Dangerous Crush (Dangerous Noise 2)

Need to discuss something else. Now. "Your hair looks good. It's lighter than I figured it would be."

"You and Kit are talking about your new hairstyle?" Ethan asks.

"Oh, well, I send him nudes every night. He took a few nights to notice the hair— not that it's his fault, so many of the pics were beaver shots- but he liked it. Blondes are his type." Her smile widens as she teases Ethan.

He leans in to not quite whisper. "You and Kit dating happens over my dead body."

"I'll miss you." She smiles serenely.

He frowns. "Not funny." He shoots me a don't even think about it look.

Piper laughs. "It's really funny the way your eyes are bugging out of your head. But I'll stop. I want to stay on your good side. I'm starving. Tell me there's food here."

"Nothing good," he says.

"I'm gonna get dinner then. Hmmm... this neighborhood is jammed. And I'm craving pho," she says.

Ethan laughs. "That's unusual for you."

"I know. I haven't had it in forty-eight hours. It's been horrible. Come with?" She turns to me. "You too, Kit. And maybe Mal. Sounded like Joel has plans."

"I'm gonna stay and see if Jim survives this." Ethan turns back to Piper. "You okay going alone?"

"Yeah, sure." She plays cool. "You want to come, Kit?'

"Sure," I say.

Ethan looks at me with incredulity. He drops it enough to whisper something in Piper's ear.

She whispers back.

They both laugh.

They're a happy family, the Strongs, even with Piper's near daily complaints of Mal and Ethan getting bossy and over-protective. I've never seen a family that loves each other as much as they do.

"You should come with us," Piper insists. Her eyes stay glued to mine. Her eyes scream Ethan, please don't see through how badly I want you to stay here.

Ethan shoots me another don't even think about it look then he turns to Piper. "I'll head home after this. Meet you there."

"Sure." Piper hugs Ethan goodbye then she nods to the side door.

After I wish Ethan goodbye, I follow her.

The parking lot is starting to fill with people who left after the Dangerous Noise set. As much as I enjoy most of the guys in the headlining band, I have to smile. It's flattering knowing people came to a concert just for you. Especially when you're the opener.

Piper laughs. "You look like a kid in a candy store. Should I scream, 'Kit Lockhart loves all his fans?'"

"Only if you want a stampede of horny women."

"I'm sure you're used to that." She laughs. "You okay with pho?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not if you want me to be happy."

"Good thing for you I do."

We're teasing but I can feel the truth in the words. It shouldn't feel profound, something as simple as caring about another person's satisfaction, but it does.