girlfriend?”
Undaunted, AJ replied, “Yep, she’s a girl, and she’s my friend.” For reasons I couldn’t understand, I felt a little let down by his summation of what we were. I mean, it had only been two weeks, so it wasn’t like I could really claim a relationship status with him. But at the same time, I hated his answer.
Wrinkling his nose, Jude said, “Ew, girls are gross.”
AJ laughed. “Give it a few years, and you’ll change your mind, buddy.”
Jude didn’t appear too convinced as he followed Brayden across the clearing to an enormous wooden play- set. “AJ, give me a hand,” Jake called from the grill.
“Be back in a minute,” AJ assured.
“Okay.”
As we put the finishing touches on lunch, the conversation flowed freely between Abby, Lily, and me. I was starting to enjoy their company more and more.
“So do you sing, Mia?” Abby questioned, before popping a few potato chips into her mouth.
“Oh God no. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”
Lily laughed. “That makes two of us then.” She then motioned over to where Brayden was helping Jude down the slide while intermittingly pushing Melody in a harnessed swing. “Only my children appreciate my singing voice at bedtime, and that’s usually only when Bray’s on tour and they have to settle for me.”
As I eyed the play-set, I was wondering what an engaged but childless guy like Jake was doing with one. Lily must’ve read my mind because she said, “He did that just for Jude and Melody so they would have a place to play when they come to visit.”
“How sweet.”
Lily nodded and then gave Abby a playful nudge. “And I think for future children, too.”
Abby’s blue eyes widened as she swallowed hard. “Oh, no, we’ve got to get through a wedding first. And watch your tongue. If Jake hears you say that, he’ll freak out. We’re not planning on kids for several years down the road.” At Lily’s knowing look, Abby sighed. “Okay,
Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “But you’re so young.”
Abby wrinkled her nose. “Exactly. I mean, who needs a baby when I’m a mere baby myself at twenty- two?”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
Patting my back, Abby shook her head. “Trust me, you’re not the first person to say that. My darling fiance included.” Deepening her voice to mimic Jake, she said, “We’ve got all the time in the world to have kids. We need to get at least three US tours and one world tour under our belts before I knock you up.”
I laughed. “Hmm, Jake sounds a lot like AJ—bossy, take charge, my way or the highway.”
Abby winked. “Yeah, but isn’t it fun turning the tables on them?”
With an enthusiastic jerk of my head, I replied, “Oh yes, it is.” I couldn’t help thinking about when I had tied him up in the limo on our first date.
AJ and Jake appeared with pans loaded with steaks, hamburgers, and ribs. As I gazed down the length of the two tables, my eyes widened at all the food. “Just wait, there won’t be much left when we’re done,” AJ said.
“You guys can put it away, huh?”
Jake grinned. “It’s not just us guys. Don’t let Abby’s size fool you. She’s a big eater.”
Abby laughed as she handed me a paper plate. “He loves giving me shit about that.”
“Well, I should hate you for being able to eat so much and still stay so tiny,” I teased.
“I tell her the same thing all the time,” Lily replied.
Poking her bottom lip out, Abby said, “Sorry.”
With a smile, I said, “You’re forgiven.”
“Good. Now let’s eat.” She waved to the others to join us at the table. I noticed that once again Allison was at Rhys’s side and managed to snag a seat beside him. After I filled my plate to the brim, AJ patted a spot on the bench, so I eased down next to him. When he scooted closer to me, I cocked a brow at him. “Would you prefer I sit in your lap?”
He grinned. “I just wanna be close to you.”
Leaning over, I whispered into his ear, “Don’t think you’re going to be starting something with me anytime soon, Mr. Resendiz.”
AJ held up his hands in surrender. “I was just trying to be affectionate.”
“With you, there’s always something lurking behind that affection.” Lowering my voice, I added, “And it’s usually a hard-on.”
Choking on his hamburger, AJ snatched up his beer and downed half of it. When he recovered, he cut his eyes over at me. “Damn, girl.”
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?” I questioned with a smile.
AJ chuckled before taking another bite of his hamburger. When he did, he left a glob of mustard behind. “Ugh, you’re such a pig.” I reached over and swiped it away with my thumb. Before I could move my hand, AJ’s tongue darted out and licked the mustard off my thumb. It caused an ache to burn through my lower half. I shivered under his stare.
“Having the tables turned sucks, huh?” he questioned in a low voice.
“Oh shut up and eat your burger,” I snapped.
With a wink, he brought his free hand under the table to rest on my knee. When I glanced across the table, Jake and Abby were smiling at us. I quickly focused my attention back on my plate and the conversations floating around me. It was a rowdy and raucous meal, but it felt just like being with my family at one of our weekly dinners. I felt happier than I had in a long, long time.
With our bellies full from the enormous meal and dessert, we left the picnic tables and headed over to the lounge chairs by the crackling bonfire. Before he sat down, Jake flipped the switch on the outdoor stereo system, sending music echoing around us. As I nursed a foamy beer, my head pinged back and forth between the guys’ conversation—most of it was good-natured ragging on each other.
When the music switched over and Luke Bryan’s
“Seriously?” AJ questioned, his nose wrinkling in disgust.
I nodded. “You know I love country music, and I adore anything by Luke Bryan.”
With a squeal beside me, Abby gushed, “Really? Me too. You know we met him at the CMAs.” She fanned herself and giggled. “He’s even hotter in person.”
“Oh my God, I would die. Did you actually get to talk to him?”
Jake and AJ glanced at each other and rolled their eyes at Abby and me acting like lovesick teenage girls.
“Yeah, we did. He was so nice, too.”
“I would kill to meet him.”
Abby reached over and smacked my leg. “Next CMAs you’re coming with me then.”
“That would be awesome.”
AJ grunted. “Seriously, this dude has nothing on me.”
“You actually know the lyrics to this song?”
“Unfortunately yes.” At my continued skepticism, he added, “You want me to put my money where my mouth is?”
Rhys groaned. “Please Mia, don’t get him started.”
Ignoring him, I grinned at AJ. “Come on, big boy. Give me your best shot.”
“My pleasure.” He sat down his beer and then rose out of his chair. He took center stage in the circle of chairs. Cocking his head to the side, he waited to start in on a line of the song. While he sang the lyrics, he mimed rolling down the windows, turning up the radio, and pouring some Crown in a cup. Abby and Allison giggled at his antics while I couldn’t help smiling at him for being such a goober.
