Page 71 of Just Wait

She’s growing more comfortable with touching me, and I’m living for every second of it.

“Just fucking tell us,” Kincaid says, rolling his eyes. He and Riser have been lingering around the living room, meaning they saw my moment of weakness when I snapped and almost kissed Lumen.

“There are three rooms,” Parish says, walking over and taking a seat on the couch. “The two smaller rooms have two queen-size beds in each. The primary has a king.”

“That’s five beds for six people,” Tennyson says, chuckling. “Now, Parish and I are willing to take one for the team and share the big bed. Sorry, Lumen. You’re going to have to get used to being around others of the female variety. With Randy gone, it’s finally time to party.”

“No apology needed.” She laughs. “I can sleep on the couch.”

“Hell no,” Kincaid says, shaking his head.

At the same time, I say, “I can take the couch.”

“We can flip for the bigger room, like we used to do in the old days,” Riser says, ever the voice of reason.

And that’s how Lumen gets the big bedroom with the Jacuzzi tub.

Lumen gets high with us to avoid napping the afternoon away, but she disappears shortly after to take a shower.

Benji lets himself in right after she leaves the room. The glare on his face makes me happy that she’s not around to witness us get bitched out by our manager.

Tennyson grabs one of the throw pillows, tossing it over the straws and plastic baggies, but there’s no way Benji didn’t notice.

“I’m choosing to see nothing at the moment,” Benji says, crossing his arms over his chest as he paces the carpet bare. “I’ve been fielding calls since last night. Everyone wants to know if you’d like to make an official statement about the woman you stopped a show to pull from the audience. It doesn’t help that the paparazzi caught pictures of you leaving the meet and greet early to sneak off with her to the bus.” He directs the last part at Kincaid.

“Do your job and say no comment,” Kincaid says, putting his booted feet up on the edge of the coffee table next to the pillow.

“The reporters at the after-party also mentioned she was close to you,” Benji says, nodding at me. “They have pictures of her sitting in your lap.”

“Okay,” I reply, trying to figure out where this is going.

“Liminal hasn’t had great press since before everything happened with Andrew,” Benji says calmly. “Having Lumen traveling with you might be a blessing in disguise. The press loves an underdog story. A fan upgraded to girlfriend might be just the positive press that you need.”

“Bullshit,” Kincaid says. “It’s practically outlined in our contracts that we won’t flaunt any romantic relationship in the public eye to allow for the fantasy that any fan could land one of us.”

He’s not wrong.

Technically, it’s not written in the contract, but it is highly discouraged. Legally speaking, they can’t tell us who we can or can’t date.

“That’s fine, as long as it isn’t a band-wide thing. Parish and I want to be able to fuck whoever we want.” Tennyson leans forward, pointing at Benji. “It’s been a long five weeks. Now that Randy is gone, we’re no longer putting on a show.”

“Is she an omega?” Benji asks, glancing between us. “If so, we can swing it as she’s dating the three of you. If not, one will do. It would leave the other four of you available in the eyes of the fans.”

Kincaid growls. “Her designation isn’t anyone’s business.”

“That’s just asking for trouble with her ex,” Riser chimes in. “He wants her back. If every major news outlet starts running stories about any of us dating Lumen, he will shit a brick, and things will get even messier.”

“Leave it,” I say firmly. “She’s skittish. If she feels pressured into making an announcement, she’ll leave.”

Benji curses under his breath, glancing between us. “Have you considered that might be the best call for everyone involved?”

My eyes narrow.

The jump from suggesting we make a dating announcement to trying to get rid of her happened a little too fast for me to believe that wasn’t his goal all along.

“It’s our day off,” Kincaid says, pulling his boots from the coffee table and hitting his feet. “This conversation is over. It’s time for you to go. We’ll meet you downstairs tomorrow afternoon to head to the venue to practice.”

“None of the rest of you want to chime in?” Benji asks, focusing on Parish and Tennyson.