Dating Him: The Series E-Book

Michelle MacQueen

• Herausgeber: Twin Rivers Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Dating Him is the complete sweet M/M series that includes Dating Nashville, Dating Washington, and Dating Texas. 
Dating Nashville
How does a straight guy accidentally come out as gay to the entire country music world? 
The truth is, he doesn’t. 
It happened so fast. One moment, Beckett Anderson stood on stage watching his best friend’s little brother standing in a sea of people as his heart broke in two. 
The next, he’d jumped off stage to give him the kiss of his life—or maybe the kiss of Becks’ life. 
So, that question about the straight guy… well, maybe it’s not so black and white. Maybe when Beckett begs Nicky to play his boyfriend for the media, a part of him wants it all to be real. 

Dating Washington
How does the president’s son fall for the closeted son of a senator? 
The truth is, he didn’t want to. 
The only home Asher Brooks has ever known is the white house--yes, that white house. As the son of two presidents, the expectations weigh on him. The only person who never made him feel like he needed to be someone different, someone better, was his best friend--a friend who abandoned him the moment Asher revealed who he truly was. 
But this is Washington, and there’s no avoiding Kenny Montgomery. 
So, that question about falling for the wrong person… maybe it’s not so black and white. Maybe when Kenny kisses him, he’s allowed to kiss him back. 

Dating Texas
How does the future NHL goaltender fall for his tech nerd roommate? 
The truth is, he decided not to fight it. 
Killian “Killer” James doesn’t fit into the elite world of Defiance Academy. There on a hockey scholarship, his Texas ranch hand ways are foreign to his wealthy classmates. 
And then there’s Diego, the kid who never looks up from the computer screen in their shared dorm room, the one whose genius is intimidating. 
Boys like them aren’t supposed to be friends, they aren’t supposed to share secret smiles or distract each other from the goals that have gotten them this far. 
So that question about the jock and the nerd… maybe distractions aren’t such a bad thing. Maybe it’s time for Killian to step out of his own lonely world and join Diego in his.

Dating Him contains plenty of M/M swoon in a clean package. Perfect for fans of Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda, Red White & Royal Blue, and What if it's Us. 

Leseprobe

Copyright 2020 Michelle MacQueen and Ann Maree Craven

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is entirely coincidental.

This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Printed in the United States of America

Cover by Melissa Craven at Bookly Style

Editing by Kelly Hartigan at Xterraweb

Contents

Dating Nashville

Note from the authors

1. Nicky

2. Beckett

3. Nicky

4. Beckett

5. Nicky

6. Beckett

7. Nicky

8. Beckett

9. Nicky

10. Becks

11. Nicky

12. Becks

13. Nicky

14. Becks

15. Nicky

16. Becks

17. Nicky

18. Becks

19. Nicky

Epilogue

Bonus Chapter One: Becks

Bonus Chapter 2: Nicky

Dating Washington

1. Kenny

2. Asher

3. Kenny

4. Asher

5. Kenny

6. Asher

7. Kenny

8. Asher

9. Kenny

10. Asher

11. Kenny

12. Asher

13. Kenny

14. Asher

15. Kenny

16. Asher

17. Kenny

18. Asher

19. Kenny

20. Asher

21. Kenny

22. Asher

23. Kenny

Epilogue

Bonus Chapter 1: Kenny

Bonus Chapter 2

Dating Texas

1. Killian

2. Diego

3. Killian

4. Diego

5. Killian

6. Diego

7. Killian

8. Diego

9. Killian

10. Diego

11. Killian

12. Diego

13. Killian

14. Diego

15. Killian

16. Diego

17. Killian

18. Diego

19. Killian

20. Diego

Epilogue

Bonus Chapter 1: Killian

Bonus Chapter 2: Diego

What’s Next?

Wylder and the Secret Rockstar

About Ann Maree

About Michelle

Note from the authors

We’re so glad you’re reading Becks’ story. This one has been a long time coming ever since we introduced Becks in book two of the Redefining Me series, Dating the Boy Next Door - which tells Avery and Nari’s story. You’ll meet Avery and Nari in this book.

Dating Nashville comes after an outcrying of support for the character. Neither of us has ever tackled a story quite like this, but it hit us in a way no other did. We hope it does the same for you.

Once you’re finished, check out Dating the Boy Next Door to see what happened to make Becks into the person he is. You can ooo and aww over a younger version of him who is just about the best friend any of these characters could ever ask for.

See it here.

1

Nicky

“Nicky St. Germaine.” Principal Stevens’ voice drifted over the crowd.

“Finally.” Nicky stepped from the rows of Twin Rivers High graduates, eager to receive his diploma and get out of there. Grinning from ear to ear, Nicky made the short walk to the stage, and a cheer roared from the crowd—not that Nicky was popular; he just had a few really loud friends. Well, in reality, they were mostly his brother Avery’s friends, but he loved them. It was good to see their familiar faces beaming up at him. Avery and his girlfriend, Nari, Wylder, Julian and Addison, and even Beckett Anderson showed up for his graduation. Becks was dressed in the most obvious disguise. Large, dark sunglasses covered half his face, and his ridiculous blond wig was swept back into a man-bun. The people of Twin Rivers pretended to let him blend in. They were used to his antics—and they were proud of their homegrown rising country music sensation.

God, I’ve missed him. Nicky accepted his diploma and a hug from Principal Stevens before returning to his seat. He’d missed his older friends over the last two years since they all graduated. It was strange, going back to school for his junior year without them. It hadn’t occurred to Nicky until then that he didn’t have any friends his age. The only one left to brave the halls of Twin Rivers High was Becks’ little sister Wylder, who was a year younger than Nicky. They’d bonded over the shared demise of their social lives with the departure of their older siblings.

And then there was Kenny. Nicky’s eyes swept the crowd, looking for his Defiance Academy boyfriend, also a year younger than Nicky. The last two years with Kenny had been rocky at times, but they were doing well—and looking forward to their last summer together before Nicky left for Vanderbilt University in the fall. Kenny still wasn’t completely out of the closet, but he was trying, and Nicky was patient. With his conservative politician parents, Nicky understood how much harder it was for Kenny to come to terms with his sexuality than it had been for Nicky. Sure, his own father hadn’t always made it easy, but that was nothing compared to Kenny’s parents.

Nicky’s heart stopped when he found his boyfriend among the crowd. He somehow managed to be both adorable and sizzling hot in his suit and tie with his sunglasses shielding his eyes. But that wasn’t the source of his heart’s distress this time. It was the gorgeous brunette girl hanging on his arm. Seeing his boyfriend with a Defiance Academy girl always gave Nicky reason to freak out. This was the same girl Kenny had cheated on him with two years ago.

Surprise. Nicky had trust issues with his boyfriend. It was no secret Kenny wished he wasn’t bi. He felt his life would be easier if he could be the future politician his parents wanted him to be with a smart Jackie O. at his side to conqueror Washington as a power couple.

But he loved Nicky. That much Nicky knew. Sometimes he wondered if that was enough.

As Kenny draped his arm around the girl’s waist, Nicky knew the end was near. He couldn’t take much more of this. In a perfect world, Kenny wouldn’t hate himself for his own feelings, he would see that being bi was okay, and he didn’t have to pretend to be otherwise. But this was never a perfect world.

“Trust me, Nicky, if anyone gets in trouble for this, it’s going to be me, and I’ve already been expelled, and you graduated a few hours ago, so it’s a win-win.” Wylder finished picking the lock, moving to hold the door open for him.

“There’s still the legal matter of breaking and entering.” Nicky shouldered past her, carrying a huge box of party supplies.

“Nothing’s broken.” Wylder shrugged. “We’re just borrowing the venue.” She darted down the main hall of Twin Rivers High where she’d already spent hours setting up the most legendary party Twin Rivers would ever see.

“How did you do this?” Nicky dropped the box he was carrying. White fairy lights draped from the ceiling to cascade over the lockers, transforming the wide school hallway into a fantasy world. “It’s beautiful.”

“Principal Stevens left for her annual cruise right after the graduation ceremony, and I hacked into the alarm system and changed the phone number. I disabled the alarm, but if it happens to go off, the alarm company will just call me, and I’ll tell them it’s a false alarm. I found the code word they’ll ask for the last time I was in Stevens’ office. Then we’ll lock up when we leave, and I’ll change the call list back to the way it was. When summer school starts up next week, they’ll be in for a huge surprise and think it was an epic senior prank. Come on, let me show you the rest.” She tugged Nicky back down the hall to the school lobby she’d set up for the buffet and bar area.

“I can’t hire caterers, so we’re having a pizza and taco bar courtesy of Uber Eats delivery, and we’ll have a couple of kegs at the bar.” The whole lobby was set up like a sports bar, decked out in the school colors and sports team logos.

“You didn’t do all of this by yourself in the last three hours?” Nicky looked at her like she might have magic he didn’t know about.

“I have minions.” She tossed her dreadlocks over her shoulder and beckoned him to follow her.

“There’s more?”

“We have multiple forms of entertainment planned for the evening.” Wylder led him to the junior hall, lit with tiki lanterns and unlit torches he hoped would stay unlit.

“What the?” Nicky stared down at his feet covered in sand. “What did you do, Wylder?” his voice rose a few octaves.

“I brought the beach inside.” The long hallway was buried in at least two feet of sand, and the classroom doors stood open. Nicky peeked inside the nearest classrooms to see they were all covered in sand too, “We’re having a sandcastle contest in the classrooms, but the hallway is for the waterslide. And the pool is in the last room on the left.”

“Pool? Waterslide? Wylder, you’re insane.” Nicky ran a hand through his carefully styled hair, worried his best friend was going to jail this time.

“It’s a slip and slide.” She pointed to the end of the hall where the long yellow slide of death waited for a bunch of drunken teenagers to probably kill themselves. The slip and slide ended in a kiddie pool, and a huge hill of sand would likely keep most from really hurting themselves.

“It’s definitely epic.” Nicky sighed.

“Come see the cafeteria. It’s the dance club for the night. We moved all the tables out and hung a bunch of disco balls and black lights. It’s going to be amazing.”

“It will be a miracle if we don’t all get arrested before the night is over.”

“I’ve set up escape routes for that possibility. When everyone comes in at the front, they’ll get a colored bracelet and instructions on what to do when the cops show up. I’ve already sent parking instructions to the whole student body so the lot doesn’t fill up with more than a few cars. Exit routes will take the students out in all different directions to get to their cars and out of the area before the cops know where to look.”

“You’ve thought of everything.” There was no doubt this party would be legendary. Just a few weeks ago, Wylder was caught stealing the final exam answers for all of her classes. It was a desperate attempt to improve her grades enough so she could pass her junior year. Not only did she end up flunking the whole year, but she’d been expelled for cheating.

“This party is my swan song to Twin Rivers High. No one will ever forget it.”

Nicky stuck to the lobby-slash-sports bar, waiting for Kenny to arrive. Nothing would get him back to the “beach” hall tonight. That place was dangerous. Kids in bathing suits, beer, and a waterslide were a bad combination. The cafeteria-slash-dance club was the place to be. Wylder and her minions had outdone themselves on the décor. Nicky couldn’t wait to get on the dance floor and celebrate with his boyfriend.

“There you are,” Kenny said, clapping him on the shoulder. “This place is nuts.”

Nicky turned to greet him, but his smile faltered when he saw the brunette clinging to his boyfriend again.

“Penny.” Nicky nodded, the tension he’d felt all day returning with a vengeance. The muscles in his jaw ticked as he turned to face Kenny.

“I’ll just let you two talk.” Penny darted across the lobby to get herself a drink.

“Are you even serious right now?” Nicky glared at Kenny.

“What, she’s a friend from school.” Kenny shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets, refusing to meet Nicky’s furious gaze.

“That girl has never been just a friend, Ken. What are you doing to us?”

“Me?” Kenny returned his glare. “You’re the one leaving.”

“I’m going to college, Kenny! It’s just a few hours away, and I’m not leaving for three months.”

“I know.” Kenny’s shoulders sagged.

“Your parents are home, aren’t they?” For the last two years, his parents had spent so much of their time in Washington DC that Kenny had moved to the dorm rooms at Defiance Academy. It was one of the main reasons their relationship had flourished. Without his parents’ influence, Kenny was free to be himself in a way he’d never had before, as long as no one found out.

“Yeah. Mom’s home for the summer, and Dad wants me traveling to Washington with him as like an intern or something when I’m not at hockey camp.”

“So what, you’re straight now?” Nicky snapped, hating himself for falling into this same old argument with a boy who would likely never come to terms with his sexuality.

“It’s not as black and white for me as it is for you, Nicky.” Kenny’s voice dropped to a hush. “You know, I still like girls. And I don’t know what that means yet.”

“So we’re done? You’re going to pretend we never happened to please your dad and what? I’m just a casualty.”

“It’s not like that, Nicky. You know I still love you. But—”

“You know what, Ken. I’m done with the buts. Go be happy with Penny if that’s what you want. I just hope for your sake some day you figure out who you are.” Nicky stumbled away before the tears he choked back found their way into his eyes.

The steady beat of the bass matched the rhythm of Nicky’s heart as he sipped a bottle of water—wishing for the first time in ages it was something stronger. But Nicky didn’t drink. His father was an alcoholic who’d finally managed to get his shit together. Nicky never wanted to go down that road and had given up booze after one particularly bad night a few years ago. It was an ironically similar night. After walking in on Kenny and Penny making out, Nicky had spent the night hitting the hard stuff only to arrive home to find his father in worse shape. Nicky hadn’t touched a drink since then, but it didn’t escape him that his boyfriend’s drama was what made him want to drink in the first place.

Nicky watched Wylder make her way around the dance floor, dancing with everyone and having the time of her life. But he felt like going home to wallow in misery. This should be one of the happiest nights of his life. He just graduated high school, and his life stood like an open road in front of him, just waiting for him to ride out of town and never look back.

Maybe that’s what I should do. Maybe he should leave Twin Rivers now and move in with Avery and Nari a few months early to start his new life in Nashville—a single life in a city with more options. In a small town like Twin Rivers, the gay dating pool was pretty small. But in Nashville? Maybe Nicky’s real love story awaited him there?

“Becks, Becks, Becks!” The crowd chanted, taking Nicky’s attention away from his personal drama.

There he was in the middle of his adoring fans, the big bad country music star, and Nicky’s onetime friend. But Nicky hadn’t seen or spoken to Becks since he left Twin Rivers two years ago after his own graduation. Becks ate up the crowd’s attention, no surprise there. Nari was with him, garnering a lot of attention herself. She was just as famous, but she was a lot more down to earth about it. Nari came home often, so she wasn’t quite the anomaly Becks was.

Once upon a time, Nicky counted Becks among his closest friends. Seeing him now, and how much he’d changed in some ways and how little he’d changed in others, just made him sad.

Get over yourself, Nicky! You were on cloud nine earlier today. He needed to stop letting other people dictate his happiness. It was time Nicky grabbed his future in his fist and made decisions for himself, taking what he wanted out of life. That was what everyone around him seemed to do.

The music came to a screeching halt, and Wylder’s voice sounded over the PA system. “Party’s over, guys. The cops are on the way. Please proceed to your exit and get home safe. I have Ubers waiting in every lot to take anyone home who’s too drunk to drive.”

Kids scattered in every direction, following Wylder’s instructions to the letter. But Becks and Nari stood in the center of the cafeteria, looking confused.

“Come on, you two oldies. Follow me.” Nicky grabbed Nari’s hand in his left and Becks’ in his right. He pretended not to notice the warmth of Becks’ skin against his or the way his large hand engulfed Nicky’s with a firm and familiar grip. “The last thing you two need is to get caught crashing a high school party. Your fans will die of embarrassment for you.”

“Lead the way, Nick-Nick.” Becks ran with him down the hall lit with fairy lights into the gym. At least a dozen other students rushed through the back doors to the small lot behind the gym. Nicky shoved Nari and Becks into the waiting Uber and sent them home to Nari’s house.

“Just great.” Nicky watched them leave. “Even after two years, I still have a crush on my brother’s best friend.”

2

Beckett

Home sweet home. Well, not home exactly for Beckett Anderson, current rising country star and future music legend—at least in his mind. No, this Cincinnati crowd wouldn’t resemble the small groups of people who’d once flocked to see him play as a part of the band Anonymous two towns over. But that was two years ago, a lifetime in the music industry. He’d seen stars rise and fall in that short time, ending with a crash.

And each time the lights of Nashville dimmed, he just had to hope and pray he wouldn’t follow in their footsteps.

Anyone who knew Beckett would probably claim it was his confidence that got him where he currently stood atop a wide stage with a sea of expectant faces stretching out before him.

What would they do if they knew it was all a lie?

A grin slid across Beckett’s face as he leaned into the microphone. They’d finished the first set and were due for a break. He already liked the festival setup more than any concert where he had to sweat through hours of playing before he got to rest.

“Thank ya’ll for coming today.” He did his best to keep his fake Southern accent even. His public relations team insisted on it, and what they wanted, they got. They’d gotten him this far, so he rarely questioned their ideas.

“Do you know I used to come to this festival every year with my little sister? I grew up right around the corner in Twin Rivers.” This next move was another idea from the brain trust that was his PR team. “This sister of mine plays music too. She was in my high school band.” He shot a glance over his shoulder where Nari stood behind her keyboard shaking her head, whispering, “No, Becks. Don’t do it.”

She was right. Beckett was about to be a dead man.

But he didn’t care. His eyes found Wylder standing to the side of the stage with Avery and Nicky, her eyes wide.

“Who wants my sister to come up here?” A roar rose from the crowd. This was why Beckett had been able to climb the ladder to fame so quickly. He had people eating out of the palm of his hand.

Wylder shook her head. Funny, she hadn’t seemed so shy about attention when she’d thrown an epic party in the freaking school halls. God, he loved his sister. She’d always been cooler than him.

“Come on, sis!” Becks yelled over the noise of the waiting crowd. Wylder wasn’t the same girl who’d hammered on her drums every time Anonymous took the stage. There was something sad about her now. All Becks wanted was to see his sister smile up on stage. Music had always been their language. He wanted to prove to her she hadn’t forgotten the words.

Becks pulled the guitar strap over his head and set it on the ground before running to the side of the stage. He took Wylder’s arm and pulled.

Nari Won Song, Becks’ keyboardist and favorite person in the world because of her next actions, lifted her hands and started to clap, slow and rhythmic. She leaned in to her mic. “Wylder. Wylder.” The crowd picked up her chant. “Wylder. Wylder.”

“I hate you for this,” Wylder mumbled under her breath as she gave in and let Becks lead her to the center of the stage.

He winked at her. “Do you know ‘About a Boy’?”

She sighed. “You mean the chart-topping, insipid song you remind me is amazing every time we talk?”

“It was one time, Wylder.” Becks was the one person who never got offended by his sister’s attitude or harsh words. She didn’t have to tell him she was proud or that she loved him, because he already knew. “About a Boy” was the story of a girl who waited her whole life for someone who could love her like she deserved. It had been called heartbreaking, but that didn’t stop every radio station across the country from using it to turn Beckett into a household name.

Nari set her hands on the keyboard, but Becks shook his head. “No instruments.”

He pushed Wylder toward the mic and took his position next to her.

“Hush now,” Becks told the crowd with a wink. “My sister is about to steal your hearts, and you don’t want to miss a word.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, knowing how happy his PR people would be at how much he’d played up the siblings angle. Girls around the country would watch this on YouTube tomorrow and swoon. It was the Beckett power. But Wylder… Most people discounted her. With her blond dreadlocks and a constant scowl, she was suited to the drums she loved, rarely stepping forward to show anyone the voice Becks knew she had. She’d shocked him the night before as she’d danced and laughed in the very school that didn’t want her anymore. Becks wanted to hate Twin Rivers High for kicking her out even with the constant trouble she found herself in. He wanted to burn the place down for not allowing his sister to pass her junior year after she’d struggled through some hard times.

The first verse started and Becks’ voice covered the crowd like a blanket, cloaking them in solitary comfort. When Wylder joined him and eventually Nari, he wondered why they ever needed instruments. Tears built in the corners of his eyes as he hit the final verse.

I waited my whole life

To be set free

I waited my whole life

For you and me

Nari’s voice faded out, and Becks let his drop as well even though he normally sang the last lines alone. Wylder’s sweet voice carried them to the end.

And what if you never come

I waited my whole life

Dreaming of the day I let you go

As the crowd cheered, some wiped tears from their eyes. Beckett hugged Wylder to his side and kissed the top of her head. In the two years he’d been gone from Ohio, he hadn’t returned home, but he still loved his family and constantly begged them to come to Nashville. They’d visited a few times. Wylder needed him. He hadn’t realized how much until the day before when she’d told him about the expulsion. He’d make sure she had everything. Dropping out wasn’t an option. It would cost a lot, but he’d get her into Defiance Academy. Whatever it took.

Wylder ducked out of his embrace and sprinted off stage. Becks leaned back in to the microphone. “I am Beckett Anderson, and we’ll be back this evening. Enjoy the other bands while I’m sleeping off all the beer ya’ll have been throwing at me.” With a final wink, he pulled out his earpiece, letting the cord hang around his neck. The noise from the crowd was deafening, but he loved it.

Some people complained about fame, but Beckett embraced it. What was the point of being a country star if you didn’t have girls screaming your name and men buying you drinks everywhere you went?

Arms slipped around Beckett’s waist from behind, and he shot Nicky and Avery a grin before turning to face Sofie, assistant extraordinaire.

“Oops.” She laughed. “Didn’t mean to get so close to you.” She held out a bottle of water, her face the picture of innocence. He took the water and uncapped it before swigging it back. Leveling her with a gaze again, his lips ticked up. “You mean you didn’t want your hand caressing my abs?”

“Babe, if you think that was a caress, you need to get out more.”

“No one got me any water,” Nari grumbled as she wiped her face with a towel. Their other two band members, Quinn and Harrison, both looked ready to jump at Nari’s command.

Nari didn’t seem to want their help. She approached Sofie. “You’re not Beckett Anderson’s assistant. Your official title is assistant to Beckett and the band.” She pointed from herself to Quinn and Harrison. “We’re the band part of that title.”

Sofie suppressed a grin and lifted her hand in mock salute. “Aye-aye, Captain.” She marched toward a table piled high with food and drinks, grabbing three bottles of water and lobbing them at each band member. Nari ducked hers, and it hit Avery.

Wanting to keep everything under control as he always did, Beckett nodded toward the back of the stage. “Uh, Sof… I think we need to talk logistics for tonight’s concert.”

She nodded. “Yes. We do.” They left the others staring after them.

“Logistics, my ass.” It was Nicky’s voice that followed them, and something about that didn’t sit well with Becks. But he didn’t have time to think about it before Sofie pulled him into a dark corner, pressing him against the wall.

“So,” she whispered. “About these logistics.”

He kissed her as he’d done a million times over the last two years. She’d been assigned to Beckett at the same time the label brought Quinn and Harrison on board. They stole their first moments together later that same day.

Only this time, half an hour away from Twin Rivers and all the memories associated with the place, he couldn’t turn his mind off and get lost in Sofie. Not when he couldn’t help but think he should be sharing this homecoming with Nari and Avery who’d grown up there as well. And Nicky? Avery’s little brother was all grown up now, a man. He’d always been smarter than the rest of them, but now, something else lived in his eyes. Some secret Becks wanted, needed, to know.

He pushed away from Sofie.

“Everything okay, baby?” She’d started calling him that lately, and he didn’t like it. It reeked of a relationship title, and Beckett Anderson didn’t do commitment.

But he didn’t want to hurt her, so he kept his mouth shut.

Because he was Becks: a good-time guy who never rocked the boat. And if he was going to survive life in the spotlight, he had to stay that way.

How could the rest of the band nap?

The adrenaline from the concert continued to buzz through Becks long after they returned to the hotel. Last night, they’d stayed in Twin Rivers, but the label claimed a hotel was more suitable for the two-day festival. Luckily, the Beckett Anderson band only had to play on day one.

But that meant two performances within twenty-four hours.

Becks leaned back in his chair at the hotel’s rooftop bar overlooking the city. The bar was closed, but the manager was a big fan and had let him sit on the deck. He’d always loved coming to Cincinnati when he was a kid. The rolling hills and rivers felt like home. A home that wasn’t his anymore.

Now, he found himself missing the streets of Nashville that teemed with musicians who needed to make music just to get through the day.

Beckett’s knee shook. He always got this way after a performance. It took a long time for the excitement to wear off. He glanced down at the notebook in his lap and tapped the pencil against the wiry spine.

He needed Nari. She’d been with him since the first time he stepped onto a stage years ago. Nowadays, he wrote most of his songs with her and hated that he’d somehow lost the ability to do it on his own. Did he have nothing left to say?

Footsteps approached him, but he figured it was only Avery being nosy as usual. They’d been friends since high school, even moving to Nashville together, but every time Avery took one of his psych classes at Vanderbilt, he suddenly thought he could see inside Beckett’s head.

But no one knew what Becks was feeling. Ever. It was something he’d perfected over the years—hiding any shred of emotion behind a layer of humor.

He scratched out the last line he’d written as someone took a seat across from him.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?” Nicky’s voice was the last thing Beckett expected to hear.

He met his gaze. “You sound like your brother.”

Nicky groaned. “Take that back.”

“No.”

“Fine.” Nicky leaned forward. “Then I’ll just have to take a peek here.” He snatched Beckett’s notebook.

Becks jumped toward him, tackling him back into his chair. “Come on, Nick-Nick. We’re practically brothers. Don’t be a dick.”

Nicky froze, pushing Becks off him. “We aren’t brothers, Beckett. My brother has actually kept in contact since leaving two years ago.”

Becks flinched. “Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh…sorry. I’ve been—”

“Busy. I get it, Becks. I do. I shouldn’t have brought that up.” Nicky shifted his eyes away, and Beckett cursed himself.

The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Avery’s brother. If he were honest, he’d become friends with Nicky outside of his friendship with Avery. Leaving him had sucked as much as leaving his own family, but Nashville was a new world full of new people. He wouldn’t lie and say he hadn’t gotten lost in it.

Leaning back in his chair, he held his notebook to his chest. “I guess I need to thank you for getting me out of the party last night. My PR team would’ve freaked if I’d been arrested.” He paused to study his old friend. “How have you been, Nicky?”

Nicky shrugged. “You don’t really want to know. I’ve spent the last two years in Twin Rivers. That’s boring compared to your new life.”

“But I do. Want to know, I mean.”

Nicky sighed. “Fine. You asked for it. I’ve spent the past two years back in a closet of someone else’s making, hiding my relationship with him because his parents are assholes, only to learn that the real asshole was him. My life in a nutshell. Next question?”

Something tightened in Beckett’s gut. “Nicky, you better not tell me you’ve spent the last two years dating that Defiance Academy douche bag.”

“Okay, I won’t tell you then.”

Becks blew out a frustrated breath. “Why? Kenny is and always will be a tool. You shouldn’t give any of yourself to someone like that.”

Nicky scrubbed a hand over his face and tilted his head back to look up at the brilliant blue sky. “Don’t go all big brother on me, Becks. I’ve heard it enough from Avery.”

“I’m not concerned as a brother. Just a friend. Why, Nicky?”

Nicky shrugged. “I liked him.”

“That’s not a good enough answer.”

“Maybe I didn’t want to be alone.”

“Nicky, you don’t need to date a jerk just because he’s there. There are other people out there.”

Nicky shot to his feet, towering over Becks. Two years ago, he’d been shorter and considerably less muscular. Some things were bound to change, but others never did not. “That’s rich coming from someone whose assistant probably spends more time in his bed than on the job.”

“That’s not fair, Nick.” He didn’t know how this had turned into an argument.

“I’m gay, Becks. In case you haven’t noticed. Twin Rivers isn’t exactly swimming in gay men. You think I have options? Some of us have to just make do with what’s there. Kenny was a jerk, but not all the time. He was never mean to me.” He lifted his shoulders. “He was the best I could do, maybe the best I’ll ever do.” An angry tear broke through. “The old Becks would have understood.” With one final look, he turned on his heel and crossed the rooftop, yanking open the heavy metal door and disappearing.

Becks sucked in a breath, not completely understanding what just happened. He wanted to go after Nicky, to tell him he was the best person Beckett knew—even back in high school when their two-year age gap meant more than it did now.

But before he could stand, the door opened again and Sofie appeared. “Beckett, it’s time to get ready for the next show.”

He followed her inside to where his band waited. They were his family in a way his high school friends had once been—including Nicky. He’d do anything for them. But a part of him wondered if the only way to help Nicky was to stay away and let him deal with this on his own like he seemed to want.

Yet, Beckett had always been a meddler. Why did that have to change now?

Becks loved playing at festivals because he got to be around so many country stars he’d grown up idolizing. They saw him as one of them. The girl currently dancing across the stage was someone Becks knew but also didn’t know. There was a lot of that going around in the music business.

Nari stepped up to Beckett’s side and leaned in. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed. Once upon a time, he’d have lied to her and told her he was as good as always, but she could read him better than anyone else. “I don’t know.”

She slipped her hand into his. Harrison and Quinn stood in front of them, both bouncing with nervous energy as they always did before a show. Harry was a drummer like no other. Talent oozed from his fingertips, but his quiet personality and smart-guy looks stood in contrast to his profession.

Quinn, on the other hand, played into the rock star image. Long hair, tied away from his face, tattoos stretching up his arms. He looked as if he belonged in a grunge band rather than backing up the all-American good boy country singer Beckett Anderson.

Nari squeezed his hand, drawing his attention back to her. “I can’t remember seeing you this tense before a show.”

He wouldn’t admit it, but the upcoming performance barely registered in his mind as he replayed his fight with Nicky. Beckett always had a need to please people, to make them like him. He rarely got into arguments, even with his difficult sister. It was all part of the face he showed the world. No cracks except the one parting his lips into a smile.

But he wasn’t smiling anymore. “Why didn’t you tell me Nicky was still dating Kenny?”

Nari pushed pink-highlighted dark hair out of her face and peered up at him. “Umm… I guess I didn’t think about it. Avery told me you weren’t keeping in contact with anyone back home except your family.”

She wasn’t wrong. He’d moved on from his life in Twin Rivers, yet thinking of Nicky hiding who he was for some guy twisted his gut. He’d always been protective of the kid, but Nicky wasn’t a kid anymore.

Beckett closed his eyes for a moment, soaking in the soothing voice of Etta Morelli. When he opened them, Nari’s gaze met his.

“I wasn’t,” he admitted. “I’ve been too busy to try to stay in touch.” What had he always told Avery and Nari? High school was only a tiny blip of their lives, and there was no use holding on to it.

Yet, they managed to still keep up with their old friends. They lived in Nashville but traveled home regularly. Beckett hadn’t been home before two days ago.

“Is he still with Kenny?” He thought back to Nicky’s words. Something happened to make Nicky think his boyfriend was an asshole.

“No.”

Becks released the breath he’d been holding. Then Nari continued, dousing Becks’ relief in cold hard reality.

“Kenny broke up with him last night to date some girl he does to school with—after two years with Nicky. I hate it. Nicky is hurting. I’ve never seen him quite like this. And Kenny… I wish he’d just go die a slow, painful death.”

A laugh burst free of Beckett. “What have you done with Nari Won Song?”

She smirked. “It’s Nicky, Becks. He’s the best of us all. I’ll do anything to protect him even if that means castrating that son of a bitch, Kenny.”

Becks almost choked on his next laugh. He liked to think Nashville hadn’t changed him, but Nari couldn’t say the same. Gone was the nerdy, shy girl who wouldn’t curse to save her life. In her place stood a woman who’d rip some poor guy’s balls off if he hurt someone she loved.

No, not some poor guy… Kenny. And he couldn’t say he hated the idea.

Etta played the last notes of her final song. As soon as the cheering crowd quieted, she spoke into the microphone. “Who wants to hear Beckett Anderson?”

“That’s your cue.” Sofie showed up out of nowhere, urging the band up the steps and onto the stage.

Becks gripped the neck of his guitar as the blinding lights struck him in the face. Once his eyes adjusted, he could make out faces among the crowd who’d come out in the early evening. The sun sat low in the sky, ready to make its descent. Before then, Beckett would finish playing and be able to head back to Nashville, to his home.

He didn’t notice what he said into the microphone or how he introduced himself. The crowd already knew him. Before long, he lost himself in a guitar solo, his fingers plucking the strings.

Nari’s voice entered the song first before Beckett joined her. They’d been playing together for so long they knew exactly what each other would do, which notes would make it into the atmosphere. Harrison and Quinn joined them less than two years ago after the label signed them and decided they needed a full band.

It worked. No one tried to outdo each other, and they all understood one thing. Beckett was the star.

Sweat dripped from his short hair, rolling down his cheeks. His sopping shirt clung to his chest as the summer heat soaked into his skin. When finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, he lifted his shirt over his head and threw it out at the crowd.

A roar wound through them. This was what they wanted. Beckett had to give them everything of himself, holding back only the darkest parts no one wanted to see. They wanted a country star? He’d write chart toppers. A sex symbol? He’d smile seductively while standing in front of them half naked. A role model? A musician? A good boy?

They were all masks he wore, and he didn’t regret them. He’d chosen this life, dreamed of it even. As long as they never asked him to give them Becks, the man he truly was with all the doubt and worry and love, he’d be okay.

Movement near the front of the crowd caught his eye. Beckett kept singing, but he stepped to the edge of the stage and peered toward them. He’d recognize Kenny anywhere. The big hockey player had a face that just screamed “punch me.” Beside him stood a petite girl with curly brown hair.

But that wasn’t who caught his attention. Nicky faced them, his hands in his pockets. He rocked back on his heels as Kenny’s mouth moved a mile a minute, his face growing redder with each word.

Beckett couldn’t remember ever seeing Nicky look so lost, so vulnerable.

“Maybe he’s the best I can do.”

Were Nicky’s words really Kenny’s? Was that douche the reason Nicky thought so little of himself?

Becks didn’t realize he’d missed his guitar entrance, but he didn’t skip a single word of the song. Soon, they dove into the next.

“I’ll do anything to protect him.”

Nari’s earlier words might as well have come from Beckett. Even after being away from Nicky for two years, he had the same desire to make him smile he’d had before. And right now… Nicky looked more like he wanted to cry.

Becks stumbled over a word in the song, forgetting the lyrics, as he watched Kenny step closer to Nicky. Nicky shrank in on himself.

“Becks, where are you going?”

He only faintly heard Sofie calling to him from the side of his stage. There was no time to think. Nari and the guys continued to play with Nari singing Beckett’s parts as Becks jumped off the front of the stage, landing in the grass. He pulled his guitar off over his head and put it on the stage before edging his way past the barriers separating the crowd from the low platform.

Fans screamed as he neared, scrambling to touch him, hoping they could get a piece of him. He shouldered his way through, making it to Kenny and Nicky. They didn’t notice him at first.

“I don’t want you, Nicky.” Kenny’s words would haunt Becks for a long time, but not as long as the crestfallen look on Nicky’s face would. Something inside Nicky shattered right before Beckett’s eyes, and it gutted him.

Nicky lifted his tearstained face, probably noticing how the concert had changed. He glanced around at the people squeezing in on them, holding their phones up to capture the drama about to unfold. Finally, he saw Becks, but not before Kenny.

“Dude, Avery already threatened me. I don’t need Nicky’s other brother getting into our business.”

Beckett’s chest heaved as the words he could never take back rolled off his tongue. “I’m not Nicky’s brother.”

Without another thought, he yanked Nicky to him. Nicky let out a surprised grunt, his eyes wide with fear.

“Don’t be afraid of me, Nick-Nick. Never me.” He wrapped a hand around the back of Nicky’s neck, pulling his face closer.

Awareness struck Beckett as he kissed Nicky, the kid he’d protected in high school, the one he’d always been drawn to. There was nothing kid-like about him now. For a moment, Nicky stood frozen, and Becks wrapped an arm around his back.

“It’s just me, Nicky,” he whispered against his lips.

Nicky’s answering sigh traveled through Beckett, lighting every nerve ending on fire, and he finally kissed him back, taking everything Becks gave.

Beckett didn’t understand it—why he’d abandoned his concert to save Nicky from the humiliation of seeing his ex with a new person. Maybe it was just protectiveness, maybe it was something else entirely.

But as he kissed Nicky, it didn’t feel nearly as strange as he’d expected.

When the crowd’s cheers broke through, Beckett pulled back, taking in Nicky’s bewildered stare.

Nicky shook his head as if to clear it. “Kenny’s gone.”

Those two words were like a bucket of ice crashing over Beckett’s heated skin as he remembered why they were there. Beckett wasn’t gay. Nicky wasn’t in Nashville. The kiss was only meant as a stab at another man.

Beckett brushed a hand through his sweaty brown hair. Nicky glanced down at Beckett’s bare chest, and red crept along his skin from his neck to his ears.

Taking a step back, Becks finally mustered up the courage to look at the damage he’d done. No music played as his three band mates stared at him from the stage. Off to the side of the stage, Avery stood rubbing the back of his neck and watching them carefully. How could Beckett face Avery after kissing his brother?

And the crowd? Those wonderful people who allowed Becks to keep making music? They surrounded him, their phones out as they snapped photos and took video.

“Becks.” Nicky’s voice was hoarse. “Umm…you should…”

“Yeah.” Beckett gave Nicky one final glance as a man from security appeared to help him back to the stage.

Becks stepped up to the microphone as if nothing had happened. “So, how bout them Reds?”

Laughter rang out with a few catcalls and yelled derogatory terms. Becks could never unhear what some of his onetime fans now called him. But Nicky had lived with this for years—even from his own father at one time.

What right did Beckett have to be bothered and hurt?

As he started in on the last song of the evening, he watched Nicky’s retreating back, taking in his hunched shoulders.

Becks only ever wanted to help Nicky, to be there for him. But what if he’d only made the world a lot more confusing for him than it already was?

3

Nicky

Nicky pulled into his regular parking space behind the Main, turning the ignition off on the crappy car he used to share with Avery. Nari bought his brother a new car for his last birthday, and Nicky enjoyed teasing him about his sugar mama.

A loud thud against the driver’s side window made him jump a mile in his seat.

“What are you even doing here right now?” Wylder gave him a look that said he had lost his mind.

“Jeez, Wylds, you scared the crap out of me.” Nicky opened his door. “I’m going to work like a normal person.” A normal person who wasn’t still reeling from the fake kiss that was better than any real kiss he’d had in his life. Images of a shirtless Becks had haunted his dreams. What amounted to a PR stunt for Becks had come out of nowhere and ripped Nicky apart.

“Why haven’t you answered your phone? We’ve been trying to call you all morning.”

“I turned my phone off after Avery and Nari called me a million times last night.” Nicky tried to get out of his car, but Wylder shoved him back in.

“Then you haven’t seen it?” Wylder pulled her dreadlocks over her shoulder. “You are not working today. Get in the passenger seat, I’m driving us out of here.”

“What? Why?” Nicky tried to protest as Wylder shoved him to the other side of the car.

“Trust me, damn it. We need to get out of here, now.”

“Fine.” Nicky scooted over to the passenger seat and handed her the keys. “Where are we going?”

“Anywhere but here.” Wylder gunned the engine and raced out of the parking lot. Nicky got a glimpse of the front of the Main when she turned to head toward Riverpass, the next town over.

“What’s going on?” Nicky stared at the street full of news vans. “Did something happen to the Callahans?”

“No, you idiot. Something happened to you.” She shoved her phone at him. “Watch that.”

Nicky’s hands shook when he saw the paused video on her screen. His tear-stained face stared back at him. “I don’t want to see this.”

“Well, the rest of the country music world has seen it, and they’ve lost their damn minds over it. The hashtag SexyBecksy is even trending because of it. It’s a big deal.”

Nicky pressed play and watched the whole thing play out again. The part where Kenny smashed what was left of his heart right before Becks jumped off the stage and took Nicky in his arms. It was like watching it happen to someone else. The fire in Beckett’s eyes caught him by surprise. Even watching it now, Nicky brushed his fingertips over his lips. He’d never been kissed like that. He watched his own stiff reaction followed by the moment he’d lost his mind and kissed Becks back. It was probably the hottest moment of his entire life, and it was staged. SexyBecksy… He couldn’t argue with that.

Watching the video, he also saw the heartbroken look on Kenny’s face and felt a momentary stab of satisfaction before he remembered he was watching this on YouTube. It had over fifty thousand hits in less than twenty-four hours. He scrolled through the comments, wincing at some of the negative vitriol fired at Becks. Even some for Kenny, the Ohio senator’s son. But most of the fans were screaming for more. They loved the romantic and spontaneous moment and were dying to know who Nicky was.

Nicky thrust a nervous hand through his hair. “So, all of that back there was about me?” His voice rasped like sandpaper in his throat.

“You are the it boy of the hour, my friend. My idiot brother’s fans are dying to know everything about you.”

“Why?”

“They think there’s some kind of desperate love story there.” She turned to glance at him. “Is there?” She raised a brow at him in question.

“With Becks? No.” That wasn’t entirely true. Nicky had a mad crush on him in high school, but that was ages ago, and it was only ever one-sided. “We’ve always been friends. I have no idea why he did this. It has to be some kind of PR stunt. You know he isn’t even gay.”

“Becks wouldn’t do that to you just for the attention.” Wylder shook her head. “And you know as well as I that gay is just a label. So, stop throwing it around like you know what Becks is feeling.”

He ignored the latter part of her statement. “He pulled you on stage and hammed it up for the audience for attention.”

“That wasn’t about the PR—not entirely. He wanted to remind me how much I love music. After everything that went down with the Powerplaygirls last year, I haven’t played much. He wanted to show me I’ve still got it. That music will always be part of me.”

“But it still made him look like the adorable big brother in front of the audience.”

“He is my adorable big brother, Nicky. I don’t know what he was thinking, but that kiss was spontaneous. I think he shocked himself as much as everyone else.”

“I need this job, Mrs. Callahan,” Nicky said in a rush. “Vanderbilt is expensive, and I’m counting on working all summer to save up for school expenses.” His boss had called him into the Main for a meeting, and he was afraid she was going to let him go. “I’m so sorry about all the media attention. I promise, if it happens again, I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, honey, I’m not firing you,” Mrs. Callahan said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.” She pulled him into a warm hug. “You have a job here for as long as you need it. Brian has worked with the local authorities to keep the press out of the diner so you can work in peace.”

“Thank you, Mrs. C, I’m a little overwhelmed from all the online attention, but I think it’s slowing down. They’ll forget about me soon.”

“Well, they can’t get to you in here, so get to work, young man.”

“Yes ma’am, thank you.” Nicky left the kitchen to stock the dessert case and make fresh coffee before the early dinner rush. After the Callahans’ daughter Peyton left for college, he’d taken over her shifts and was grateful for the work. Once upon a time, the St. Germaines had more money than they knew what to do with, but Nicky’s alcoholic father, an NFL Hall of Famer, had lost most of the family’s money to gambling debts. But after a stint in rehab, Greyson St. Germaine was much better now, and they’d learned to live within their means. Like his brother, Nicky received a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, but his was only a partial academic scholarship. Nicky still needed to cover his basic expenses. To save money, Nicky was moving into the apartment Avery shared with Nari, and neither of them would let him pay rent.

But Nicky was having second thoughts about moving in with them. Becks lived right across the hall. How was he supposed to handle living so close to him? He could get over the kiss, but it would be a lot easier if Becks wasn’t a big part of his life like he used to be. Nicky didn’t ever want to go down that road again, loving someone who wasn’t available. Kenny was bi but so far in the closet he couldn’t see the light under the door, and Becks was whatever he was. What Nicky needed was some time to be single and a new start at Vanderbilt where he might eventually meet a guy who wouldn’t leave him for someone else.

“Penny for your thoughts?” A familiar voice brought Nicky out of his reverie.

“Funny guy.” Nicky slid into the booth across from Julian Callahan.

“I thought it was fairly clever.” Julian didn’t even pretend to hide his smirk. “They just sound like the perfect asshole couple don’t they? Penny and Kenny. You can do better, little man.”

“I’m taller and bigger than you and everyone else who still calls me ‘little man.’” Nicky felt the tension ease from his shoulders as he laughed with Julian.

“You had the most ridiculous growth spurt I’ve ever seen, but you’ll always be ‘little man’ to us.”

“How’s Addison?” Nicky leaned back against the booth. Once upon a time, Julian’s girlfriend had been one of Nicky’s least favorite people, but she’d changed for the better when she’d started dating Julian. Nicky still missed her and the rest of their group of friends, including Nicky’s brother.

“Crazy busy. She’s taking summer courses at Defiance University again this year. She wants to finish her undergrad in three years so she can get started on her MFA.”

“Before you know it, she’ll be your official editor.”

“I think she’s trying to race me.” Julian rolled his eyes. “My money’s on her finishing both degrees before I finish this book.”

“But your first two books were so good this one will be just as brilliant.”

“I think all of them suck, so maybe it’s just me.” Julian slammed his computer shut. “Seriously, how are you doing?” He leaned forward. “The attention has to be killing you.”

“I never knew I was so interesting.” Nicky tried to laugh. “But they’re everywhere I go. It’ll blow over eventually.” He shrugged. “Better get back to work.” He started to slip out of the booth.

“Not so fast, you little liar. You’re a private person, Nicky. Having your personal drama splashed across the internet is no small thing.”

“No. It sucks, actually. I’m embarrassed and confused enough as it is. I don’t need the added drama on top of what turned out to be a very public breakup with Kenny. That’s the last thing he needs too.”

“Screw him. Who cares if he got dragged into the limelight along with you. The guy’s a total jerk for stringing you along for the last two years.”

“With this mess with the media, his parents are going to kill him. I don’t know if he deserves that, but they’re politicians. They can spin it.” Nicky sighed, reaching for Julian’s hand. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. I’m headed to Vanderbilt in a few months, so I’m just going to focus on that and getting a fresh start there in the fall.”

“Uh-oh, Nicky.” Julian pulled his hand back, nodding toward the bank of windows on the opposite wall. “No, don’t look.”

“Too late.” Nicky’s heart thundered in his chest at the sight of so many cameras pressed up against the windows. Brian Callahan was outside, trying to get them to leave the premises, but that didn’t stop them from congregating in the parking lot. Lights flashed and reporters beat on the windows to get Nicky’s attention.

“They’re going to break the freaking windows.” All the blood rushed from Nicky’s face.

“Look at me, little man.” Julian pulled his attention away from the sea of faces watching him like he was a rare fish in an aquarium. “You’re going to get up and run to the back room like you’re going to make a break for the back door. Most of them will race around to the parking lot. When you get to the kitchen, wait for my signal.”

“For what?” Nicky wiped the sweat off his brow. The idea of facing all those cameras and making some kind of statement made him nauseous.

“When I tell you to run, you’re going to come back into the dining room and out the side door.”

“Out there with them?” Nicky’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you crazy.”

“Is Wylder working at the hardware store today?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Text her to meet you at the front door.”

“Okay.” Nicky nodded, following Julian’s plan.

“She’ll let you in, and you two can go out the back together. Have her drive you to my house, and you can hang out there for a little while. They won’t have a reason to come look for you there. Here’s my house key. Have Wylder park in the back, and you can go in through the back door. Addie’s at school, so you’ll have some peace and quiet while this all blows over.”

“Thanks, Julian. I better go.” Nicky cast a worried look at the media frenzy building in the Callahans’ parking lot. He was hurting their business. The place was empty because no one in Twin Rivers wanted to deal with that shitstorm. “I need to lead them away from the restaurant. Your parents don’t deserve this.”

“Don’t worry about it, Nicky. We’re all behind you. I’ll take your car and lead them on a merry chase.” Julian grinned. “We’ll call it research for my next book.”

“Okay, Wylds is ready.” Nicky tucked his phone into his pocket and darted out of the booth and into the kitchen. He waited behind the swinging door for Julian’s signal. It didn’t take long before Julian waved him back out of the kitchen.

“Go, Nicky.”

Nicky crouched low and ran from his hiding spot in the kitchen. The side door of the dining room led to the alley between the buildings, but Anderson’s Hardware store was just across the street. As Nicky charged out of the alley, he saw Wylder waiting for him across the two-lane road.

“Hurry,” she called to him. Grateful the afternoon traffic down Main Street was light, Nicky darted across the street and through the front door of the hardware store. Wylder slammed the lock in place and flipped the sign to closed.

“Thanks.” Nicky leaned over to catch his breath.

“Let’s go out the back before they realize what just happened.” Wylder craned her neck to see Julian occupying the media as he made a show of climbing into Nicky’s car.

“This is insane.” Nicky shook his head. “I’m a nobody.” He followed Wylder to the parking lot out back. He slid into her back seat to hide.

“Unfortunately”—Wylder threw the car into reverse—“my idiot brother has turned you into the super star of the week.”

“This is insane,” Nicky repeated, scooting down to the floor. He didn’t know how else to describe it.

“Sorry, Nick. They’re onto us. There’s a blanket back there, put it over your head.”

With his face pressed into the carpet, Nicky tossed the blanket over his head.

“Nicky!” voices demanded his attention. Fists hammered at the windows. “Are you cheating on Beckett? What’s his name, Nicky? Why aren’t you with Beckett?”