Page 45 of The Wiener Across the Way

Shit. This wasn’t about me. Although, I did recognize the Kingman family trait of trying to look out for one another.My happy-go-always-getting-fucking-lucky-with-a different-woman-in-his-bed-every-night lothario of a little brother wasn’t as love ‘em and leave ‘em as the world thought he was.

I set my beer down and clapped him on the shoulder. “The right one won’t. Kelsey is my one, Ev. And I’m going to make sure she knows that. You’ll know when you find the one too.”

Her face was illuminated by the soft rooftop lights, and she was talking and laughing with a group of the Mustangs’ partners. The party was winding down, the pulsing beat of music replaced by a softer, more intimate vibe. Her eyes met mine, holding them in a moment that charged the whole night with electricity.

If ever I was going to make my move, let her know how I actually felt about her, it was tonight. I’d never lied to her, but I hadn’t told her the truth either. I’d instructed my agent to continue to stall about that stupid fake relationship thing so I had the time to woo her. It was time to find out if my plan had worked.

I crossed the rooftop, the sea of people parting for me. Not like they had much of a choice. It was either move or be mowed down by someone twice their size. Because I was on a mission. I gave a small jerk of my chin, asking her if she wanted to get out of here. With me.

She gave me a nod, and I swear there was a twinkle in her eye that promised something more once we were alone.

We made our way through the rest of the crowd and met in the middle. Her hand slipped into mine, sending a current of heat straight through me. Her touch was light, but the way she held onto me was another whisper in that promise of more.

We waited at the back entrance for the car, and I was ready to crawl the walls. How did one go about telling the girl he loved that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her? Maybe that was a little too dramatic. Better to just start with what I could give her in the here and now.

I was either about to completely fuck this all up irrevocably and blow this whole relationship up or take it to the next level. I was almost sure she wanted this thing between us to be more, but I could be kidding myself.

But if I was wrong, I’d rather know now. “I have next week off. It’s our bye week.”

She looked up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes. “That means no game? A week off?”

“Yep, and I want to spend it with you.” I held my breath as I said it, laying bare the truth of what I wanted, what I needed.

For a moment, she was silent, and I could almost hear the rapid beat of her heart.

“I’d like that,” she said softly, and it was all the confirmation I needed. “But I have to get back to Aspen tonight. The jet’s waiting for me at the airport, and then I have three shows back to back for the festival. Plus a small gig at Saddle Creek that, umm, I had to reschedule so I could come tonight.”

She’d rearranged a show. That revelation sent a rush of warmth through me. “You did that... for me?”

I knew what a big deal that was. Her career came first. She worked hard to get where she was and wouldn’t have changed her schedule just for the sake of showing off our relationship for the media. Her fans meant everything to her.

Her eyes flickered with vulnerability, and I was going to make sure she knew she could trust in me one hundred thousand percent.

“I did,” she admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I wanted to see you play.”

There was something more she didn’t say, and I’d give her time if that’s what she needed. I reached out, tucking that strand of hair that was always falling in her eyes. Her skin was soft under my touch, and I could feel the heat radiating from her.

“Then let me make it up to you,” I said, my voice low and sincere. “Let me be there for you during your shows. I’ll be your number one fan, cheering you on from the sidelines.”

Her smile grew, lighting up her face. “You’d do that? Be my groupie?”

“Kelsey Best’s personal groupie?” I chuckled, the idea both amusing and incredibly appealing. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my week. Let’s do it.”

“Like, right now? You don’t want to meet me up there? Don’t you need to pack or something? Trust me, Aspen does not have any place to buy clothes if you’re not buying ski bunny straight sizes.”

So I wasn’t the only one who’d been there, done that, and not gotten the t-shirt. Regular stores didn’t make clothes in my size and hadn’t since I was in high school. I couldn’t even imagine the wardrobe Kelsey must have to tote around the country.

I sent a quick text to Hayes, making him my designated errand boy. He was my little brother after all, and wasn’t that what they were for?

Hey, do me a solid and grab my go bag and bring it over to Rocky Mountain FBO.

You fleeing the country after all the media mess?

Headed back up to Aspen with Kels.

Ooh. Fancy. I'll be there.

Get me tickets to the festival?

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