Page 46 of The Summer Arrangement
Just as she should.
From our conversations over the past month, I know spending as much time with them as possible is her goal for the summer. Being a father myself, I could only hope that someday Emilia can bond like this with future siblings or at the very least friends if that isn’t in the cards for us.
Until this very instant, I’ve never considered having more kids.
But then again, I’ve never met anyone I could see myself with long-term.
Hands down—no one compares to Elizabeth Lancaster.
When the song switches to “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5, Ryker says something that catches my attention, “You really think you can get away with that?”
Wait… what’s he talking about?
“Hmm… I don’t know,” Finn muses mischievously. “It could happen…”
“Only if you want your ass handed to you by Mark,” Jax warns. “He’s a pretty chill dude, but don’t forget, he’s also a freaking colonel in the Air Force. If you think he doesn’t know how to hide a body, you’ve got another thing coming. Hell, I’d be just as scared of your mom if we’re talking about hiding bodies. She literally told me as much when we played in Charlotte. That poor woman’s probably been waiting for years on your sorry ass.”
“Uh… I’m not sure who’d be worse,” Ryan pipes in. “I’ve seen Lanie react when her sisters have kept things from her. This isn’t a little secret—and that twin talk is real. She and Sloane willbothhave conniptions.”
“What’s going on?” I finally ask when curiosity gets the better of me.
Ryan points his finger suspiciously at Finn. “This guy over here is hoping to run off and get married just weeks after proposing.”
“What?” Finn asks defensively. “Raven’s not into big extravagant weddings… and now that she’s said yes, I don’t wanna give her a chance to draw this out forever.”
“Bro… you just bought a househerein Seaside,” Jax points out. Looking out at the dance floor, he adamantly shakes his head, then shivers. “My money’s on Sloane stringing you up by the balls—not their dad—if you don’t find a way to include thegirls in this. You don’t have to wait or plan anything big, but for the love of all that’s holy,do notsneak off and get married.”
Ryan leans back and steeples his fingers under his chin as he gazes at Finn. Finally, he leans forward and asks, “Is there a reason you think she’ll bail?”
“No, man. It’s not like that… but…” he starts, and his eyes flit to find Raven on the dance floor. “Youallknow how afraid she was of commitment before I came along.” Shaking his head, he returns his focus to the guys at the table. “No… I’m not afraid she’ll leave me in the slightest. I just don’t wanna letanythingget in the way of me keeping my promise of forever to her.”
“So… what’s the rush then?” Ryker draws out. “Is this like a shotgun wedding?”
“For the love of fuck, Ryker,” Finn chastises and looks around to see if anyone is paying attention. “No, it’s not!” he hisses. “For the record, it would be the biggest blessing in the worldifthat were the case. I made her a promise, and I plan to keep it. We don’t want to let mundane things like waiting on venues, photographers, and things like that getting in the way. We also want the focus of it to be on us, not the fanfare.”
“Makes sense,” Ryan muses. “I know I’m not arockstaror anything…” A smirk plays on his lips before he finishes, “But after all the hype of the two of you getting together last summer, I’m sure if word got out about you getting married, it would be utter chaos.”
Finn’s eyes bulge out, almost comically. “Exactly.” Looking to me, he says, “Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and have only ever dreamed of this level of success, but I’ve put my life on hold for years, focusing on music. I found the one woman I want to spend the rest of forever with, and I don’t want the chaos of anything extravagant.”
“Look at you, getting all lovey-dovey,” Ryker mocks. “What’s next? You gonna write a banger love ballad, or something?”
“Not the point,” Finn growls and throws a fry at Ryker, hitting him square in the forehead.
“Hey now,” Jax says on a laugh. “I’m not sure we wantthatkind of attention tonight. The girls will kickallof our asses if we get thrown out of Pop’s. Besides, if you dumbasses ruin Lizzy’s birthday, we’llallbe in the doghouse, and I for one ain’t havin’ it.”
My job is to make people famous. I’ve personally been responsible for taking several to the top in this industry and keeping them there for as long as possible. As big as Ruby Frax has become, I’m grateful to see it hasn’t gone to their heads. They’ve got grit, which will take them far in life, but as I think about it, they’re also among the humblest musicians I’ve worked with. They’ve got their priorities straight—and I admire it both personally and professionally.
“Speaking of dumbasses,” Ryan interjects as he stands. “Finn, I love ya like a brother… And you know my two cents… I’m certain this discussion is far from over…” To the rest of us, he thumbs over his shoulder. “Fellas, my wife wants me to join her, and from the looks of it, so do her sisters. Y’all can sit here and bicker among yourselves, but I’ve got better things to do.”
It takes Finn and Jax all of two point four seven seconds before each are up and walking toward their fiancées. The girls light up when they see their significant others join them on the floor. I’m not much of a dancer, but as I watch Lizzy dance among her family, it takes everything in me to remain seated.
When the song turns to a slow one, and the couples pair up, Lizzy turns in my direction.
She barely makes it two steps before Ryker knocks the breath from my lungs when he clears his throat and claims, “I’m not sure what’s going on between you and Lizzy, but I’d bet my best guitar there’s only one of us that girl is interested in at this table, and it sure isn’t me.”
The moment a slow song starts, and couples pair up, that’s my cue to exit the dance floor. After weaving around the crowd, I spot Cameron popping up from his stool. In long, determined strides, he rounds the table, his fists clenching and unclenching as he turns toward the dance floor.
Uh-oh, what the hell is going on?
