Page 135 of Dirty Rock

Julia dragged me off the stage when the set was done.

The fans were cheering our names, and Presley had wrapped up the show by thanking the crowds—a thing he’d grown to secretly love in the last few months.

My woman was walking with quick, snappy steps, only occasionally glancing back over her shoulder with heat in her eyes. Whatever I was about to get, it was the good stuff.

This regular sex, being in love, adoring the woman waiting for you shit was proving to be so much more than I ever thought it could be.

We were heading into the back corridor and down some steps when a familiar voice cried out to us both, making us stop on the spot, spin around and search for Tess. She came running towards us with her cherry-red hair fanning behind her, her legs moving quickly, and her eyes wild.

“What’s wrong?” Julia asked, her protective nature shining through.

“Nothing,” Tess panted, coming to a stop on the top step before she bent and placed her hands on her knees. “Wow, I had no idea how unfit I was.”

“You okay?”

Tess stood taller, and just as she pushed her fringe from her face, Presley jogged up behind her, equally as sweaty and equally as erratic.

“I made it,” he panted, grabbing her hips from behind and placing a kiss to her head. “You’re good to go.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Rhett,” Tess started, placing her hand over one of Presley’s. She looked weirdly nervous, which was unsettling because, in my eyes, Tessa had metaphorical big brass balls. She’d sure as shit put me in my place over the last few months on more than one occasion.

With a quick glance at Presley, she took a step closer to me and offered a sincere smile.

“About that favour I had to ask you, Rhett.”

“Sperm donor?”

She laughed and rolled her eyes. “No, idiot. Do you remember what I said to you about that time I saw you singing Wild Horses on TV?”

I frowned. “What about it?”

“Well, I meant what I said. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget thinking that your voice was made from something pretty special.”

“Jesus, you’re being nice. You’re starting to worry me.”

She took a step down to get closer. “We haven’t told anyone yet, but Presley and I are getting married in June.”

“This June?” I arched a brow.

Tess nodded almost shyly, and Julia’s hand squeezed mine. “This June,” she confirmed. “I don’t care where it is. I don’t care what we dress in. I don’t care about the food or the people or any of it apart from two things. One: Presley being there and saying his vows to my face. And two…” She paused, her smile breaking free. “That you sing that song for me when I walk down the aisle.”

I stared at her as a weird swelling of pride and gratitude gripped my heart. “Me?”

“You.” She nodded.

“But… don’t we hate each other?”

“I didn’t know that.Doyou hate me?”

“Not even a little bit,” I found myself admitting through a smile of my own.

“Didn’t think so.” She beamed. “So, will you? Sing for me?”

“Tess… shit… I mean.”

Closing the gap, she broke away from Presley completely and stood right in front of me. “I don’t have a family to invite. Not one made of DNA, anyway. All I have is you guys now, and I’d really like you to be a big part of the day. You mean everything to us, Rhett. Time you realised that and stopped trying to ruin what’s good for you.”

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