Page 89 of Sing For Me

I study the little girl. “Did he tell you that?”

She shakes her head. “Henevertalks about girls. To anyone.”

Hmm. That’s interesting. He told me once he didn’t date, but Will is a ridiculously good-looking guy. I’ve seen the way women react to him when we’re out. I would think he has girls hanging all over him. And he’s obviously very close with his family, however much he might complain about them. It seems weird he wouldn’t ever bring women home.

I look back to Silas, wondering how much to say. Will and I haven’t talked about our relationship since we walked out of that restaurant and found ourselves surrounded by paparazzi. Sometimes I’ll catch him watching me and I’ll be pretty sure he wants to ask me about it. But he doesn’t bring it up—maybe because he thinks the whole invasive media thing has been too stressful for me.

And, of course, I’m too much of a chicken to bring it up myself.

“That’s pretty personal, you know,” I finally settle on. “Maybe you guys should talk to Will about it.”

Lyric narrows her eyes at me but Silas just studies my face, a contemplative expression on his. Finally, he nods. “I guess it’s good you’re protecting his privacy.”

CeCe makes a scoffing noise but he ignores her.

“We just wanted to make sure you aren’t like, using him,” Silas continues. “Because he deserves a lot better than that.”

I hold his gaze, hoping he can see how sincere I am. “I would never use your brother. I care about him a lot.”

He nods again, relaxing back in his seat. “Okay, then.”

I look to the girls. Presley seems to take her cues from Silas, relaxing in her chair as well. Lyric and CeCe are still watching me carefully.

“Did Will tell you we met at his tattoo shop?” I ask them. I brace my foot on the edge of my chair so they can see my lavender. “He gave me this.”

They all lean forward to look. “That’s a wimpy tattoo,” Presley declares, and I laugh while Lyric elbows her.

“It was my first one. But he showed me his portfolio—he’s really good.”

“He’s amazing,” CeCe corrects, but she’s grinning now.

“He promised me he’d give me my first tattoo when I turn eighteen,” Presley adds. “I already know what I want.”

“I think he promised everyone that,” Silas says, grinning, and I grin back.

“You’re all very lucky to have him.”

“We are,” he agrees.

“And you’re lucky too,” Lyric cuts in. “Because Will would never just bring somewhere here if he didn’t like, really care about them.”

“I really care about him, too,” I promise them.

They finally seem satisfied by that. CeCe leans toward me, eyes wide. “Just so you know, I’m a really big fan.”

I laugh while Presley smacks her shoulder. “Our parents said we weren’t allowed to talk about that!”

CeCe smacks her back. “I’m justsaying. I don’t want her to think we don’t like her or something.” She looks back to me. “We just have to put Will first. Even if you are super famous.”

God, I can practically feel my heart melting. These kids are something else.

“I don’t have a big family like you,” I explain. “But I do have a little sister. And I always want to protect her, too. So I get it.”

Before any of them can respond, Will’s voice comes echoing up from the grass. “What are you guys doing?”

“Shit,” Presley mutters, eyes going wide. “He’s going to bepissed.”

“We’re just chatting,” I call back to him, and the kids all sigh in relief.