Page 227 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“True,” Wil agreed, sneaking in another quick kiss. “Come on, let’s get inside and get the hard bit over with.”

Exiting the car, they met at the trunk to retrieve their bags before Wil led Ben up the steps and used his key to open the front door, yelling as it opened, “Make yourselves decent, we’re here!”

“Hey, son,” his father’s voice called out as he came down the short hallway. Wil dropped his bag as he was engulfed in a tight hug.

“Hey, Dad. Missed you.”

“We’ve missed you too,” Kellet told him, releasing him from the hug, stepping back with his hands on Wil’s shoulders as he inspected him. “Glad you made it home safely.”

Turning to Ben, Wil tugged his sleeve, pulling him closer. “Dad, this is my boyfriend, Ben Martinez. Ben, this is my dad, Kellet James.”

“Hi Mr. James. Thank you for letting me come and stay.”

“Hi Ben. You’re welcome. And please, call me Kellet and call my husband Jamie. We don’t stand on ceremony here.”

“Where is Pa?” Wil asked, surprised his stepfather wasn’t first to the door to meet them.

“Out by the pool. Seth got a melody stuck in his head, and we’ve all been noodling around with it all day.”

“By all of you, you mean Seth and Liam are here too?” Wil asked, a feeling of foreboding washing over him. Just what he needed, his honorary uncles here to give him and Ben a hard time.

“I know. I tried to get them to leave a while ago, but you know what Seth’s like, and then when he heard you and Ben were on your way, he settled in and won’t leave until he’s ready.”

Wil turned to Ben. “I apologize now for everything Seth will say and do. I promise he’s really a good guy behind the image he portrays.”

“Don’t worry too much, Wil, Cal is here to keep him in line,” his father assured them.

“Oh, thank God for that,” Wil said in relief. “Ben, you’ll love Cal. He’s a software designing whizz and a super nice guy. How he ended up with Seth is one of the world’s mysteries, but they are stupidly in love, and he’s good for Seth.”

Ben looked a little panicked at the news he was meeting the rest of Larkspur right away, and Wil sent him a reassuring smile.

“Leave your bag here, and we’ll go and meet them,” Wil told him. “Then we’ll order pizza and have a quiet evening.”

It took every ounce of self-composure Ben possessed to push down the nerves and follow Wil and his dad out to the pool area. As they passed through the open-plan living space, he noticed how relaxed and lived in the house looked. It definitely wasn’t the McMansion he’d been expecting. From the quick glimpses he caught, he observed a vibrant home adorned with colorful throws on the couches, many framed family photographs, and a bookcase brimming with books tucked away in the corner.

Stepping out onto the patio area, he was met with four sets of eyes fixed on him. He resisted the urge to grab Wil’s hand and hide behind him like a shy child. A tall man with dark hair stood and approached them. Although now forty, Jamie Larke was still as sexy and handsome as he’d been when he and Larkspur had hit it big over twenty years ago.

Jamie gave Ben and Wil a huge smile before pulling Wil into a hug.

“Good to see you, Wil.” Releasing Wil, one of the most famous men in music, turned to Ben and offered his hand. “And this must be Ben. Good to meet you.”

“Good to meet you too,” Ben replied, proud of himself for not stammering and melting on the spot.

“Come and meet everyone else,” Jamie said, ushering him forward. “This is Liam Jones. He’s the nice one amongst us,” he said, nodding to the bass guitarist, who gave Ben a small smile in return. “And this asshole is Seth Worthington.”

“Hey!” Seth protested. “I’ve mellowed in my old age. Just ask Cal.”

A snort of laughter came from the blond-haired man relaxing on one of the loungers, a laptop balanced on his knees. He waved cheerily in greeting. “Hey, Ben. Welcome to the madhouse. I’m the sane one amongst the bunch, so feel free to come and find me when they get too much.”

“How can you say you’re the sane one when you married Seth on the spur of the moment in Vegas?” Jamie asked. “You’re probably the least sane amongst us.”

“Ignore them, Ben,” Wil said, slipping an arm around Ben’s waist and pulling him in close before addressing the group. “Please don’t frighten him away. I like him, and I want him to stick around.”

Warmth slithered through Ben at Wil’s words, and he snuggled a little closer into Wil’s side.

“Oh. Like that, is it?” Seth asked, walking over to join them. “I think Ben and I need to get to know each other better.”

“Uncle Seth,” Wil growled, tightening his grip on Ben’s waist, and it was all Ben could do not to laugh at the horrified look on Seth’s face.

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