Page 36 of Loyalty (The Salvation Society)

I bite my lip as I consider his question. “It made me want more out of life.”

“Your career?” he asks.

I nod and move to sit next to him again. If I stay sitting like that, I’m afraid I will listen to my body and kiss him. “Yeah. I wanted to make him proud,” I whisper.

He wraps his arms around me and my head lays on his chest. “You’ve made him proud, Lorelei.”

I close my eyes against the tears he is evoking and simply nod. We sit in silence and I listen to his heart. It’s beating to a rhythm that sounds a lot like a song. Even his heart lives for music.

“Kegan!”

I jump up, my ey

es wide as I look around. Holy shit, I fell asleep in bed with him. He sits up slowly and just as slowly a grin spreads across his face.

“We fell asleep,” I hiss, jumping off the bed.

“Kegan!” Lane yells again, banging on the door. “We need to be at sound check in a half hour, brother.”

“I’m up,” Kegan says.

I start to pace as I adjust my shirt. Shit. This is going to look so bad. They are going to think something happened. They’ll never believe I just slept in his bed. I cover my face and groan. I wouldn’t believe it if I was on the other side of the door.

His strong hands rest on my shoulders and I drop my hands. “Relax,” he says, grinning.

“It’s not funny, Kegan. They are going to think we slept together,” I groan.

“Didn’t we?” he asks, tilting his head.

“No! Yes! I mean, yes, we only slept. They’re going to think we had sex,” I say, sighing.

He picks up a shirt and pulls it on. “Would it be so bad if they did?”

“Yes!” I yell.

He full on laughs and pulls me in for a hug. “You’re so damn cute in the morning when you’re in a panic. If I tell them nothing happened, they’ll believe it.”

“Okay,” I say, unsure.

“Let’s have some breakfast and get this sound check done. Last one for a few days,” he says.

I follow him out of the bedroom and all three of their heads turn when we get out there.

“Lorelei, I thought you were at the venue already,” Remi says.

“No, she was helping me with some lyrics I was writing last night and we both passed out,” Kegan says, pouring his coffee.

“What lyrics?” Everett asks.

They all begin talking about the lyrics he was working on and the relief I feel is immediate. Kegan eventually glances my way and gives me a wink.

Thanks, big guy.

The guys were amazing as always. Kegan was the star he was born to be. You’d think after all these concerts I would be used to it, but I’m not. Each time I find something new and fall in love with them a little bit more.

We’re waiting in the VIP room for the meet and greet to begin. The guys are talking animatedly about the show and I’m standing back watching. They are always so excited when they get off stage, I’ve learned to give them room to enjoy the natural high.

I gave them all new shirts to change into and they are ready. I only forgot the shirts one time and I never made that mistake again.

---