“It’s not selfish.You’renot selfish,” I tell him. “Now, tell me one small thing and a big one,” I say, sitting back. “And they have to be about you, not anyone else.”
He smiles and my breath catches in my chest. Genuine smiles from Iri are few and far between. Usually I’m treated to a smirk or a lip twitch, but this feels more genuine.
“I’ll go first,” I tell him. “I think Elara was my first ever female friend even though I’ve only seen her in person twice and we mostly communicate by one-sided GIFs that I ignore. Aaand, I can’t stand most people’s toes.”
Iri lets out a chuckle before letting out a raspy hum. “I may have spent the past few weeks trying to catfish Cedar Orlog so I can work out his location and pass it along to one of my mother’s contacts in a demon-led gang he owes money to. And I spend most mornings jealous of those muffins you like to eat. You moan every time you take the first bite, and it always leaves me rock hard.”
I blink, shifting in my seat again.
I’m suddenly hot. My cheeks flame at the sheer raw intensity in his tone, especially when he licks his lips and my eyes follow the movement greedily.
... and then the first part of his confession barges its way to the front of my consciousness.
“You’ve done what?”
He grunts and rubs the back of his neck again. “Fuck. I shouldn’t have said anything. It won’t make any sense to you.”
“Iri, just tell me.”
“I want you to be safe, Sin,” he rasps. “I want you to feel safe, too. Not always looking over your shoulder or waiting for the other shoe to drop. I realize that now those photos are out there. We might have fucked things up for you, but I’m going to fix it. If I have to crash every online media outlet’s website, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Right. Okay.” My mind is reeling with all of this new information.
Iri... he cares. A lot.
I knew he cared about the band. He works harder than anyone and I’m fairly certain his motivations are focused more on the others’ happiness than his own.
But this sounds a lot like he’s drawn me into the fold as well, even though it hasn’t been a full two months since we’ve known each other.
“You fit with us. You made everything better almost immediately without even realizing it, Sin.” He spreads his arms out, like he’s laying himself bare for me. “We needed you. None of us knew we had a hole that needed plugging, but we were sinking anyway.”
I snort. “I’m the plug?”
“You’re the whole damn life raft,” he replies earnestly. “You’re a tropical island when we’ve been stuck at sea for a decade. A respite and a future.” He shakes his head, not aware he’s absolutely steamrollering me with his words.
My heart is pounding in my ears and I clutch my fingers together under the table.
“But,” he says softly. “I’m not so sure that me barging into your life has been a good thing for you.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “You know, I decided as soon as we left Willow Ridge, I was going to stop hiding. Quit burying my head in the sand and acting like I couldn’t do anything about the shit going on around me. Even if I hadn’t escaped with you, I wouldn’t still be at Grizz’s and I sure as hell wouldn’t still be in Willow Ridge.”
“Media vultures or overzealous fans wouldn’t be tearing you apart, either,” he growls.
“True.”
He flinches and I reach over to squeeze his forearm, feeling another spark go through my fingertips at the contact.
“But I’m happy to be here. You need to quit worrying about things you can’t change. I know you have this whole Band Daddy thing going on, but we’re all fine. Quit worrying, it’s annoying.”
His eyes flick to my lips as his own part, and I watch as his tongue darts out to wet them. “Band Daddy, huh?”
“Yep. Now, tell me more about how you’ve been catfishing Cedar Orlog and how your mother knows a gang...”
Chapter 34
Sin
“Welcome to Meridian City.” Jules grabs my hand the moment the plane touches down and the doors open, already tugging me toward a waiting car. She twists her head and calls over her shoulder, “Girl-time has officially begun, so the rest of you are going to have to find your own way to the hotel.”
