Page 70 of Strange Lad

He smirks before sliding his socked foot over my shin under the table. My eyes flutter as I drop my fork. “You can’t do that.”

“Do what?”

Ugh.

“Be all hot and sensual andflirty. It’s giving me a boner,” I grumble, wanting nothing more than to press on it.

He chuckles and keeps stroking my leg.

“We haven’t even kissed yet, and I’m ready to blow. Can we kiss? Is that something we can do? I’d kiss the fuck out of you right now.” It’s official. My brain is at max capacity. I can’t keep my lips shut.

“Not yet,” he says. “I want to, though."

“When?” I whine, squirming in my seat when his toes tease my foot.

“Soon,” is all he says, and the little shit goes right back to his fucking Pad Thai, leaving me and my cock pouting.

It’s been a week, and I have yet to kiss Oli. It’s all I can think about. He’s been perfectly content to put us back into our usual routine of hanging out, playing Magic, hovering while he tinkers with his motorcycle and new garden, and watching movies. I’m losing mymind. And to make matters worse, the band and I areforcedto meet with our manager Lex.

The tiny tyrant fromhell.

I think we all regret hiring him six years ago, but he’s Kelly’s younger cousin, so we can’t exactly fire him now. Not when he’s had a significant role in our success as a band. The guy might know dick about metal, but he knows marketing and has a way with…everything. I think he’s an evil sorcerer. Kind of looks like one, too.

Kelly is giggling at something on TikTok. Michael and Devon refuse to look at each other, and Phoenix is texting filthy things to Eli. I can tell because he’s squirming and blushing like a needy whore. Side-eyeing my best friend, I bump his leg with my knee, and he gasps, flipping his phone over.

“What?” he hisses.

“Stop sexting.”

“Why? Jealous?” he teases, and I roll my eyes.

“Where the fuck is he?” I ask everyone.

Kelly looks up from her scrolling and shrugs. “He said to be here at one.”

“Which means he’ll be here at three,” Devon grumbles from beside me.

I certainly hope he doesn’t make us wait until three. I’ve got plans. Plans that involve my lips. If I try, Oli might throw me to the ground again, which doesn’t sound too bad if the payoff is getting to taste him, even for a few seconds. I sigh longingly, trying not to chub up next to my bandmates. The last thing I need is for anyone to accuse me of wanting to fuck Phoenix again.

“I just texted him. He’s parking,” Michael informs us before sneering at Devon.

Devon returns the look and blurts, “What? Got something to say? Maybe an apology?”

“You fucking started it,” Michael quips.

“Did I, though?” Devon’s pierced eyebrow arches.

Scoffing, Michael drops it and turns his attention to whatever Kelly is watching.Talk about tension.“Are you two fucking?” I ask because I gotta know.

“Fuck no,” Devon growls at the same time Michael barks, “I’m not gay.”

“Sure about that?” I eyeball our guitarist. Whenever he’s mad, the vein in his forehead is more prominent like it currently is.

“Cut it out,” Phoenix slaps my stomach. “But seriously, guys. Whatever bullshit you’re fighting over needs to get handled. Lex is going to ream you a new one.”

Phoenix does have a point. Lex doesn’t like anyone to be pissy unless he’s the one doing it. And they’ve been at each other’s throats since Michael's party. I sense something. Maybe an unrequited crush? Michael does give off hetero vibes, but hell, up until recently, so did I. I all but threw myself at that interview lady a while back. She was hot.

“Well, it would’ve been handled ifMichaelwould just admit what a bitch he was being.”

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