Play With Me - Brittany Cournoyer Page 0,58
one stone. Having him come proved to Maverick I thought of them as more than just some guys I played music with, while at the same time showed Foster I was all-in with him.
Yes, there was worry they wouldn’t get along, or that I was making a terrible mistake by mixing business with pleasure too soon. But I tried to push that worry deep into the dark crevices of my brain and not think about it anymore. I had to tell myself that they were all decent guys, and that everything would be just fine.
We finished going through the songs then discussed the order we intended to play them. After that was finished, we put everything away to get started on the barbecue. Baylor was the grill master, so we stayed back to watch him work. We decided to eat outside since the weather cooperated and provided a nice breeze, so we could enjoy our food without breaking out into a sweat. While Baylor babied the hot dogs, burgers, and kabobs Maverick brought, I got to work grabbing the chips, dips, and potato salad.
“Need any help?” Weston asked when he came back in from where he’d put his bass in his car.
“If you’d like to grab the plates and silverware that’d be great,” I tossed to him over my shoulder.
“Hey,” he said, and the awkwardness in his voice had me turning around to look at him. “I know I was giving you shit earlier, but all jokes aside, it’s nice to see you happy. Especially after everything you told me about—”
I rushed to cut him off, not wanting to get into that conversation—especially not when Foster would be arriving at any minute. That was a part of my past I didn’t want to ruin my present. When I told Weston what had happened before, it had been during a drunken moment of weakness on a particularly bad day. A day that was significant to the bad experience I didn’t want to talk about. This wasn’t that kind of day, and I wanted to hold on to my happy. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
While I aimed for sincerity, because I did appreciate it, I let my tone tell him I didn’t want to discuss it any further.
The message must’ve been received, because Weston gave me a nod before grabbing some plates and silverware, and then together we walked outside to set everything on the patio table. Maverick was standing beside Baylor, and I could see they were in the middle of their own conversation. Maverick tossed his head back and laughed at something Baylor said, and I noted the way his eyes crinkled in the corner. He was a few years older than us, but his gray hair had him looking even older, and the youthful transformation as he laughed was significant.
“Where’s my drink?” Baylor asked as I sat down on one of the patio chairs.
I snorted and gestured toward the back door. “Where they always are—in the fridge. You know how to help yourself.”
Baylor scoffed and pointed to the grill with the tongs he was holding. “I’m a little busy here.”
“I’m sure the meat will be okay for a few seconds.”
“And that’s why I’m grilling and not you.”
“Relax, Baylor. I can go get you something. What would you like?” Maverick asked him.
“Thank you. At least someone appreciates my predicament.”
“What predicament is that? Aside from you acting like the grill can’t function without you hovering by it.”
“Hey now. These kabobs are delicate, and if I don’t cook them, or any of this other food to perfection, then we can’t eat.”
“There’s always pizza,” I reminded him.
“Bite my ass, Stellan.”
“Uh, did I come at a bad time?”
Even though the voice was hesitant and laced with a bit of humor, the familiar sound penetrated my skin and went straight to my bone marrow. The chatter from the other guys stopped as I stood from the chair and turned to face the man who occupied my every waking thought.
“Nope, you’re right on time,” I told him as I walked closer.
“I’m not too sure about that. Ass biting doesn’t sound like a good time to me,” he quipped.
I paused in front of him and lowered my voice so only he could hear. “That’s because I haven’t bit yours… Yet.”
Foster’s eyes widened, his cheeks pinked, and his lips parted at the promise in my words. I couldn’t resist leaning forward and pressing my lips against his, not giving a damn about the small audience behind us.
“I wasn’t sure