Thorned Heart (Cash Me Outside 2)

Anything could happen. The media could find out about us and make it a big deal. Seb’s usual groupie antics might be too hard for me to handle. If we’re doing this for real, I’d need him to promise he wouldn’t sleep with any of them, but that’s not all there is to it.

Fans always have their hands all over them during meet and greets, asking for kisses, offering hotel room numbers and keys. There’s nothing he can really do about that other than smile politely and flirt his way out of it, but I’d be on the sidelines witnessing it. It’s always turned my stomach to see, but now that I’ve had him? It will kill me.

But it’s his job, and I will need to deal with it. Just like I will still need to do my job and protect the needs of the band first and foremost.

“Maybe we can make them a promise,” I say.

“What kind of promise?”

“If this doesn’t work out, we put the band first.”

Seb approaches me, fully clothed now. “I don’t know if I can promise that.”

“No?”

“After that, I don’t think we can go back.”

“So if this is the biggest mistake of our lives, that’s it for us professionally? I have to walk away?”

He hangs his head “Fuck, I don’t know.” His hair falls in his face, and I reach to tuck it behind his ears. His eyes meet mine. “Maybe we need to make sure this works out then.”

“That easy, huh?”

“Hey, I just had sex with Thorne Young. If that can happen, anything is possible.” Seb leans in and kisses me, and I don’t think I will ever get used to it, but I can guarantee I’m going to take advantage of the possibility every chance I get.

I pull back. “Let’s go tell them.”

“Ugh. Fine.” He takes my hand, and that’s how we present ourselves to the guys who we find in the home theater room.

They’re watching one of the Jurassic World movies, and we step in front of them, blocking their view.

My heart thuds and then skips a beat.

Cash pauses the movie and cocks a very smug eyebrow at us. Hmm, maybe I should be the one to lead this, but … Seb’s their friend. I’m just their manager. Maybe it should come from Seb.

“Thorne and I had sex.”

God, not like that.

“Locke heard,” Cash snickers.

I groan and rub my temples while everyone in the room erupts into laughter.

Seb pats my arm. “Oh, hon, you didn’t think I’d be subtle and use tact, did you?”

“I should’ve known better.” I slip into professional mode. “Okay, here’s the deal. Seb and I are—”

“Going to have sex again. Lots and lots of sex.”

I glare at him, and he holds up his hands in surrender.

“We’re together,” I say, turning back to the guys. “I know that changes the dynamic between all of us, so we wanted to get any awkward conversations out of the way.”

“What happens if you break up?” Jasper asks.

“Way to ease us into it,” I say. “We’ve agreed that we won’t let our relationship affect our professional lives.”

“Wait, I did?” Seb asks. “I remember promising to never break up so we can avoid awkwardness.”

“That sounds like a completely logical and flawless plan,” Cash says dryly.

“In all seriousness,” I say. “My only priorities are the band and Seb, and luckily, whatever is good for the band should be good for him.”

The three band members look around at each other, while Jasper’s groupie and Locke watch on in fascination.

“What if we agree as a band for an out clause?” Cash asks.

Seb’s brow furrows. “An out clause?”

“I think we can all agree, both of you are important members of the band.”

My chest warms. I’ve always felt a part of these guys, but not in the same way as each of them—not a fully-fledged member of the band. Knowing Cash sees me that way is probably the most fulfilling accomplishment I could achieve as a manager.

“So,” Cash continues. “What if you have an out clause where Thorne promises to stay with the band but becomes our direct contact at the label instead of our tour manager? We’d still have your great insight,” he says to me and then turns to Seb. “And you won’t have to see him every day.”

Seb looks like he doesn’t like that idea. His face winces like he’s tasting something unpleasant. “You’re talking contingencies for if I fuck this up, and I don’t want to think about that.”

I squeeze his hand. “That’s not what this is. Cash is being smart. Protecting both you and the future of the band. Anything could happen. Just because I’ve had this idea of us for years, doesn’t mean that when it actually happens it will be all smooth sailing. I will still make you wear the clothes you hate, sing the songs you don’t want to. Maybe you’ll come to resent me for it now we’ve crossed that professional line.”