Page 215 of Just Wait

“Yeah, I’d be happy to,” I say, hoping Riser won’t be upset. He hasn’t been so far, but Tennyson plays the same role in the band that Andrew used to. Ry knows Liminal will eventually need a whole new album after this tour, but I’m still going to check in with him just to be sure everything is okay. “Work on some lyrics or the tone you want. You need to know if you want it to be upbeat or slow and eerie. Old-school rock? Alternative? Metalcore? Figure out the basics, and we can come up with the rest as we go along.”

“Thanks, Lumen.” Tennyson breaks out in a boyish grin, holding his hand up. “High five.”

I slap his hand, glancing around for Wren. She was here when the guys started practicing, but that was probably two hours ago. It can get boring as hell when you’re not participating.

“Can I ask how things are with you and Wren?” I keep my voice low to avoid the guys listening in.

“Fuck if I know.” He snorts, shaking his head. “I’ll tell ya if I figure it out.”

“Fair enough.”

I pretty ruthlessly follow Riser into the primary bedroom after their practice session wraps up. He must hear me behind him because he comes to a stop at the end of the bed, spinning to face me just in time for me to tackle him to the mattress.

“I felt you stalking me in the bond.” His hands come to rest on my ass as a smile tips his lips. “That was weird, but I can’t lie. I love it.”

“Good. Seeing you happy is my new favorite drug.” I peck a kiss on his lips but squeak when he rolls us. “That was unexpected.”

“I know you were worrying about me.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “I’m okay.”

“I believe you,” I assure him. “I also care about you a lot.” I swallow thickly. “Maybe I’m kinda falling in love with you. So, I want you to know that if you’re having a hard time with anything, you should come to me. That way, we can figure it out together.”

“I’ve always been a private person when it comes to working through shit,” he says, his head tilting. “Did you say you’re falling in love with me?”

“Damn, I was trying to sneak that in under the radar.”

“Yeah, beautiful.” Riser brushes his lips over mine. “Me too.”

He captures my lower lip, and it stings a bit since Malcolm’s claiming bite is still healing, but I’d suffer much worse pain to keep my lips sealed to his.

As he deepens the kiss, I once again curse the universe for having it out for me. I no longer think omegas have the glamorous life I thought they did before living through a heat and the aftermath.

I follow his lips as he pulls back, and he chuckles a low, throaty sound.

“Damn, woman. That makes me feel like a king.” He grins, and my heart thumps. “Listen, I know I’ve been slacking on the courting gifts front, and I’m not sure now is the right time to mention it, but I talked to the guys. The three of us want to chip in on covering rehab for your dad. You shouldn’t have to spend your first real check on that, and it should help take some of the pressure off your relationship. If it doesn’t stick, we won’t miss the money, and if it does…” He shrugs. “Then we’ll all be grateful.”

My heart seizes.

I’ve texted my dad a few times when I was coherent, just so he wouldn’t worry that I was dead in a ditch somewhere. I haven’t tackled telling him that I presented as an omega, let alone broaching the sensitive subject of whether he’d like to take a break from drinking himself to death.

A huge part of me feels like, how could he not want to stop if it might give him some extra time? The realist in me says the man has loved alcohol more than anything else in his life for at least the last fifteen years. His liver and kidneys are basically shot.

Why would he stop the one thing he actually enjoys just to be given an uncertain, not guaranteed, theoretical extra amount of time?

“That’s very sweet, and I appreciate it so much,” I tell Riser, smiling tightly. “Can I think about it?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “You have to decide right now.” His face breaks out into a sly smile. “I’m kidding. Of course you can think about it for as long as you need to make a decision. It’s a gift, not an obligation.”

And that’s why my heart never stood a chance when it comes to Riser. He’s just so damn easy to fall in love with.

The first show back after the break is also in Roanoke. They’re back in their normal masks tonight, and the audience loves it.

Wren bumps her shoulder against mine as the guys intro “Daytime Enemies.” It’s the more upbeat alternative song that I wrote for Mal and Kincaid.

“Holy shit,” Wren says. “This is your song. Are you freaking out?”

“Um, yeah,” I say, nodding.

I’m kinda shitting myself.