Rowdy Boy

Nate has blended in so well that it’s hard to believe he only joined them a few weeks ago. He plays their songs as though he’s played them his entire life, and he seems to love being on stage.

Cole and the others even let him have his own few songs where he’s allowed to rap, and the crowd always goes mental when he goes up to the mic. Cole doesn’t even seem to mind sharing the fame. He looks much happier and more content than he did before … before Michael was kicked out … before he met me.

I smile at him as he plays his guitar like a pro while the crowd goes wild with excitement, hollering their names, chanting along to each of their songs. It’s a thrill to be able to witness his rise, and it’s humbling to know that I was a part of that. That I helped keep them together, despite all the odds being stacked both against them and me.

But you know what they say … never give up on hope.

And I’m far from ever surrendering.

Being with Cole has taught me that no matter what trouble gets on your path, you can get through it, as long as you keep breathing and have people around you who care about you, who will help you get back on your feet again when you need them.

Cole was there for me when I was at my darkest, and now I’m here for him at his lightest.

And I can’t help but smile when I watch him perform on stage with the entire crowd’s eyes set on him while his are focused solely on me. And I can’t help but stare right back at him with wonder in my eyes, completely mesmerized by his performance just like the very first time I saw him play.

“My God … I still can’t believe he’s your boyfriend,” Melanie suddenly says, and I almost lose my shit.

“Boyfriend?” I stutter.

“Yeah, aren’t you two kind of officially a thing now?” she asks, winking. “I saw you come out of the practice room, remember?”

My entire face glows. “Uh … I guess.”

She throws her arm around my shoulders. “C’mon, Mo, there’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“You two having fun without me?” Sam just crept up behind us, almost giving me a heart attack. “Here.” She hands both of us a Coke. “On the house.”

“Thanks,” I say, and I take a huge sip.

“I think I said something I shouldn’t have,” Melanie jests while ogling me.

“What?” Sam muses, and she looks at me now, because I’m only getting redder the more they talk.

“She and Cole are secretly a thing,” Melanie whispers.

“Yeah, I knew,” Sam says.

“Okay …” Melanie frowns and throws me a look. “So I was the only one who didn’t know?”

“Sorry,” I say, making a face. “We never officially labeled it. It just sort of happened.” I shrug. “It’s complicated.”

She takes a sip. “Doesn’t have to be if you two just talked.”

“That’s what I always say,” Sam says. “But she never listens.”

“Hey! I didn’t bring you two together so you could gang up on me,” I interject.

They both laugh, and Melanie throws an arm around Sam too. “I’m glad you did, though, because I can totally see this being a thing. The three of us against the world.”

“Don’t forget Cole and Nate,” Sam says, dreamily staring at Nate on stage.

“Everyone can be a part of our little club,” Melanie says, “but we need a name.”

“Noooo, please God, no,” I retort, and they both burst into laughter.

“I’m just messing with you, Mo.” Melanie throws me a playful punch, and I poke her in the belly to get back at her.

The last song finishes, and the boys take a bow on stage, and the fans give them a final round of applause. Cole jumps off the stage and immediately comes toward us while the guards in the front hold back the fans from flocking after him.

Without a second of hesitation, he grabs my face and kisses me on the lips in front of all my friends, and it’s the most sultry, sexy kiss I’ve had in a long while. These performances really get him riled up.

“Fuck, that was beautiful,” he groans against my mouth.

I smile, but when he leans back, and I see the looks on my friends’ faces, I’m mortified.

“Well, if that isn’t an intro, I don’t know what is,” Melanie muses, sipping her Coke like it’s nobody’s business.

As our lips unlock, the others stare at us while hiding laughter, and I blush again, knowing they saw him practically eat me up.

“There’s a room in the back if you need it,” Sam jests.

“Oh, stop,” I growl, punching her shoulder. “Like you and Nate weren’t fucking smooching nonstop every day after you just met.”

Now it’s her time to blush. “We were sensible about it.”