Milo struck his keyboard, coming in strong with a haunting and chaotic melody.
Starting in on the first chorus, Devin leaned to the side and shook his leg under his miniskirt to the building beat.
Axel came in with a stuttered chord on his blue guitar while Gabe pounded all over his drum kit.
My gaze landed on Milo, rocking back and forth in the lights as the chorus started and Axel, Silas and Caleb all hopped in unison, their hair flying up on their heads, all smiling.
The crowd jumped up and down and fists pounded the air.
Milo swung his hips and rocked his head, always keeping his fingers on the keys. As the song built for the second chorus, he jumped up and down with the rest of them, his gaze searchingthe crowd and landing on Ryder. A wide smile spread over his lips.
Ryder whooped and swung his fist in the air, smiling back at him. “That’s my boy!”
Yep, Milo and Ryder had something special. I wasn’t going to get in their way. I glanced at Ryder with a smirk teasing my lips, then hollered at Milo, too. This was over before it had even begun. But at least I knew Milo would be in good hands. Ryder was a great guy and very protective of him.
The band finishedoff another song and the guitar players swung their straps off their shoulders and set their guitars in stands.
Ryder leaned over to me. “Looks like they’re taking a break.” He peeked at me. “Have you ever seen them play before?”
“No, this is my first time, too.” I fingered the lip on my beer glass. “Milo sure is sexy up there.” I shook my head. “Damn.” Yeah, but I’d get over it. There had to be someone out there for me.
Milo and Gabe walked off and through a doorway next to the stage, while the others followed.
Ryder twisted on his stool to face me. “So, Archer. How did you meet Milo?” He drank the last of his beer and held up a finger to catch the bartender’s attention.
She ticked her head at Ryder, as she poured drinks like a crazy woman.
“I met him on a hookup app.” I peered at him, heat rushing my cheeks. “I was dating this girl from my classes, and she was…wasn’twhat I wanted. I wanted to try dating a guy. I’d onlyhooked up with men at parties and shit.” The puck bunny, as Tyler had called her.
“What are you studying?” He sat back in his chair and propped his elbow on the bar, then rubbed his chin.
“I’m a senior studying exercise science. I’ll probably go on to get my master’s. I like hockey, but I don’t think I’m good enough to get a contract after this year.” I sucked my upper lip between my teeth, then released it. “Don’t think my dad would like that, either.” Shit, why did I even have to go there?
“Does your dad know you’re dating a guy?” He winced.
“Yes. I came out to him a while back.” I shrugged a shoulder. It had sucked and gone badly, but at this point, I didn’t give a fuck.
“So, do you want things to be serious with Milo?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
Damn, was he protective of Milo. “I guess so. It’s my first time trying to date a guy. I don’t know where it will go, but I wanted to give it a shot.” I quirked the corner of my mouth. “Milo and I uh, we hit it off pretty well in bed. The guy’s wicked.” But now, I wasn’t so sure about any of it.
He coughed into his hand and struggled for a breath. “Shit.”
I patted his back and gave a sharp laugh. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to freak you out.” I probably shouldn’t have told him that. He was straight, right?
“No, no, it’s okay. I’m not freaked out.” As he breathed in deeply, he rubbed his brow.
The bartender set new beers down in front of us and sauntered off.
He snatched his beer and took a few gulps.
“You sure you’re not freaking out?” With a wry smile, I held my beer up. “Maybe you need another shot?” I snickered. No, he was not okay with hearing about me and Milo in bed together.
“No, I have to drive home at some point.” He drew deep breaths and calmed. “So, tell me what um, what did Milo say about me?” He let his gaze land on mine.
“Oh, well, he said you were pretty much the best person in the world.” I turned to face the bar and sipped my beer. I was going to play this up. The guy needed to hear it. “Yeah, you can basically do no wrong in his eyes.”
He swallowed hard and toyed with the edge of the square, paper napkin under his beer glass. “Okay, but what did he say exactly?”