tight features make it clear my comment not only didn’t dig me out of the hole with him, it dug the hole even deeper.

After exhaling loudly, Kendrick says, “Okay, guys. Here’s the deal. It’s my birthday, so we’re gonna play a round ofBirthday Truth or Dare. Except in my game, truth is the only option.”

Everyone expresses shock and disagreement. Ever since the Cook brothers and Savage started this birthday tradition, it’s dare that’s been the only possible option.

“Come on, KC. LeaveBirthday Truth or Darefor your birthday party in Vancouver,” Kai says, yawning. “We’re all tired.”

With an angry glare directed at Kai, Kendrick forges ahead like he didn’t hear a word out of his brother’s mouth. “Kai, when Ruby joined the band, did you or did you not declare her off-limits for all of us because you secretly wanted her yourself?”

Kai scoffs. “No, but even if I did, I’m pretty sure there’s a statute of limitations on that crime.”

“Is that a no that morphed into a yes?”

“It’s an ‘I don’t think so, but if I did, who gives a shit at this point?’”

“I do.”

“So do I,” Titus interjects.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like liars,” Titus supplies.

“Same here,” Kendrick says.

“Would you two put your pitchforks away?” Kai shouts. He looks at Kendrick. “I didn’t have some big master plan to seduce Ruby from day one, if that’s what you’re getting at. People are complicated.I’mcomplicated. And horny. And as I’ve said, Ruby is objectively hot. Who knows what I was thinking back then? Whatever it was, I’ve stopped thinking it now, I assure you. The same way Ruby’s earliest feelings for me, whether they were a crush or something much more?—”

“They weren’t.”

“—are long gone now.”

Another silence ensues as we all process that logic. Unfortunately, I think Kai’s scored big points with that one. Damn.

“I knew this would happen,” Kai grumbles. “I told you guys from the start we’d have a Fleetwood Mac situation on our hands, and here it is.”

“Would you shut the fuck up about Fleetwood Mac?” Kendrick booms.

“I haven’t mentioned them in a decade.”

“Yeah, and I told you never to mention them to me again, or I’d kick your ass.”

“Strangle me with my amp cord, actually,” Kai says with a laugh. “Those were your exact words. I’ve never forgotten them.”

Laila clears her throat. “Sorry if I’m dumb, but didn’t FleetwoodMac sell, like, some huge, record-breaking number of albums?”

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