Z fast-forwards again until the camera passes over the front row.
I lean forward until I catch Z’s eye. “Did you mark the spots we’re in or something?”
“No, Heidi did it for me.”
Shelby gasps and reaches behind us, pointing at Heidi. “Traitor!” Both girls crack up laughing.
“He made me!” Heidi protests.
“Likely story, Heidi,” Lilly teases. “Z would never want to embarrass his brothers.”
“Ow!” Z yelps. “Why are you pinching me, Siren?”
Finally, we get close to Shelby’s first category. Z hits play.
“Damn, who’s the presenter?” Steer asks. “She’s hot. You should tour with her next time.”
“Ooo, I love Willa!” Trinity says. “That would be a great show, Shelby!”
“Was she nice to you?” Heidi asks. “Did you get to talk to her at the awards show?”
“Just a little.” Pink spreads over Shelby’s cheeks. “I was sort of worried about making a fool of myself.”
The camera pauses on our row, lingering on Dawson before switching to Shelby. She may have been nervous, but on screen, she appears completely calm.
Everyone cheers when Shelby’s name is called. Shit, I think these guys are louder than the audience at the actual show.
“Aww, Shelby, you look so stunned,” Charlotte says.
“I was!” Shelby laughs. “I had an out-of-body experience there for a second.”
“It doesn’t show,” Hope says, gesturing toward the screen. “You radiate poise and grace.”
“Thank you,” Shelby whispers.
“Yeehaw, look at her thanking Logan.” Jiggy cackles and slaps my shoulder. “Aww, so sweet!”
“Shit, I think I forgot that’s your actual name,” Z says.
“They took my award when I left the stage.” Shelby points to the screen. “I never knew those are just props and they mail you your actual trophy later.”
Of course the camera crew got a shot of me meeting Shelby at the bottom of the stairs. The announcer rambles on about our “whirlwind romance” or whatever. More fuel for my brothers to mock me.
“If I’d known about this, I would’ve suggested we come up tomorrow,” I whisper in Shelby’s ear.
She shrugs.
Everyone boos the screen when Shelby doesn’t win the Best Female Vocalist category.
“Oh, damn, she’s cute too,” Steer says. “Shelby, you should organize a country music festival.” He wags his finger at the screen. “With that chick and that other chick.”
“We sure would need a lot of extra security then,” Shelby sasses.
“Huh. How about that?” Steer grins at her. “I happen to know some guys who’d be perfect for the job.”
A bunch of these assholes raise their hands.
“Oh, Lordy. I won’t be able to decide.” Shelby giggles. “I’m gonna put you in charge of the hiring, Steer.”
“Hey.” I squeeze Shelby’s hip. “I’m your head of security.”
She angles herself closer. “You’re my personal bodyguard. In charge of me, and me alone.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Shelby Morgan. White Knight!” the announcer shouts on the screen.
The room erupts with whoops and cheers. While the camera follows Shelby on stage, the voice-over retells the story of me pulling Shelby out of the San Antonio River.
Sparky bounces up and down in his seat. “I should get credit for you two meeting! I’m the one who suggested we go down there ahead of everyone else.”
Laughing and shaking my head, I can’t remember if that’s actually true or not but I don’t want to burst Sparky’s bubble. “Thanks, brother.”
Shelby hugs me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you, Sparky.”
“Is that it?” Z asks us.
“I lost my final category.” Shelby waves her hand toward the screen. “But I don’t know how they put the show together.”
Z twists around to see Heidi better. “Any more parts for us to heckle Rooster about?”
“No, I got ’em all.”
“Thanks, Little Hammer.” I reach behind me and slap her knee. “I’ll remember this.”
She grimaces and shrugs. “I have to respect my elders, Rooster. Sorry.”
“I heard that, Heidi.” Z turns the volume down but leaves the show running. “Fun’s over. Get your asses into the war room for church.”
A hum of excited chatter travels around the room. No one’s upset about attending church. Kinda wish we’d sat down before watching this. I fully expect to be harassed for the next hour or so.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Rooster
“Can’t say I was expecting that to be tonight’s entertainment,” Ice says as we move into the war room.
“You and me both.” I clap his shoulder. “Good to see you guys up here. When’s the last time you visited?”
“Long time now,” Rock says, slapping Ice’s back. “Good to have you here, brother.”
“Thanks.”
They move ahead of me and I fall in next to Jiggy. “Did you know about that?” I ask.
He laughs. “No, I really didn’t. But it was pretty fucking funny.”
I glare at him and he laughs harder.
“Don’t be like that. Shelby’s not mad,” he points out.
He’s right. She’s talking and laughing with the girls. “Eh, whatever.” I can handle my brothers roasting me, as long as they treat Shelby with respect.
Ice ends up in Wrath’s usual seat. He’s probably one of the few people Wrath wouldn’t toss on his ass for touching his chair. He puts his back to the wall behind Rock and crosses his arms over his chest.