Page 228 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

Seth pointed a long finger at Wil. “Don’t call me that!”

“You started it,” Wil shot back. “Ben and I are newly dating. Yes, we think there is the possibility of it being a long-term thing. We don’t need you doing the whole ‘hurt him and we hurt you’ speech, okay?”

“Babe, come and sit down, so we can all get to know Ben,” Cal called out to his husband.

With a huff, Seth stomped over and dropped onto the lounger where Cal was. Cal put his laptop to the side, allowing Seth to lean back against his chest.

“Ben, what can I get you to drink?” Kellet asked. “We’ve got just about everything, including a nice IPA from a local micro brewery.”

“Beer sounds nice, thank you.”

“Make yourself at home. I’ll order the pizza while I’m at it.” Kellet looked around the group. “The usual for everyone?”

“Can you get mine with only half mushrooms please, Dad? Ben doesn’t like them.”

“That’s okay. I can just pick them off,” Ben protested. He liked that Wil had remembered his aversion to mushrooms, but didn’t want to make it an issue.

“It’s just as easy to take them off the order,” Wil reassured him as he guided him to a vacant chair.

“Thank you,” Ben said quietly, and to his surprise, Wil planted a quick kiss on his lips before settling into his own seat.

“No problem.”

“So, how did you two meet?” Seth asked.

Ben glanced at Wil, who grinned back at him.

“We met at a frat party the weekend before midterms,” Wil replied.

Seth’s keen gaze flicked between them, and Ben tried not to squirm under the scrutiny.

“I feel there’s more to it than that, but we’ll let it go for now,” Seth said.

“Seth, you aren’t tormenting Wil’s boyfriend, are you?”

The fresh voice had Ben turning in his seat as an older man who could only be described as a silver fox strode towards them.

“No Miles, I’m not,” Seth sighed.

Ben watched as Miles leaned over and kissed Liam. He said something too low to be heard that had the bass guitarist blushing faintly, before he nodded. Liam looked over and caught Ben’s gaze.

“Ben, this is my partner and also our manager, Miles Cartwright.”

Ben stood and stretched out his hand in greeting. “Hi Mr. Carwright. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Good to meet you too, Ben. Call me Miles.”

Ben sat down again, in awe of the man who was not only the manager for Larkspur but also the owner of the management company that handled Eclipse and several other A-list celebrities.

Kellet returned with the beers, and Ben relaxed as the conversation flowed around him. Listening to the teasing and laughter, he began to see them as a group of good friends who’d known each other for years rather than the chart-topping band they were.

Seven

Wil threw the empty beer bottles into the recycling bin along with the grease-stained pizza boxes. It had been good to catch up with the guys, but he was tired after driving most of the day. He glanced outside to see Ben chatting with Jamie and gave a small smile. As predicted, Ben had been welcomed with open arms, and it hadn’t taken long for him to join in the conversation.

Stifling a yawn, Wil headed back outside.

“Hey, I’m ready to turn in. You can stay and chat with Pa some more, but I thought I’d show you your room.”

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