Chapter 31
Damon sipped his drink as the laughter of his friends swirled around him. Skylar leaned against him, her lips brushing his ear. “Do I get to meet the tipsy Mr. Sweetface again?”
She lifted one of the sweet potato fries, her lips closing around it as she backed off with a laugh.
“Made him blush again?” Blake snickered as he leaned over where Katie sat at the bar to shout, “Hey, beer me, Mal!” The baby he was wearing almost got a fistful of her mom’s hair, but Katie handed her a finger to grip instead.
Malcolm slapped his rag down on the bar, stalking over. “You know what? You’re cut off every time you say that now.”
Trenton laughed at Blake’s crestfallen face. “You can’t say he hasn’t warned you.” His eyes followed Celia, where she moved among the customer tables.
Malcolm’s gaze followed his, his eyes softening. “She really is the best waitress,” he murmured.
Jami laughed from a stool behind the register. “Way better than me, you mean.”
He moved to her side. “You’re good at other things.”
Damon was glad he wasn’t the only one blushing in the tavern.
Skylar laughed. “Damn, Muscles! I’m fine just imagining you and my sister fucking, though if you want to provide more details…”
Malcolm straightened. “I didn’t mean—”
“Sure you didn’t,” Blake said. “The bar doesn’t hide your erections as often as you think it does.”
“Christ, Blake.” Malcolm glared at him.
Jami pulled him down for a quick kiss. “I am good at other things,” she murmured against his lips. Malcolm’s eyes focused on hers in an intense way that felt familiar to Damon.
He glanced at Skylar, liking the natural curve of her lips.
“I just reached ‘the end’ of my first novel,” Jami said, her fingers playing with Malcolm’s curly, black ponytail at the nape of his neck before pulling away. “That’s all I meant.”
“Congrats, Jame!” Skylar said, first among a chorus of the same. “I knew you had it in you.”
Jami smiled back. “Thanks for the nudge, sis.”
“Anytime,” Skylar said, her fingers tapping on her leg under the bar, but Damon was the only one who could see it. “I enjoy pushing people.”
Jami’s joy faded a little. “Do you need that push back?”
Skylar shook her head. “Trenton found a path forward for me.” She glanced down the bar.
Trenton toasted her with his gin and tonic. “Happy to do it.” But his eyes were all for his wife.
Blake shifted toward his friend. “You always did like to check Celia’s ass out while she worked,” he failed to whisper.
Trenton flushed, but didn’t deny the words.
The bell rang over the door as Erin laughed her way inside, her husband following, his eyes on her. Damon was happy for his sister as she winked back at her husband. “I stand by what I said.” She faced the bar, her long-legged stride closing the distance. “This party already started without us?”
“You’re an hour late.” Katie rolled her eyes at her best friend. “I’m so glad I left the office when I did.”
Erin shrugged. “Nicholas has a thing for doing it there.”
Damon tried to close his ears. He could know his sister had a sex life without picturing the details.
“Christ, Erin,” Katie groaned. She bounced the little baby hand that still clutched onto her.
“Ooh, baby kisses!” Erin cried, moving in to tickle the baby’s feet as she cooed at it. “You’re going to turn into a teenager one of these days! Yes, you are!” She rolled her eyes as she looked to Katie. “You won’t believe what one of them was worried about today, Kay. Some crazy shit to look forward to.”
“We don’t have to worry about that yet,” Blake said.
“Just wait until this one has boys crawling all over her.” Erin laughed in his face as it began to pale. “Still thinking you’re ready for number two?”
Blake’s eyes locked onto Katie’s. “Yes.”
She flushed, not looking away.
“Babies, huh?” Skylar stared at the gurgling baby before turning to Damon. “That a thing for you?”
Damon felt his friends’ eyes on him. “Well, yeah, eventually, sure.”
“He can already sing them to sleep,” Trenton said.
“His music works every time for our daughter,” Blake agreed.
Damon’s hand found Skylar’s, where her fingers continued to tap on her thigh. “Don’t worry. I’m not anywhere near that talk.”
“That’s good.” She pulled away as she smirked. “‘Cause I’ve got a lot of growing up to do before I ever consider becoming a mom.”
Damon leaned toward her, hearing that she would consider it, which was another check mark on an overwhelming page of them. “I love you just how you are.”
Skylar rolled her eyes. “There you go again. Fuck, you like to mess with me.”
Damon’s heart squeezed. “I’d never mess with you.”
“No, I—” She swallowed, leaning her forehead to press against his. “I know, okay?”
“Wait, didn’t you break up?” Erin asked. Damon looked away from the woman he loved to find his sister way too close. She frowned at them. “That was another stunt? The video is all over the place.”
“Yeah, but we decided it works for now, even without the stalker. The media was way too invested in us.” Damon had skimmed some of the fan reactions, surprised to find that they were devastated by the end of the relationship, just as he would be if it were true. They shipped him and Skylar harder than he had imagined. Skylar didn’t need that pressure, not when she was still struggling to understand his love for her.
“Oh, that makes sense.” Erin wrapped her arm around his neck in a hug. “This one is kind of short and skinny, Skylar, but he’s an awesome catch.”
“He’s perfect,” Skylar murmured. Red moved up her neck as the noise around the bar fell.
“Oh, shit, Kay! Did you hear that? They’re totally still good, like I said.” Erin laughed as she bounced closer to her best friend.
Damon leaned closer to Skylar again. “You’re perfect too.”
“Oh, stop,” she said. Her breathing had a hitch in it as her eyes closed.
His hand brushed her hair behind her ear, gently massaging the tender skin he found there. “It’s okay to be scared, Skylar. Emotions are scary.”
“That’s not—” She sighed, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder as his movements against her scalp took the rest of her tension. “I feel safe with you. That means more to me, more than even all the love shit.”
Damon thought it was the best compliment ever. “I can’t wait to spend more time with you. This tour is going to be incredible because of it.”
“Oh, so you two are going off together?” Jami asked.
Skylar raised her head, nodding. “It’s probably weird, but I wanted to.”
“That’s not weird, chick,” Erin said. “Not when you know what you like.”
“Yeah,” Skylar said. Her eyes moved back to Damon.
Trenton raised his glass. “To safe travels.”
“Safe travels,” those with a drink said, toasting to them.
“We’ll miss you like usual, but this is the gig,” Erin said with a shrug.
“Oh, I’m calling all the time.” Blake bounced the baby strapped to his chest. “Dibs at night, okay?”
Damon laughed. “I perform at night.”
Skylar snorted. “I’ll say.”
Their friends laughed as Damon blushed again. As their conversations continued to swirl, Skylar leaned close again. “Me too. I’m looking forward to more time. Fucking too much.”
He pulled her close, seeing nothing but hope ahead for the overwhelming emotion that was making his chest feel so tight. He had more than enough love to carry for both of them for a while.