Chapter Two

Andy

I dragged myself back to my hotel room with the hangover from hell looming behind my eyes, only to find my bandmates, close friends, and foster brothers waiting for me there. It was moments like this that I thought about what it would be like if I had gone solo. A shiver ran up my spine. I was too much like my dad, and I preferred to hide behind the drums on stage. The crowd paid more attention to the guitar and bass player than to me. Even if I was the singer.

"Where were you?" Felix Taylor demanded the second I opened the door.

My guitar player, his twin brother, Ford, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, where were you? We were supposed to do that interview. We had to lie for you. Again, Andy. Told them you weren't feeling well, but you'd reschedule."

Oops, I forgot about that . That might get me a slap on the wrist from our PR guy, Hank.

"Busy." I pointed to the door. I stared at the two of them. Two halves that made a whole. "Leave now." I pointed to the door again.

"No." Felix shook his head as he narrowed his emerald eyes at me. "We're not leaving. You went to see him, didn't you?"

"Him, who?" Ford asked as he stared at his brother before his eyes went wide. Sometimes it was like living in some weird sci-fi movie the way they could communicate telepathically. Like those creepy twins in The Shining . "Wait, you went to see Leo without us? I would have liked to have gone, too." They had been friends with my ex at one point.

"Did you see RJ?" Felix asked.

I slammed the door shut as I stomped into the room. "I don't want to deal with you two right now. I have a headache and just want to go back to sleep. Can you just go be weird somewhere else?"

"Nah, no way. Now I need the details. Weren't you two going to get married?" That had been the plan. Felix popped his jaw as he nudged his brother. "Gave him a ring and everything."

Ford's mouth dropped open. "You were engaged? You never told me that."

"Yes, assholes, we were engaged, but Leo gave me the ring back."

More like he threw it at me. After I broke up with him. I yanked off my shirt as the lie slipped from my mouth. I needed a shower, some food, and then maybe a long nap before I went back to the track. Because, yes, I was going back to see Leo again. I didn't care if he tried to sic Ezra on me. I wasn't afraid of him. I was afraid of my father and what he would do when he found out I was back without visiting. And all the other things I had been doing.

Hurt flashed over Ford's face. "But you gave him a ring. That all of you forgot to tell me about."

"I love him! Of course, I gave Leo an engagement ring. I wanted to marry him!" I exclaimed. "We promised ourselves to one another."

Ford's brows shot up as his jaw dropped. "Wanted to or want to, Andy? How old were you when you did that?"

"Eighteen," Felix answered for me, and again they shared one of those creepy, weird twin things. They were my best friends, but honestly, they freaked me out sometimes.

I popped the button on my jeans. "We were two young kids in love. I thought I wanted forever with him."

I still did. I loved Leo. I'd made a huge mistake when I'd broken up with him. The memory of Leo's cheeks damp with tears as he clung to me caused a lump to form in my throat. I had never gotten over what I had done to him. Even if he'd agreed with me. Given me what I'd wanted.

"I miss him, too." Ford looked up from his phone. "What? It was Leo's idea to start the band. He taught me how to do my makeup. We were close."

My lip curled over my teeth. "I'm still unconvinced that you didn't want into his pants."

"He's not even my type." Ford rolled his eyes as a blush crept up his neck. "I like them big and beefy; you know? We all saw the way Leo looked at you. He was already head over heels by the time Felix and I met both of you."

Felix smirked. "You're still into him."

"No." The lie tumbled from my lips so easily. Too easily. I had always been into Leo. "Whatever, get out. I need to shower."

Ford grunted something, and Felix nodded. "You're such a dick when you're hungover."

"Thanks, Sherlock," I muttered. "Go, now."

I waved at them and waited until they left my room before I collapsed on the bed. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I expected it to be one of my dads, but when I saw it was Ford, I barked out a laugh.

Ford: We're going to the race, right?

Andy: Yeah, we're going to the damn race.

***

"Stop fidgeting," Ford hissed in my ear as we walked through the garage area. "He's going to be here. It's not like you won't see him."

I glared at my guitar player. "I don't want him to see me first. He'll run. Besides, you want to see him, too."

"Why are you here again?" Ezra suddenly popped out of nowhere, and I might have screamed. Loudly. "Didn't Leo kick you out this morning? Oh great, I see you brought frick and frack with you."

He was dressed in a pair of skintight jeans and a shirt that shimmered when he moved that I was sure he'd made himself. His clothing career had taken off, and I might have bought a few items to wear on stage. Not that I would ever tell Ezra that. He would never let me live it down.

The twins looked at one another before they moved to flank me. "Ezra, it's a delight to see you again. You look stunning, as always." Ford batted his lashes.

"Don't try to flatter me." Ezra lifted his chin as he stared up at my friend. "Leo doesn't need you here, Andrew. If Noel or CC see you, this isn't going to go in your favor."

For a man on the smaller side, Ezra was intimidating as hell.

"Are you going to tell them?" I asked.

"Damn right I am." Ezra's dark eyes flashed angrily. "I don't care what he told you, you broke his heart. I had to pick up the pieces. I won't let you do it again." He poked me in the chest with a long red nail.

Ford nudged me. "I think you've already been spotted."

I glanced over Ezra's head to see Leo headed my way. But wait, why was RJ Shepard trailing behind him? Was that the boyfriend he had been talking about? I saw red at the thought of RJ putting his hands on my man. Touching him in ways that I never had.

"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?"

He was dressed in his fire suit again. I used to tease him that it fit him like a potato sack, but it looked like they had fixed that problem. It clung to his shoulders, his chest, and his hips just right. That tiny waist was on full display. It left nothing to my imagination, and my cock thickened in my jeans as I remembered every inch of his skin, the sounds he made when I touched him.

Leo's eyes settled on Ford and Felix. I thought he might try to hug his old friends, but instead, Leo's face grew dark. "Don't."

Felix gasped, and Ford snickered before they both spoke at the same time. "We missed you, too, boo."

I glared at both of them. "They're your friends, too."

I stared down at Leo, wondering what he was thinking. Did he really want me to leave, or could I convince him to talk to me? Probably not with his guard dog standing there. The way his eyes were eating me up told me it might be the latter.

"Everything okay here?" RJ's gaze bounced between me and Leo.

He was a carbon copy of his dad, towering over everyone, including me, with his dark blue eyes. We had never run in the same crowd at school, but since his dad was kind of friends with mine, we were forced together at times. I never had an issue with RJ until right now.

Felix squared his shoulders. "Hello, RJ."

RJ's cheeks burned red. Interesting.

I saw red when Leo touched RJ's arm. "Thanks, boo, but they were just leaving."

"Ricky, I—"

"No, you don't." Ezra cut me off before I could beg Leo to listen to me. "Boo, back to your car, and you three go back to the rock from which you crawled out from under. I mean it. Scram."

Leo's lips twitched like he might break into a smile. His face was free of makeup, which I was curious about even though he had never needed it. He was still the most beautiful, gorgeous, stunning man I had ever laid eyes on.

"Ez, relax."

"Oh, you're already in, bro." Felix elbowed me. "Leo's sticking up for you."

Ezra shot him a warning, and Felix moved closer to me.

"I'm scared. Ford, let's go." He grabbed for his brother's arm, leaving me behind to face the pack alone.

Ezra tilted his head. "Leo, a word." He grabbed him by the arm, and I stood there as he dragged him away. I watched as they spoke in whispered voices, arms and hands flying.

"You break his heart again, and I'll make sure to break your face," RJ warned in a deep, throaty voice. "I don't care who you are. He's a good man, Andy."

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask RJ what his relationship was with Leo when he walked back over to where we stood. Without Ezra.

"Five minutes." He held up his palm.

"Sure, Ricky."

I held out my arm, and when he hooked his through mine, I did a mental fist pump. We walked out of the garage together to get a little privacy, but I was disappointed when Leo pulled away from me, crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his lips together.

"You're going to run out of time." He pointed to his wrist.

I dragged a hand through my shaggy hair, wondering when the last time I had a haircut was. No, not the time to think about that.

"Right, okay. Um, about us. And what happened."

"There is no us. Not anymore, Andy."

"What if I made a mistake?"

Leo's blue eyes were sad as he watched me. "You really have no idea, do you? You broke me. I would have done anything you asked of me. I didn't want to break up. That was all you. And I didn't want to keep you from achieving your dreams, either. I went into a deep depression. I didn't sleep, eat, shower, or do anything but wait for your calls that didn't always come. The sporadic text messages that kept me from living my life. It was like we never existed. Only you did because your social media accounts were still active. I saw your pictures, your status updates, everything you were tagged in. You were out there living your life, and I was right here. Right fucking here where you left me."

"Leo, baby—"

Leo shook his head. "No, don't do that. Noel had to pry me away from my phone. Ezra had to beg me to leave the house. I almost lost my ride, and Ezra's friendship with your dad suffered, too. I bet you didn't know that."

The guilt hit me hard. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry. Well, that changes everything." His chin quivered, and I realized he was fighting back tears.

My heart felt heavy in my chest. "I love you. It wasn't like I did it on purpose. All those things I told you. I meant them. I never lied to you."

I reached for his hands. He slapped me away.

"But you did! You said you'd keep in touch with me, that we could still be friends, but I hardly ever heard from you. You just forgot about me!" Leo exclaimed.

Tears spilled down his cheeks, and my heart broke all over again for the boy I never forgot.

I took a step toward him. "I never meant to hurt you, Ricky. I love you, and I wanted to tell you that it wasn't permanent, but Hank thought it was best if we didn't have any relationships. That we would be easier to sell if we were young, pretty, and single." I was going to hell for those lies.

"You deleted our pictures, Andy! You unfollowed, unfriended, and removed me from your life! How is that not permanent? I was still there, still watching you with those girls!" Leo cried. "Your time is up. I need you to leave."

I shook my head. "I'm afraid that I can't do that."

"That's too bad. I have practice. I can't have you here. I have—Fuck!" Leo leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

When I got down to rub my palm over his back, I thought he would push me away, but when he didn't, I wrapped my arms around him, trying to comfort him.

"I love you. I do. I never stopped," I murmured.

"I can't do this again. I won't." Leo pushed me away. "I need you to let me go, Andy."

Then he turned and left me standing outside the garage as he walked away, his back straight, his shoulders squared like nothing had happened.

And straight into RJ's open arms.