Page 69 of Not So Happily Ever After (British Bad Boys)
“Sorry, Mac.” Rafe approaches me, Will by his side. “I don’t know why my brother wants you and Will on camera with him. But he’s been insisting on it all fuckingweek.”
“Camera?” I keep my smile on my face, although it’s starting to hurt.
Rafe stares at me as though he’s no idea what I’m talking about. “He wants it going live on social media.”
Lovely. I should’ve guessed.
I release Heath and stroll to Will’s side. “Cheer up,” he whispers in my ear. “Doesn’t sound too bad.”
I smother my laugh. Trust him to see through my fake smile. There’s no way I won’t finish that quote for him. “I’ll try and stay awake.”
His grin makes it hard to see anything else, and although I’m smiling at him like an idiot, I don’t care.
Rafe leads us to a lift at the end of the room, where a space has been cordoned off with gold velvet ropes. Most of the guests are making their way in the same direction, and the other members of the band are already there. Everyone has their phones at the ready, and Rafe whips his out before waving for us to move closer to the lift door. I glance at Will, and he gives me the sexiest wink ever.
“Okay, bro,” Rafe says into his phone. “We’re set.”
The lift door opens, and my heart slams against my chest.The whole freaking lift is on fire.
It only takes a second for my horrified brain to adjust to the sight emerging toward me. Wearen’tabout to be engulfed in a nightmarish inferno.
“Fuck me,” Will says without moving his lips, which gives me the terrible urge to laugh. I bite my lip and can’t drag my mesmerized gaze from Jake.
The back of his wheelchair is ablaze. Literally. Well, it’s notrealfire, but it’s bloody impressive. Massive red, orange, and yellow flames lick around him and fan into the air. He’s waving like a prince to the cameras and giving a speech, but I’ve no clue what he’s saying.
Because Will’s holding my hand.When did that happen?Not that I push him away. No one’s looking at us. Not that I’d much care if anyonewas. But everyone’s dazzled by the spectacle in front of us.
“Jesus, Mac,” he hisses in my ear, but he’s trying not to laugh, which sets me off. “Look at his head.”
I tear my eyes from the special effects and focus on his head. He completely shaved his singed side, and—oh my God, is that atattooemblazoned on the side of his skull?
“The Grim Reaper?” I nudge Will in the ribs but still don’t let go of his hand.“Dramatic, much?”
“At least now I think it’s safe to say the fundraiser will definitely go ahead.”
“That’s true.” Relief washes through me.One less thing to worry about.
“Mac!” Jake waves me over like the royalty he is, and with reluctance, I release Will’s hand and go to stand with him.The things I do for charity.I smile and nod at the crowd, even though most of the people here have no clue who I am, and Atomic Fire’s fans, watching online, are all going to hate my guts, just because I’m standing next to one of their idols.
“If it weren’t for Mackenzie, I wouldn’t be here now,” Jake gushes, and I try not to squirm. “But she told me, Jake, you had a close shave with Death, but your guardian angel fought him off. Embrace it! And so, I am.”
I didn’t say that.Well, I didn’t sayallof that. I chance a glance at Will and catch sight of the other side of Jake’s head. His hair almost reaches his shoulder, and the image of an archangel, brandishing a flaming sword, has been dyed into it.
When Jake decides to make a statement, he doesn’t do things by half.
The next few minutes are a blur, but when the furor dies down, Luke and Violet join us before I get the chance to make a run for it.
“I like your style,” Lucas tells Jake, who fairly glows under my brother’s praise. “Is this permanent?” He waves his finger over Jake’s head.
“Temporary tattoo,” Jake says. “Fucking awesome, innit?”
“I love it,” Violet says before she turns to me. “Did you design the graphics?”
I blink, taken aback. “Um, no.”
“Oh, sorry. When Jake said he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you…well bugger. You know what I’m like. Always jumping to conclusions.”
Lucas gives her a hug as if she’s the most adorable thing in the world, and I’m acutely aware that Will’s standing so close to me I can feel his body heat.Don’t think about his body heat.
