Page 10 of Lance

“We weren’t like littlekids.”

Paige rolls her eyes. “You were, too. You couldn’t even sleep the night before, you were so giddy about it. You keptgiggling.”

“Sweetheart,” he says in mild tones. “You’re going to ruin my rep in front of the hottest band in thecountry.”

Dylan’s grin goes full out dopey at that and I don’t blame him. Reed Ransome thinks we’re the hottest band in the country. It’s pretty damn mind-blowing.

“Sorry,” Paige says brightly, kissing his cheek. “I promise to tell lots of stories about how gruff and manly you arelater.”

“Is everyone else here?” James asks. “I wanted to ask Levi what he thought of the monitor set-up at thestudio.”

“He’s around here somewhere,” Paige says. “Everyone is. Except Daltrey and Daisy, ofcourse.”

Layla’s eyes go wide. “Oh my gosh, I’m such an ass. Everything has been so crazy I almost forgot. How are they? How’s thebaby?”

In the few months that I’ve known him, Reed Ransome has rarely come across as anything but cool and collected. As the oldest brother, he’s basically the leader of their band, a role he seems to take seriously. When he’s with Paige—a girl so outgoing and vivacious she redefines the terms—he seems a little more laid back. But only alittle.

That’s why it’s such a shock to see his face completely transform. His eyes go every bit as wide and excited as Paige’s usually are, and his goofy grin puts Dylan’s dopey one to shame. “The baby is great,” he says. “She’s gorgeous. Rose Ransome. Isn’t that a greatname?”

“It is—” Layla starts, but Reed cuts heroff.

“Do you want to see pictures? I have a ton.” And before anyone can say anything he has his phone out and he’s beckoning for us all to gather around to see the pictures of Daltrey Ransome’s new kid. I blink down at the screen to see a tiny baby sleeping in someone’s arms. “This is her yesterday, before we left. I swear she gets more hair every day. And here she is on my drum kit. I thought Dalt was going to have a panic attack that she’d fall even though I was right there. And here she is the day she came home from thehospital.”

On and on it goes. Reed scrolls through the pictures of his baby niece until they’re basically a blur. I mean, I’m sure she’s cute and everything, but she’s just a baby. Don’t they all pretty much look the same? I catch Dylan’s eye over Reed’s bent head. His eyes are wide with something akin toterror.

“I think that’s probably enough with the baby pictures now, hon,” Paige says in a placating voice. To the rest of us she adds, “The Ransome boys are slightly excited about becominguncles.”

Reed begins to slip his phone back into his pocket, a sheepish expression on his face, but then his brother, Cash, is suddenly at his side. “You better not have showed them that picture,” hesnaps.

“What picture?” Reed asks, his voice innocent. But there’s something like aggression in his expression and Cash crosses his arms, scowling. “Oh!” Reed goes on. “You mean the one where she’s smiling, for the first time ever, because she seesme? You mean thatpicture?”

“She was not smiling because of you!” Cash looks to Paige for help. “She was smiling at me! Tell him, Paige.Tellhim.”

Paige is shaking her head in exasperation. “You’re both ridiculous, do you know that?” She gestures around at us. “And you’re freaking outIntrigue.”

“Intrigue?” Cash says, sounding confused. He tears his glare away from Reed and seems to notice us for the first time. “Oh, shit. Sorry, you guys. Hey! It’s good to see youagain.”

“Cash!” an angry female voice calls. I look over my shoulder to see Sam, his girlfriend, hurrying to our group. She looks slightly out of breath and very annoyed. “You totally ditchedme!”

“Idid?”

She puts her hands on her hips and glares at him. “I was in the middle of a sentence and you took off without saying aword.”

“He saw Reed with his phone out,” Paige says and Sam throws her armsup.

“You guys havegotto stop showing baby pictures to innocent bystanders. You look like crazy people. You know that, right?” Sam shakes her head before turning to the rest of us. “I’m very sorry on theirbehalf.”

“They’re fine,” Dylan assures her. “How old is Rose now?” Layla shoots him a glare and I get the feeling all the talk about babies is freaking herout.

“Twenty-six days,” Cash and Reed say in unison, and Sam raises her eyes to the heavens like she’s looking forstrength.

“She’s very smart for a baby her age,” Cash says. “She canalready—”

“Oh, look,” Layla says abruptly. “I see someone I know over there. I better say hi. It was great seeing you all again, thanks for coming, bye!” And before anyone can respond she’s scurrying away out into thecrowd.

“You’re literally scaring people away with your baby talk,” Sam says. “I just want to make sure you both understand that.” She turns to the rest of us. “How about a subject change? Congrats on all the success, youguys!”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “It’s been prettywild.”