Page 52 of Busted String

“Sit up front,” Sammie said. “I’ll get you coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.”

“Thanks, Sammie.”

“Rules for the camper. No shouting or fighting in here. No smoking or drinking alcohol, either. You guys can rotate seats.”

“Sounds good,” Mark said.

“And if you have to fart, get your ass in the bathroom,” Nico joked.

Everyone laughed.

“I’m so excited,” Jace said.

“Me too,” Sammie said.

“We’re going to do great. We need to practice more tomorrow,” Nico said.

After an hour of driving, Mark walked up to Jace. “Can I sit up front for a while?”

“Of course.” Jace leaned over and kissed Nico, their lips brushing sending a rush of warmth through his body.

“Be good back there.” Nico said.

“Yes, Nico.”

Jace sat back in a chair and started writing a song. He played his guitar while Sammie listened to him sing.

“That’s great,” Sammie said.

“Thanks.”

The drive was only two and a half hours, and before they knew it, they were there. After Nico parked the camper on the grounds, they all went outside to stretch.

“It’s so hot here,” Jace said.

“Yes, that’s why we have the camper,” Nico said.

“Let’s listen to some bands,” Jace said.

Excitement filled the air as they slipped into their Scared Fire shirts.

Sammie and Mark had friends to meet, so Nico and Jace walked to the arena. They stopped at a stand and ordered cold beers and shared nachos and cheese.

A young man with red hair came up to Nico. “Master Nico, what are you doing here?”

“Hey, Harry, this is the lead singer in our band, Jace Adams, and he’s mine.”

“Oh, you’re lucky, Jace. You have a great Dom.”

“He’s not my Dom,” Jace said, feeling a wave of shock.

With a mischievous grin, Nico replied, “Not yet.”

Jace wondered why the guy had called Nico, Master Nico. What was that about? This Harry guy sounded like he was from New York, like Nico. The enormous man who was with Harry walked up over, introduced himself, and shook Nico’s hand. The red-haired man pulled Jace over to speak to him.

“Hey, is Master Nico making you enter Locktoberfest?”

“What the hell is Locktoberfest?” Jace asked.