“Absolutely,” I insist. “Anyone can be a graphic designer, but a precious few can claim to be the ex-boyfriend of a rock god.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “What if they don’t believe you?”
“They won’t have a choice, because I will have photographic evidence.” Grabbing my phone, I open the camera and hold my arm out so I can take a selfie of the two of us right there on the grass. “Smile for the camera.”
Ned smiles. He also leans his head against mine, and his hand comes up to cup the other side of my face. I snap the picture.
“I think I blinked,” he says. “Take another one.”
He didn’t blink, but I hold the phone back up, anyway. Ned turns his head to kiss me on the cheek. My dimples are on full display as I take the photo.
“One more.” This time Ned scoots behind me, so I’m sitting between his legs. His arms wrap around my waist, and he snuggles into the side of my face as I hit the button.
Grinning like a fool, I lower my arm so I can take a closer look at each of the photos in turn. We don’t look like two people who happen to be beside each other. We don’t even look like acquaintances who have use of each other. We look like a couple. We look real.
“What else will you tell people?” Ned murmurs, his arms still around me and his body warm against my back. “When you show them these photos.”
“Let’s see.” I put my phone away and stroke my fingers up and down his bare arms, enjoying the feel of him. “I won’t tell them how hot you are when you’re naked. And I won’t tell them how amazing it feels to kiss you, or anything we’ve talked about in our conversations. Those details belong to us.” His lips brush the back of my neck as he takes an understated breath. “However, I will tell them you make a mean cocktail, and how you rented a trailer to make sure I’d be comfortable when we went away together. And…” This one is purely for me, but I like the idea of saying it. “I’ll tell them how you adored me, for the short time you were mine.”
He shifts to my right, cupping my chin in his hand when I meet his gaze. “And if I’m asked, I’ll say you were easy to adore.”
I gasp. No one has ever used the word ‘easy’ in connection with me before. “Really?”
He leans forwards, dropping a kiss on my nose. “Really.”
ELEVEN
______
NED
“Maybe I should find a groupie or two to play with for the night.” Johnny scans the crowded bar area as he yells into my ear. “That’s supposed to be a perk of being a musician, isn’t it? Getting laid?”
I snort a laugh. “So they say.” Johnny’s been talking a big game for months now, ever since he got over the initial shock of his wife’s departure. But to the best of my knowledge, he has yet to follow through. The man may want to move on, but he’s still suffering the effects of his broken heart.
I tighten my hold on Toni who’s standing in front of me, his back to my front. “Just remember the golden rule,” I say to Johnny. “Wrap it before you tap it.”
A groan of dismay escapes Johnny’s throat. “Condoms. Do you know how long it’s been since I had to think about condoms?” His expression turns sour. “Actually, I thought about them a lot when I found out Ellie cheated on me. Had to get tested and everything. That was fun,” he adds bitterly.
Toni whacks him on the arm. “No, Johnny. This is fun.” He gestures around us. The VIP tent we’re standing in is teeming with the crème de la crème of the Australian music industry. From musicians, to managers, scouts, label executives, everybody who’s anybody at the festival. “You’re the lead guitarist for an up-and-coming rock band. You’re young, and single, and you look like that.” He waves a hand at Johnny in general, making the other man glance down at himself and fuss with the hem of his t-shirt. “This weekend has the potential to be one of the greatest memories of your life. Go have some fun with it.”
Johnny stares into the crowd, chewing on his bottom lip as he nods along with everything Toni says. “You’re right. I’ve dreamed of being here most of my life. No more moping on the sidelines. It’s time to enjoy it.”
“That’s more like it.” Toni nods his approval. “The ladies won’t know what hit ’em.”
With a devilish grin, Johnny leans down to speak into Toni’s ear. The place is too noisy for me to have any clue what he’s saying, but Toni straightens with a bark of laughter. “Aren’t you full of surprises.”
Johnny finishes his beer and tosses the plastic cup in a nearby bin. “Don’t wait up.” He waggles his eyebrows at us before disappearing into the crowd.
I lower my head to Toni’s ear. “What did he say to you?”
Toni mimics locking his lips with the turn of a key. “Not for me to tell.”
My mouth drops open and I spin him around to face me. “That’s not fair. You’ve known Johnny all of six hours. How is it he’s letting you in on secrets he hasn’t told me?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes it’s easier to open up to a stranger. I doubt it had anything to do with me.”
“I don’t know.” Pulling him close, I brush my lips against his. “I opened up to you without any trouble at all.” In a strictly physical sense, of course, but it still counts.
