Chapter 3 Olly

" Out of all the places in the world, you decided to stay in this town?" Emery asks, eyeing the small bar around us, concern evident in his voice.

We're sitting in the back of Pint ‘n' Pool, out of sight. Not that it matters, everyone is minding their own business. Completely oblivious that the lead singer and guitarist of Arcade Lake is sitting in their small-town bar. Or hell, maybe no one cares. With the exception of the older man who keeps glancing my way from his stool at the bar, everyone else is focused on their friends.

The older man narrows his eyes at me. There doesn't seem to be any recognition, just curiosity. I wave, which causes him to huff before turning his back on me.

"You been spotted?" Emery tips his head at the older man.

"No. I think that might be Merle? My Aunt warned me about him. Or it could be the mailman. Forgot his name, but I think he's a gossip too."

"Jesus. Town gossips? What's next? It's like you walked into the town of Gilmore Girls ."

" Stars Hollow ."

Emery scrunches his face. "What?"

"The town. The show is called Gilmore Girls , and they live in a town called Stars Hollow ."

"Jesus," Emery repeats, downing his shot of vodka. "How do you even know that?"

I chuckle, sipping my Pepsi. "What? I had a thing for Rory's boyfriends, Dean and Jess. The girl has good taste. What can I say?"

"Dean. Wait, isn't that the guy from Supernatural ?" He waves a hand in the air. "You know what? Never mind. I don't care."

I sip my soda again, hiding a smile behind the rim of the cold glass. "Whatever. Your loss."

Zayden slides into the seat next to Emery. "Sorry I'm late; this town is…distracting. Did you see the bakery? It's called Don't Go Bakin' My Heart."

Emery snorts. "That one's kind of cute. I saw one called Nuts and Bolts."

"What?" I bark out a laugh.

"Yeah, I think they sell tools or something."

My gaze bounces between my twin and Emery. "You guys didn't need to come here. I just got here this morning, and I don't need you two morons babysitting me, you know."

"Nah. It's about time I visited with Aunt Tessy. This loser over here just couldn't handle the two of us leaving his side." Zayden wraps his arm around Emery and rubs the top of his head.

"Get off me, man. You're fucking up my hair."

A few people glance over at us, including the bartender with the scruffy beard and older man on his stool.

"Children. Calm down. Part of the reason I wanted to be in this town was so I wouldn't draw attention to myself. Well, go figure, you're drawing attention."

Zayden and Emery stop wrestling. "Sorry," they say in unison before snickering. Holy shit, they really are children. We sip our drinks in silence for a moment.

Emery leans forward, a serious look on his face. "So, what's your plan?"

I squirm uncomfortably. Talking about this shit is embarrassing. I liked being in charge, and being that person others go to when they need help. Growing up, I took care of my mom, Zayden, and Noah.

Now, I feel like I can't even help myself. My body has betrayed me in the worst way possible. First Oscar took my heart and ripped it apart. Then he shredded my confidence and fucked with my head. I don't even want to put a name to what I'm going through. If I do, then it becomes real, and fuck that noise. I sigh. But I also know that isn't a healthy way to think. "I looked into local therapists and found one about an hour away. Booked an appointment with her once a week for the next two months. The rest I'll play by ear."

Zayden nods. "Good. That's really good, Olly. Proud of you."

Anger swirls in the pit of my stomach. How many times have I told Zee I'm proud of him? This is the first time he has ever said anything like this to me, and I can't even appreciate it. Instead, I'm ashamed. I throw back my head and take the last gulp of my soda before flagging down Kit and requesting another.

I can't even drink alcohol, afraid it might make my episodes worse.

"It's okay to feel the way you do," Emery says, as if reading my damn mind. It isn't okay. Nothing about what I'm going through is okay, and I'm about to snap at my friend when the front door to the bar opens, and a young, brown-haired woman walks in.

My breath catches when my eyes land on the gorgeous blond man that follows. He is stunning. Like a modern-day Helen of Troy. I half expect the men and women around me to fall to their knees and worship him. The whole time he sashays his way to the bar and places an order, I'm mesmerized. The blond confidently leans over the bar and talks to the bartender, all the while giving me a perfect view of his very round, toned ass. Fuck .

The blond takes his glass mugs and pitcher to a nearby booth and I'm tempted to join him and his friend.

Emery smirks when he realizes I can't take my eyes off the beautiful man. "I think I'm going to go get a drink at the bar. Wanna join me, Zee?"

Zayden's gaze bounces between me and the blond before he finally replies. "Sure, Emery. I'll meet you there in a minute."

Emery leaves, but I can still feel my brother's stare on me.

"You know," Zayden whispers, leaning across our table. "I haven't seen you look at another person like that in a long time. You should go introduce yourself."

I narrow my eyes and glance at Zayden. "Nah. He's out of my league."

Zayden snorts. "Are you crazy? You're a mother fucking rock star."

"And he looks like he can eat me for breakfast."

"Sounds hot. I'll leave you alone for a bit and give you some time to make your move. But don't wait too long." Zayden waves his finger at me. "I might not hit on him, but I can't guarantee Emery won't try."

I growl. An honest-to-God growl.

Zayden smirks.

"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, Mom ."

This isn't the first time the guys left me alone to go flirt with someone, but it's definitely the first time I've been tempted since the whole Oscar bullshit started. The band doesn't know, but Oscar was the last person I've been with. Over the past two years, I've tried flirting, tried hooking up, but have never been able to follow through.

I constantly compared everyone to the man who broke me. Either that or I was paranoid Oscar would find out and hurt someone I was interested in. Even after Oscar was arrested, my body just didn't find the need to be sexual with anyone.

But now, as I stare at the beauty in front of me, I feel my cock stir, and that in and of itself is exhilarating.

Neither blondie nor his friend notice me, but their conversation is loud enough that I can hear them chatting. I try not to eavesdrop, but rather listen to the nuance of blondie's voice. Even the way he talks is mesmerizing to me. It's like a lovely song I want to spend hours getting lost in.

That's when I notice another woman staring at blondie. There's a strange, malicious look in her eye and I get the feeling some drama is about to go down. The next thing I know, the beautiful man is angry and standing, while Ms. Drama taunts him.

"Looks like someone beat you to your man," Zayden says, reappearing by my side. We watch the drama unfold, and I'm briefly upset when I hear Blondie is taken. Damn.

I lean in and whisper to Zayden. "Sounds like Ms. Drama over there stole Blondie's ex-boyfriend. She sounds absolutely horrible."

When Ms. Drama answers her phone, I hear the panic in Blondie's voice.

"A boyfriend? Are you serious?" Blondie hisses. "I don't know how long they're going to be in town. Now I'm going to have to find a magical boyfriend just to save face, or admit that I really am as pathetic as she thinks."

So he's single.

"I'm sorry," his friend says.

A tempting, stupid idea pops into my mind, and when I see Ms. Drama hang up the phone with that evil glint in her eyes, I feel my idea take hold, causing me to stand.

"Hey," I whisper to Zayden. "I'm probably about to do something really stupid. Go along with it." I give him a knowing stare, and he grins. The words ‘bail me out if things go south' are left unsaid.

Ms Drama laughs. "Let me guess. You don't actually have a boyfriend. Do you, Ezra?"

Ezra.

Fuck. Even his name is beautiful.

I make my way to Ezra's side like a sailor who can't fight a siren's pull. "There you are," I say, wrapping a possessive arm around the blond's slim shoulders. He blinks up at me with startled, gorgeous blue eyes.

Dear lord, please don't let me get kicked in the balls.

His friend seems to understand what I'm doing before Ezra does. "It's about time. Ezra was feeling awfully lonely without his man by his side," she says with a knowing stare.

Ezra's lips part, and fuck, am I tempted to kiss him, but yeah, consent is a real thing. Instead, I squeeze him lightly, hoping he understands my silent message. Play along.

It seems to do the trick because suddenly Ezra is squeezing me back and a sexy-as-fuck smile plays on his plush lips. My dick grows hard at the sight. This time it's my turn for my lips to part in shock.

"Ezzy, baby. I missed you," I say, voice husky. Why is my voice so husky?

Ezra gasps and his pupils blow wide. Before I can comprehend what he's doing, Ezra is leaning against me and standing on his tippy toes. His lips meet mine and for a moment, I'm lost. Completely absorbed in his intoxicating sweet scent and the taste of his lips as they glide against mine.

He tastes like cherries and beer, an addicting combination I could get used to if it's always attached to these lips.

My lips part and his do the same. I don't waste the opportunity, tangling his tongue with mine as hands climb up my body and tangle in my hair. I can't fucking help it, I moan. He feels so good.

Perfect.

I'm about to deepen the kiss even more when a throat clears to our left. We both yank away from each other as if we were doing something inappropriate. Hell, give us thirty more seconds and I'm pretty sure we would have been tugging each other's clothes off.

Rebecca is sitting at their booth again with a huge grin on her face. Ms. Drama is being quite dramatic, just staring at me with her mouth gaping open. Her gaze is so focused on me that she doesn't see Ezra turn bright red when he glances down at his obvious erection.

I smirk. Holy shit. I did that to him. I made him hard. Why does it feel so damn good with this stranger? That's when it hits me. I kissed another person, and I didn't think of Oscar once. I was solely focused on the beautiful man in front of me.

Ezra drops into the seat next to his friend, trying to hide his boner with his glass.

Ms. Drama is still standing there staring at me, her eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

She gasps, snapping her fingers. "I know you. You're one of them, aren't you?" Oh, the joy of being an identical twin. No one but Noah and my aunt seem to be able to tell us apart, and even they struggle sometimes.

"Olly." I hold my hand out to her and she squeals. "Ezra's boyfriend," I add for good measure. She doesn't shake my extended hand, but instead squeals even louder and begins to jump up and down. I try not to roll my eyes as I sit down in the booth across from Ezra.

I should have expected it, but it catches me off guard when Ms. Drama pushes in close to me. "I can't believe I'm meeting someone from Arcade Lake. Oh fuck. This is crazy." She squeezes my arm, which causes me to frown.

My eyes lift to Ezra's and something flashes in Ezra's gaze. Jealousy? And fuck, why does that make me even harder? Warmth spreads in my chest like a fine shot of whiskey. When was the last time someone even looked at me like that?

Sure, it might be something else, and I'm probably imagining this. For all I know, the look could have been anger at the fact that this girl has the balls to sit next to someone else's man, but I pretend that it's jealousy and possession I see in Ezra's gaze.

I really fucking like Ezra's pretty eyes on me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and glance at the screen, thankful when I read Zayden's message.

Zayden: Tell McCrazy to come to the bar if she wants to meet us. We could distract her long enough to help you and your new "boyfriend" get your story straight.

I glance up at my brother, who's now standing at the bar with Emery. I shoot him a grateful look before looking at the fangirl next to me. "What's your name?"

"Flora."

"Flora, is there any chance you want to meet my twin and the lead singer of Arcade Lake?" I ask.

She squeals again, and I chuckle. "Good, because they really want to meet you." I point at my friends and Emery gives Flora a flirty finger wave. It's all for show. Emery is gay. But my brother on the other hand? I shudder, trying not to imagine the two together in bed before shooting him a text.

Flora stands and rushes toward the bar.

Olly: Her name is Flora. Don't sleep with her.

Zayden: Aye, Aye, Captain.

My gaze wanders back over to Olly. "Hi," I say with a shy smile.

He grins. "Hi."

We stare at each other for a beat too long, with goofy smiles on our faces before his friend interrupts. "Okay. Um, hi. Hello. My name is Rebecca."

"Olly," I offer my hand and she shakes it.

"Yeah. I know who you are. Everyone does."

Ezra clears his throat. "I'm sorry, but um, I don't know who you are."