Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train #2)(38)

Rhys laughed. “Yep. I think I fell in love with her when she dissed your dick back at the hospital. ” He slung his arm over my shoulder. “Besides, we’re the Musketeers remember? ‘All for one and one for all’ shit? So we just wanna get on board with you cause you’re totally jonesing for her.”

“I’d say if she makes nice with Abby and Lily, you should marry her as soon as possible,” Brayden said.

I rolled my eyes. “Jesus Christ, we’ve known each other a millisecond. Let’s save the ball and chain shit for a while, okay?”

“You called it back in the hospital, remember?” Rhys countered.

“I was joking and caught up in the moment of some ballsy chick standing up to me,” I replied.

Jake shook his head. “I was with Abby thirty-six hours when I knew she was the one. You might as well come to grips that you’re in deep, man.”

A foreign feeling rippled through my chest at their words. I knew I was in deep with Mia—emotionally and physically, but I didn’t know if I loved her yet. Yeah, I’d teased about Mia being marriage material when she’d given me a verbal tongue lashing like no woman had before, but marriage to me was an epically sacred thing. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those commitment phobic douchebags who doesn’t believe in monogamy—I’d had my fair share of long-term relationships before and after the band hit big. I just didn’t know if I was truly ready at the moment, and at the same time, the level of what I was already feeling for Mia told me that I was already on a train running full steam ahead with her. That fact alone both excited and slightly scared the hell out of me.

Jake snickered, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Look at him. He knows he’s utterly f*cked, and the wheels are desperately turning in his head to try and find a way out of it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re one to talk, bro. You were so f*cking scared of your feelings for Abby you almost drove her away. Me, on the other hand, I know how much I like Mia, and I want to see where it goes.”

“Straight to the chapel, dude,” Bray replied, with a wink.

“Maybe we can have a double wedding,” Jake suggested, trying not to laugh.

I raised both my hands up and flipped them off. “Fuck you, you, you and you!”

As the guys roared with laughter, Jeff poked his head in the door. He shot me an amused glance before saying, “Okay boys, it’s time.”

Jake grinned. “All right *s, let’s go show them how it’s done.”

11

As I trailed behind the hulking roadie down the hallway, I couldn’t help the nervous jitters that clenched my stomach. It was one thing meeting AJ’s band mates. Growing up surrounded by male cousins, I always seemed to do better around guys. Women, on the other hand, were another thing, especially after my own girlfriend had run off with my fiancé. Now I was meeting the two most important Runaway Train women—Jake’s fiancée and Brayden’s wife, and even though I hated myself for it, I was scared shitless.

When we got to the table, they both glanced up at me. With their blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, they could have almost passed for sisters. Their questioning gazes went from me to Jeff. “Jake suggested I bring her to sit with you two. She’s with AJ.”

“Really?” the youngest blonde squealed, her expression lightening up instantly.

I nodded. “I’m Mia Martinelli,” I said, extending my hand.

Instead of shaking my hand, she popped out of her seat like a jack-in-the-box before throwing her arms around me. “It’s so nice to meet you.” She pulled away to give me a beaming smile. “I’m Abby—Jake’s fiancée.”

Suddenly it hit me. “Oh, my God! You’re in Jacob’s Ladder, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I seriously love you guys—I’ve been a fan of your brothers for several years. I love the new album.”

“Aw, thank you. That’s so sweet.” She motioned to the chair beside her. “Please sit down.”

“Thanks.”

Once I was settled, the other blonde extended her hand. “I’m Brayden’s wife, Lily.”

“It’s very nice meeting you, too.”

Abby cut her eyes over at Lily before gazing back at me. “Now I know why AJ was acting so weird earlier tonight.”

“Oh he was?” I asked, trying not to let my heart do a crazy flip-flop in my chest.

With a grin, Abby replied, “Oh yeah. Very mysterious, very withdrawn…very lovesick, now that I think about it.”

A warm rush filled my body. “I don’t know about lovesick—we just started seeing each other.”

“How did you guys meet?” Lily asked.

“Um, it’s kinda an interesting story.” By the time I finished filling them in on the escapade in Frank’s room, they were laughing hysterically.

“Now that’s two of us who have met our guys unconventionally,” Abby said.

“Oh really?”

Abby grinned and then proceeded to tell me about literally falling into Jake’s bed. “Hmm, I think you may have my crotch drying story beat.”

“I think it’s a toss-up,” she replied.

Lily laughed. “Regardless of who wins best story, I’m just so very thankful to see AJ is with someone like you, Mia.”