Page 221 of Just Wait

We did what we could, but you can’t force someone to want to change. You can only give them the tools they need and encourage them. At the end of the day, it’s still that person’s call.

On the positive side, Lumen’s dad has stuck with his sobriety. He even turned down being here in person because he said concerts are one of his triggers, and he didn’t want to risk relapsing.

I respect the hell out of that decision. With all the pictures and videos, he’ll still be able to see it.

Which reminds me…

Even though I trust Wren can take a killer selfie or picture of the band, I’m kinda losing my shit.

Goddammit.

Why didn’t we hire a professional photographer?

It’s not like we can’t afford one.

That was shitty planning on our part.

Jesus.

I need to chill before Lumen gets any more suspicious. She’s already poking around in the bond.

My damn hands sweat so badly during our last song that I’m afraid my pick will go flying. I’ve played this song so many times that I could manage it in my sleep, and I still have to focus.

Seriously, it’s not like she’s going to say no.

We live together, and we’re bonded.

Lumen is pretty well stuck with us.

Only, she kinda seemed meh about marriage any time we’ve brought it up. I’m not too fussed with the ceremony part, although I would kill to see Lulu in a wedding dress. Mostly, it’s important because having pack commitment paperwork makes it easier to link finances.

If anything should ever happen to me, Riser, or Kincaid, we need to know she would have easy access to our assets.

Also, I’m weirdly obsessed with having our ring on her finger, like my claiming bite isn’t right there on her lip.

Whatever.

I’ve accepted that I’m an obsessive freak when it comes to her.

The song comes to an end, and the roadies stream out on stage to take our instruments.

“As it turns out, we have one last surprise for you,” Kincaid purrs into his mic before pulling off his guitar. “Join us for a special moment in our lives.”

Riser leads Lumen to the front of the stage, and I head up to join them, desperately trying to get my hand into my pocket. I never realized I had such fat fingers, but these leather pants have the tiniest, little baby pockets I’ve ever seen.

“I’m going to kill you guys,” Lumen says, laughing. “You know how I feel about being on stage.”

“Yeah, but we wanted this moment to be forever immortalized,” Kincaid says, smirking. “You okay over there, Mal?”

“Um, yeah,” I lie, slamming my fingers into my pocket. “These fucking pants…” Thank God we opted not to do this part on the mic. “I, um… My fingers won’t fit.”

“I told you to let me put it in my cargo pants pocket.” Riser sighs.

Lumen steps over in front of me, yanking me to her with a handful of my shirt. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”

“Yup.” A sly smile breaks out on my face as I palm her ass for the entire world to see. I can’t wait to be able to call her my wife. The press already knows I’m unabashedly in love with her. They’ve caught some pretty questionable pictures of us, but luckily, no sex tape…so far. “You know me so well, baby doll.”

“I know whose ass I’ll be kicking when we make it to the greenroom,” she grumbles, patting the front of my leather pants.