Mad Boys (Blue Ivy Prep, #2)(44)

Didn’t get any answers while Lachlan was trying to drown him. Lachlan’s hot pursuit had been interrupted by Jonas. I should probably have thanked him for that, but the idea that the brothers were fighting was kind of terrible for them.

I loved all my siblings. It didn’t matter that we barely saw each other or got time together. Or maybe it was because of that fact, but I made the most of it when we were there. Maybe it would be different if we were together all the time.

Arguably, I talked to Bronson constantly. What had begun as a weekly to bi-weekly chat had become daily texting to calls three or four times a week. We talked even when we had nothing to say.

Speaking of which, I sent him a poop emoji and he responded with rolled eyes and a middle finger. I grinned. Good to remind him that I was around to give him shit.

When we finally pulled into the station, we found almost all of Frankie’s guys waiting for us, along with Rachel. Oh, I hadn’t expected to see her.

Archie Standish, wealthy smart ass with the heart of gold that worshiped the ground she walked on. Jake Benton, the guy was just about as all-American as you could get, from the football player, to the big muscles, to the hot temper. According to Frankie, he led with his fists sometimes. Then there was the birthday boy, Coop Brennen. He’d been Frankie’s best friend since the age of five. He was so easy going and had this golden retriever energy—not that I planned to share that but still…

How fucking adorable was it that all these guys were crazy about her and she was crazy about them? Ian wasn’t here, but he would be later when they were on stage. Frankie and Ian were Bound Hearts, and they were the reason we were all here. I couldn’t wait to see them perform.

“I got it,” Jake said, taking my bag as Archie grabbed Yvette’s and Coop grabbed Aubrey’s. “You ladies have your hotel plans all set, right?”

“Yes,” Coop said. “I told you that. We’re all staying at the same place, but they have a different set of suites.”

They had a car and a driver waiting. A pair of cars actually; Rachel elected to ride with us while the guys rode together.

“Too much testosterone?” Yvette teased and Rachel snorted. Rachel Manning was a fun, ballsy kind of girl.

“Not as bad as all that, really,” she admitted. “But they are losing their minds missing Frankie and it’s kind of gotten a little—claustrophobic.”

“Awww,” Aubrey said and she leaned her head against my shoulder. “Can you imagine being missed like that?”

No, not really. “Did Forrest miss you that much?”

She pinched me and Yvette clapped her hands. “Oh, I want to know this too.”

“Don’t you start,” Aubrey told her with a mock serious frown. “We could start asking about a certain…”

“Pfft,” Yvette said. “You can try. But my life is nowhere near as interesting as yours.”

“We all pale in comparison to Rachel though.” I grinned at her droll look. “Teach us your ways, college girl.”

Her sputter of laughter was worth it. At the hotel, we got checked in, had something to eat, then got changed. Yvette had gotten all of us Bound Hearts shirts, and hell yes we were wearing them to the show. It wouldn’t be long before we had to be at the club. I swore, I was just so ready to see them.

It was hard to express to anyone who had never been in this position, just how gratifying it was, to see someone achieve their dreams. It wasn’t about competition. It was about supporting someone to meet the challenges, sharing what I learned to help them accomplish their goals, aware that someday, they would be doing it for someone else.

Based on what I’d learned about Frankie over the past year and a half or so… she was going to be a fantastic inspiration to those that followed her. She’d also truly celebrate their successes.

The truth of how real the excitement was hit when we were shown to our table. The air was electric with it. While the other patrons were happy about the show and getting to see the new band, but this table? Was lit.

Frankie’s guys? Rachel? Even Jeremy, the older gentleman who’d accompanied them, was leaning forward in anticipation. The house lights went down as Bound Hearts was introduced. Their band came out first followed by Frankie and Ian. We were all on our feet, whistling, clapping, and stamping our feet.

Frankie Curtis was a sweetheart. The very real shock on her face and the tears in her eyes were so visceral, I felt my own throat clogging. Ian and Frankie’s family cared so much, they were here to support them. They showed up.

I was so fucking happy to be a part of this. The music they played rocked. They had the whole club on their feet by the end of the first set. I knew every single song they’d recorded. Loved them all, too.

After their first break, we got up and sang with them. It just added a whole new layer to the night, and Frankie’s hug was as warm and enthusiastic as she was. As the night wound down, we were going to take off and let them have the time together, but Jake insisted on going out with us and making sure we got into a car.

We’d been recognized. We’d probably hit social media, whatever. I made sure to get a selfie with Ian and Frankie so our peeps could run it, too. For now, it was a wild night and I was almost hoarse again.

At least this time it was from singing and not smoke inhalation.

The rest of the weekend passed in a fantastic blur of late-night room service, ice cream, binge shows, and laughter.