Page 31 of Enjoying the Band in Lockdown

“I know you’re Xavier’s girl,” Devon knelt on the end of the bed, sandwiching me again as he stroked my back. “I know you’re Xav’s girl but I’m in this all the way. I don’t know what it’s like when I’m not around, but I’m in all the way.”

“This whole thing started with the three of us.” I could turn, kiss Devon and come back for Xavier. “The others are fun, and I’m not going to disrespect them by kissing and telling.” I only had two arms and they belonged around Xavier’s neck. “I wasn’t looking for anything the night we met. But there’s been something about you that I can’t walk away from, even when I try.”

“How about you stop trying. Sydney, I don’t know who or what you’re running from, but you’re safe here.” A gentle kiss to the tip of my nose and I wanted to cry. Stupid, crazy tears of relief.

“So, the three of us?” Devon asked. “Are we good?”

“Either, we’re very, very good. Or I’m very, very bad.” I twisted around to kiss the lips that tasted of me.

“Oh, babe, you are our very dirty blonde.”

“You should write a song about it!” I joked, ducking from a flying pillow.

“I’ll pick the real-life version over the song, any day.” Xavier threw me back onto the bed. Pinning me next to Devon. “This thing with us, comes first. Everything else comes second.”

“Even the music?”

“Even the music.” Xavier kissed me as if he believed.

The first day of competition should have been like any other, but it wasn’t.

Yes, I’d awoken in Xavier’s arms, but he joined Devon and I for a breakfast that lasted for hours. First, we made up a huge batch of waffles before the smell attracted Chase. He insisted on cooking up bacon that woke Trent who then added sausages and hash browns. By the time Jax joined us, we were making up a basic pancake batter because I’d mentioned loving lemon juice and sugar on pancakes. The only way to prove how good they tasted, was by making a large enough batch to feed an army, or at least, my men.

All day, Xavier had been attentive, romantic and the perfect gentleman. Despite taunts from his friends at the opened doors and how his fingers found mine at every opportunity. His way of coping.

We’d walked along the beach, skimming rocks out along the waves. We’d kissed away memories of Jax at the headland. Xavier even performed a one-man concert for me. Kicking the others out of the restaurant for the afternoon. Making time for us. In a world gone crazy.

About to unleash a crazy competition of our own making.

“How do you feel about tonight?” Xavier asked, punching out each word as if it was a crime. Focused on chopping the vegetables while I cooked down the spices for our curry pot. My version of comfort food.

“Tonight, huh?” I hedged, waiting for his reaction.

“It all begins.”

“Yeah, I guess it does.”

“It’s not like you and Chase haven’t, you know.” Luckily, I was just stirring spices and not chopping. Xavier didn’t even know how to say the words. The man who’d encouraged other men into our bed couldn’t actually say the words.

“Yeah. Chase is probably the best to start with. He’s at least,” I hesitated before admitting, “At least he’s not Jax.”

“Has Jax being giving you shit again?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just this kissing me every hour, on the hour if we’re in the same room.” Something he’d been doing since coming back from the cave. If only my lips didn’t like wrapping around his, I’d have stopped it.

“What’s the deal?”

“I don’t know. It’s just Jax being Jax and wanting to make sure that even if we’re not hooking up, I remember he’s still around.” To soothe any concern, I added, “It’s pathetic, really.”

“Pathetic?” Xavier scoffed with the knife still attacking vegetables. “I don’t think Jax would ever see himself as pathetic.”

“Think of it this way, the only female in this pub is with you. Yes, there are other females in town, but no one’s knocking on his door—even though word must have gotten out that five sexy rockstars are here. According to folk lore, Jax has never slept with the same female twice, yet he keeps coming back to kiss me.” Turning off the stove, I wrapped my arms around Xavier’s chest, nuzzling into his back. “All the while, I keep going back to your bed. Each night I’m calling out your name.”

“And tonight, you’ll be calling out for Chase,” Xavier joked. “But don’t worry, babe, you’ll be back with me in no time.”

Standing in the kitchen, cooking like any other couple who lived together, Xavier flirted while talking about the competition as if I was about to watch a movie with another guy.

“So, you’re seriously okay then?” My turn to ask.

---