Irresistible Refrain

18

The guys were stuffing their faces with fast food.

“C’mon, Lacey,” War admonished when I complained about the smell. He waved a French fry under my nose. “You used to love McDonalds.”

“No, I didn’t.” I shook my head and raised my brows. “You must be getting me confused with the other love of your life,” I teased. “Yourself.”

“Dick’s Drive-In was her favorite,” Bryan muttered under his breath, his eyes meeting mine.

War frowned.

Back in high school whenever War and I fought, Bryan would take me to Dick’s to let me vent.

3 years ago

Sitting on top of the picnic table, tracing the graffiti someone had carved into the wood, I watched Bryan covertly. He had gotten even more handsome over the past year, his former boyish frame filling out in all the right places, especially with the weight lifting he and War had starting doing together. He’d shot up in height, too. He was well over six feet now.

My cheeks started to burn when his gorgeous greyish green eyes met mine. I’d been a sucker for them since I was five. He raised a dark brow.

“What?” I challenged.

“You were totally checking me out, Lace Lowell.” He bumped my shoulder. “Don’t even try to deny it.”

“As if.” I rolled my eyes and took a loud sip of the last dregs of my strawberry shake, desperate for something to ease the dryness in my throat.

He mumbled under his breath.

“What’d you say?”

“I said, you ok now? I mean about War and all.”

“I guess. He just pisses me off. He doesn’t understand why I need to study.” I shivered and rubbed my arms. It had been warm during the day, but now that the sun had gone down, I regretted the short sleeves and not bringing a jacket.

“Do what you need to do. Don’t let him get you sidetracked from your goals, Lace.” Bryan shrugged out of his black hoodie and held it out for me. “Here.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, placing my arms in the sleeves. It was still warm from his body heat. He scooted closer, ducking down to fasten it for me. My nose was inches away from the top of his head. I inhaled the spicy scent of him while he zipped it up. When his head lifted, his face was so close that his warm breath fanned against my mouth. Eyes on his parted lips, I shivered again.

“Geez, Lace. You should have let on sooner that you were this cold.” He used his sexy deep voice that made me want to smash my lips to his.

“I’m alright.” I scooted away, needing some space to get my hammering heart back under control, but then I made the mistake of glancing in his direction. The t-shirt he’d worn under the jacket was snug, way too small. He’d obviously outgrown it. The material stretched tight over his pecs and the sleeves dug into his muscular arms.

The white color was a perfect showcase for his new tat sleeves. I’d told him I thought tats were a waste of money. Looking at his through my lashes, I decided I’d changed my mind. The intricate black Japanese characters spelled out his mom’s and his sisters’ names. They were sexy as hell, and worth every single penny. I imagined tracing the marks with my fingers or maybe even my tongue.

Stop it, Lace. Just like back then, I found myself letting out a shaky breath. Bryan was standing right in front of me and his black tee had ridden up providing a glimpse of his bared midsection as he rummaged around in the top cabinet for a couple of shot glasses. The view of his flat abs and contoured hip bones had me mesmerized.

“Lacey, the guys wanna know if you’re in for a game of truth or dare,” War asked me, his brow dipping. “You ok? You seem really distracted today.”

“I’m fine.” I shrugged. “Does this game work like the one we played when we were kids?”

“Basically, yeah. We still find out embarrassing shit about each other. But now we get really drunk, too,” King explained.

“Fun times,” I quipped.

“Rules are twenty dollars and a shot of tequila to whoever passes the truth or dare challenge,” Dizzy announced. “Oh, and the last person left standing usually gets a bonus prize.”

“A kiss from Lace,” King shouted out.

I smiled at his enthusiasm. “Like that’s anything special.”

“How ‘bout a night to sleep in the back bedroom?” Sager asked, rolling up the sleeves of his Black Flag concert tee. “No offense, Lace, but you and War have been hogging it.”

“Not happening,” War muttered. “I’m sleeping with Lace, and I’m not sleeping with her in a bunk.”

“Uh-oh, looks like someone drank all of the tequila recently.” A look I didn’t understand passed between Dizzy and Bryan. Bottles clinked as Sager continued to search for something suitable in the cabinet. “How about vodka?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Ok. I guess.”

Dizzy removed his jacket and took a seat on the couch beside War and me. Sager, King, and Bryan sat on the couch opposite.

“Who’s going first?” Bryan asked.

“We’ll just do it in reverse alphabetical order,” War suggested.

“That’ll put me last,” Bryan cautioned.

“Great. That means the game’s already his.” Dizzy filled the glasses. “No one can hold their liquor the way Bryan can.”

“War you’re up,” King called, tapping a full shot glass. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

King’s dark brow rose. “I dare you to share what you said about Avery Jones when she was here on the tour bus.”

“You’re such an asshole, King,” War growled. “I’m out.” He shot to his feet. I intercepted a heated nonverbal exchange that passed between War and Bryan. “I got better things to do than play this idiotic game with you pissants. I’m going to the back.” He leaned in and gave me a tight lipped kiss.

“I’ll come with you.” I started to rise.

“That’s alright, babe. Stay. Come when you’ve had enough. Knowing these mother fuckers, that won’t be long.”

I stuck my chin out. “I can hold my own.”

“You sure can.” Sager’s head bobbed in agreement. “I’ll never forget that time you stood up to those cops when they hassled King about his brother.” He glanced at his best friend. “You remember, King?”

“Oh yeah.” King nodded. “She told ‘em to piss off, we don’t get to pick our family.”

“Just our amigos.” I held out my knuckles to King for a fist bump.

“Ok.” Dizzy smiled. “You’re next, Sager, mi amigo.”

“Alright, Diz.” Sager leaned back and stretched out his arms. “Give me a truth.”

Dizzy ran a finger over his eyebrow piercing. “You really do the nasty with Mrs. Neboski on that science field trip to Lake City?”

Sager gave a quick nod.

“Hot damn!” Dizzy exclaimed. “I thought that was just urban legend.”

Expressions ranging from disgust to admiration marked the individual band members’ faces as Sager pocketed his cash and knocked back a shot of vodka.

Bryan refilled the shot glass. “You’re next, Lace.”

I pulled the shot glass with the twenty underneath toward me.

“Truth or Dare?” Bryan asked.

Shit. This could be tricky. Bryan had a devilish glint in his eye that concerned me. “Truth…no dare,” I changed my mind nervous how far he might take things.

“Hmm.” Bryan ran a finger slowly across his lips.

My stomach did a little flip. I licked my dry lips as he continued to stare at me and perseverate. He was obviously enjoying making me squirm.

“Kiss your brother…on the lips.” Bryan grinned.

“No way!” I snorted.

Dizzy shook his head. “That’s just sick, man.” He glared at Bryan. “I’m giving her my turn and she earns a modify since you went so far over the line.”

“Agree,” Sager said, rubbing his chin. “Now she has to kiss you for forty bucks. You’re almost like a brother to her anyway. She’s already so pissed. I’d watch out. She might bite.”

“Promise?” Bryan gave me a slow once over.

My cheeks warmed. “I just might, you ass,” I warned as I crossed over to him, ignoring Dizzy who’d suddenly started shaking his head at me. I was surprised my brother didn’t have more faith in me. That forty dollars was already mine. I bent down to kiss Bryan. As soon as our lips touched, he took over and I forgot all about our audience.

I shouldn’t have.

“Lace.” War’s voice snapped my head up like a whip. “Come to bed.” His expression was furious.

Blood roaring in my ears, I swiped my winnings off the table before hurrying after him.