Ezra successfully knocked down all the targets this time since I didn’t distract him. He gladly accepted his new pet goldfish with a boyish grin. As we left the booth a crowd of people rushed it, all of them now wanting to win one of Toby’s brothers or sisters.

It was getting close to the start time for their set so we didn’t have time to do anything else.

Jon and Kenny ushered us both into the talent tent.

“Dude,” we heard almost immediately, “why the hell are you carrying a goldfish?” Hayes strode forward, holding a bag of chips.

“I won him,” Ezra said, setting the jar down on a table.

Hayes merely shook his head. “How are you?” He asked, nodding at me.

“Uh, good.” I smiled awkwardly. Hayes was a nice guy and I felt bad about how things had gone on our date, but the way he acted he didn’t seem to have any hard feelings.

“Has Ezzie-poo taken you on a date yet?” He grinned, looking between the two of us with a knowing smile.

“No,” I said adamantly.

Ezra changed the subject by asking where his bass was. Hayes told him and he hurried off, leaving me alone with his band mate.

“So,” Hayes started, chewing on a mouthful of chips, “you two haven’t banged each other’s brains out yet?”

I rolled my eyes and took a seat on one of the plastic chairs dotting the tent.

“Why does everyone think there’s something going on with us?”

“Um…” Hayes looked at me like I was crazy. “Number one, we’re not blind. Two, the sexual chemistry stemming off the two of you is about to smother all of us. Just do it already so things can go back to normal.” He leaned his hip against a table covered in food, waiting for my reply.

I simply laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe,” he agreed, and tipped a finger in my direction, “but I’m not stupid.”

“Touche.”

Behind me the tent opened again and Mathias walked in. Immediately Hayes groaned, waving his hand dramatically at the lead singer.

“Duuuude,” he drew out the word, “you cannot wear a fucking nerdigan on stage. Plus, it’s like ninety degrees. Aren’t you dying?”

“What did you call my cardigan?” Mathias stopped in his tracks, glaring at Hayes.

“A nerdigan. It’s the proper name for it. Seriously, take it off. You look ridiculous.”

Mathias smirked. “If you wanted me naked all you had to do was ask.” His hands went to the belt on his jeans.

Hayes sputtered. “No dude, just the fucking nerdigan.”

Mathias shook his head and took it off. Hayes smiled in glee. “I’m only taking this off because it’s fucking hot out there and I don’t want to pass out on stage. So stop gloating.”

“I’m not gloating.” Hayes defended.

“You’re smiling,” Mathias’ glare was icy, “it’s the same thing.”

“Where’s Remy?” I asked.

Mathias turned his attention to me. His lips turned down into a deeper frown. “She doesn’t like dealing with the crowds now that she’s pregnant. It makes her nervous.”

“Her or you?” I countered.

His lips twitched. “Mostly me.”

“That’s what I thought.” I smiled. Mathias was crazily overprotective of Remy, but even pregnant the chick was a definite bad ass.

At that moment a woman working for the festival entered the tent, wheeling a cart with audio equipment to wire the guys.

Maddox and Emma entered right behind her.

“I need you guys back here.” The woman pointed to the back of the tent.

“See you soon.” Maddox leaned down and kissed Emma quickly.

He waved at me and then playfully shoved his twin before the three disappeared behind a curtain.

“Have you been here a while?” Emma asked, plopping down in one of the other plastic chairs. She wore a black crop top and pale yellow skirt that came up higher in the front and was long in the back and sides. Her favorite floppy black hat sat on her head with her wild blonde hair curling beneath it. I was slightly envious of her effortless, almost hippy, style. I knew Emma spent hardly any time picking out her clothes, and yet she still managed to look gorgeous. Although, she’d argue the fact that she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed.

“Uh, yeah. I guess.” I replied. “Why?”

“You look a little sun burnt.”

I turned my head to look at my shoulders and discovered that they were slightly red in color. “I forgot to wear sunscreen.”

“Yours?” She nodded at the fish swimming lazily in the jar.

“Ezra’s. He won it in one of those stupid games.” I waved my hand to encompass the festival.

“Have you been having fun?” She asked, straightening her skirt and crossing her legs.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “We saw the aerial circus act and it was amazing.”

“Oh!” Emma clapped her hands together and leaned forward. “So, Maddox found a great place for us to stay in the Florida Keys. Do you think you can be ready to leave in a week?”

I nodded. “I can make it happen.”

“Perfect!” She did a little dance. “This is going to be so much fun!”

I smiled in agreement. I hadn’t been on board with this in the beginning, but the more I thought about it the more excited I became. I knew being around everyone for a week would make it hard for Ezra and I to get any alone time, and that sucked, but I needed this.

Maddox returned, smacking his drumsticks against his legs and jumping up and down. “Are you guys ready to rock? Because I’m ready to rock.”

I glanced at Emma. “Did he drink too many Diet Pepsi’s again?”

She smiled and shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe.”

“Dude, chillax.” Hayes appeared next, his bright blue guitar slung across his body. “You’re like a fucking monkey on crack. What’s with the jumping?”

“We haven’t performed in a while and I’m really excited,” Maddox replied gleefully, still drumming his drumsticks against his leg.

Hayes’ face crinkled in thought. “We just finished a six month tour a month ago.”

“I know but it feels like forever.” Maddox went back to jumping.

“He’s going to give me a headache,” Hayes pinched the bridge of his nose, “I never thought I’d say this, but someone get that guy his knitting bag.”

“It’s in the car,” Emma said, digging through her clutch for car keys.

“Hey, you.” Hayes grabbed one of the festival workers that was milling around the tent. “Go get Maddox his knitting supplies before he blacks out from excitement. He needs to calm the fuck down.”

The worker’s eyes widened. “Uh…”

“I’ll get it,” Emma stood, heading for the tent flap. “You,” she pointed at Maddox, “try not to break anything.”

Maddox grinned, now tapping his drumsticks on the concession table. “No promises.”

Emma sighed and left.

Mathias returned, fiddling with his earpiece.

He strode over to his twin and snatched the drumsticks.

“Hey!” Maddox made a grab for his stolen drumsticks, but Mathias was faster and turned away. “Give those back!” Maddox demanded, jabbing at his brother.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Wade Brothers: forever twelve years old.” Ezra entered the room, carrying his bass.

The twins continued to scuffle, completely oblivious to Ezra.

“You want some water?” Ezra asked me, striding over to the small refrigerator in the corner.

“I would love some, darling,” Maddox called, still trying to get his drumsticks back from Mathias.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Ezra chuckled.

Maddox gasped, forgetting his drumsticks. “Lovebug, have you moved on? I thought what we had was real. I’m devastated.”

Ezra rolled his eyes and grabbed a bottle of water, tossing it to Maddox.

“You guys have the weirdest bromance ever.” Hayes shook his head.

“Aw,” Maddox reached up to put his arm around Hayes’ shoulders, “Ez and I are open to making this twosome and threesome.” He winked.

Hayes shrugged out of Maddox’s hold and his lips twitched with suppressed laughter. “Yeah, I don’t want in on this particular threesome.”