Page 176 of Just Wait

“I thought we already agreed not to fuck anyone else, so I’m good to go,” Mal says, grinning dangerously as his fingers tease up my thigh. “I’d also really like to negotiate being able to call you my girlfriend.”

“The tabloids are already doing that for you,” Kincaid mutters.

“They get stuff wrong all the time,” Riser says. He’s still got his arm around me, but he reaches down, interlocking our fingers. It’s reassuring and grounding all at once. “It’s totally your call if you want us to start confirming our relationship to the press.”

“I thought you guys were always told to deny, deny, deny when reporters ask if you’re taken?” I ask, glancing between Kincaid and Malcolm. “To make it more believable to the fans that they have a chance.”

“That is true, but we haven’t had much good press since Andrew left,” Kincaid says, his teal-blue eyes standing out even more brightly in the dim light. “Ultimately, they don’t get to fuck with our actual lives. The label might not like it, but they can’t say we aren’t allowed to date.”

I nod.

That makes sense.

I guess maybe it’s not in their actual contracts, but rather something that’s discouraged. The label signed Theo, knowing he was in a relationship. Although, they probably knew it wouldn’t last long.

“I don’t know if I want to make whatever this is into a media spectacle,” I say carefully.

I’m much less worried about K and Riser misunderstanding my words. Malcolm is a lot more sensitive than I would have guessed when we first met, and I want to be careful not to make him feel rejected.

“I mean, the press obviously has pictures of us together,” I say. “I just don’t know that addressing things this early into a relationship is the right call.”

“So you admit this is a relationship,” Mal says, smiling a lopsided grin that makes my heart race.

“Dude, there are all kinds of relationships,” Riser says, chuckling. “Dating, friends, friends-with-benefits, coworkers, purely sexual relationships.”

Mal deflates, and I hate it.

I appreciate Riser so much, and I know he was only trying to avoid putting me on the spot, but I don’t want them to feel like they always have to walk on eggshells.

“That is true.” I grin at Riser, then shake out of his hold to brush my fingers over Mal’s cheek. “Feel free to tell fans and anyone else that you want to know you’re off the market. Maybe just not a press release or anything.”

Malcolm fully rolls onto his stomach, pushes up on all fours, and climbs over me as well as he can when I’m still plastered to Riser’s chest.

“Can I tell my mom?” he asks, brushing his nose against mine.

It’s crazy feeling his warm skin and the cool metal of the hoops in his piercings.

What woman wouldn’t melt with that statement?

I laugh, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck. “Yeah, you can tell your family.”

His eyes sparkle, and he purrs, “Perfect.” He’s not shy about shoving his tongue into my mouth.

Riser teases the backs of his fingers down my arm, and I give in to the kiss. Resisting Mal in general is impossible. His excitement is contagious. Having all three of their scents so close is comforting.

Damn.

I can’t wait for the show tomorrow night to be over. I’m really looking forward to chilling in the cabin they rented for Riser’s birthday. I’m also quite excited to hear more about that whole chasing thing Kincaid mentioned.

Chapter Forty-Three

Lumen

The venue in Roanoke is bigger than I was expecting. It has to double as some type of sports complex, but it’s really nice. It’s equally as dark as the recent outdoor shows, and the aerial performers are here tonight. It’ll be their last night with the tour, from what I understand, and I get why Mal is so bummed about it.

They’re so talented.

I’d love to know what one of their normal shows looks like.