“Such a shame,” Maddox shook his head, “Ezra and I are a lot of fun.”

“I’ll live.” Hayes chuckled, leaning his hip against the concession table. He grabbed a handful of chips and started munching.

“Here,” Emma grouched, shoving the tent flap open, “now chill out.” She held out a blue duffel bag to Maddox.

“Ooh,” Hayes smiled, “sounds like someone’s in trouble. Will he be sleeping on the couch tonight?” He turned to Emma.

She smiled, laughing under her breath. “Possibly.”

“If I knit you a sweater will I redeem myself?” Maddox asked, his eyes round and his lower lip jutting out.

“It’s ninety degrees outside. Do I look like I want you to knit me a sweater?” She tried to sound serious, but laughter soon infused her tone.

“You look like you want to be wrapped in my arms.”

She snorted and then laughed out right. “That’s quite possibly the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Come on,” Maddox held his arms out, his t-shirt stretching to fit across his broad chest, “let’s hug it out. Hugs make the world a better place.”

Hayes gagged. “I’m choking on the sweetness. I need to breathe normal air.” He set his guitar aside and headed for the back part of the tent. Bright sunlight streamed in for a moment when he exited and then the tent was plunged into its shaded state once more.

Ezra appeared in front of me and handed me a bottle of water before sitting down in the chair. “There’s never a dull moment around here,” he commented.

I nodded in agreement. I sipped at my water as Maddox and Emma pulled up another set of chairs.

Mathias paced in the corner, talking on his phone. From the sounds of it he was checking in on Remy.

Maddox sat the duffel bag on the ground and began rummaging through it. Small items fell out and I eyed them before reaching out and picking one up.

It was a tiny sweater and I had no idea why he would make something so small. I fit it onto my hand and eyed him. “What did you make this for?”

He looked at me like I was the crazy one. “For Sonic of course. He gets cold.”

“Your hedgehog?”

“Do you know any other Sonic’s?”

“I guess not.” I tossed the small sweater back into his duffel bag.

He began knitting and I couldn’t make out what it was. “What is that?” I asked, my brows wrinkling in confusion.

He held it up. “It’s baby socks. For my future niece or nephew, since my asshole brother won’t tell me what his kid is.” He raised his voice and glared at his twin. Emma tried not to smile since we both knew the gender of Mathias and Remy’s child.

Mathias ended his call and stuffed the phone in his back pocket. “It’s a fucking boy!” He lifted his arms at his sides. “Happy now?”

“Immensely.” Maddox grinned, sitting the yellow yarn away and pulling out baby blue. “Now I can make my nephew a proper sock and blanket set.”

Mathias closed my eyes. “How on Earth are we twins?”

“Well, you see,” Maddox started, “a sperm met an egg, and said, ‘Oh hello, Imma fertilize you.’ So then the fertilized egg split in utero—”

“M’kay, I got it.” Mathias held up a hand for Maddox to shut up.

“Does my nephew have a name?” Maddox returned to the previous conversation.

Mathias scrubbed a hand over his lightly stubbled jaw. “It’s Liam.”

“So…are you going to tell mom she’s having a grandson named Liam, because you know she’s pissed you guys haven’t revealed the gender.”

“I might as well now.” Mathias tossed his hands in the air. “Can’t keep a fucking secret in this family. Everybody has to know everything.” He grumbled under his breath.

“You guys are going on in five.” A guy appeared at the front of the tent, holding up five fingers and wiggling them around. “Are you going to be ready?”

“Absolutely.” Maddox said, packing up his knitting supplies. “Although, we’re currently missing our guitar player. He’s probably getting a blowjob behind the tent. Would you mind fetching him for us? I’ve seen his dick one too many times.”

“Maddox!” Emma hissed, smacking his arm.

He chuckled and kissed her. She made a big show of wiping her mouth off with the back of her hand.

The festival worker looked at Maddox in horror.

“He’s messing with you,” Ezra put the poor guy out of his misery, “don’t worry, I’ll get Hayes.”

“Uh…okay…thanks.” The guy ducked away.

“You know that guy is probably going to blab what you said and it’ll end up on TMZ by tomorrow.” Ezra eyed Maddox.

Maddox dismissed his words with a wave of his hand. “The media has said worse things about all of us before. This is nothing. Besides, Hayes has a sense of humor so he’ll think it’s funny. Unlike some people.” His gaze swiveled to his twin brother.

“Two minutes!” Someone called.

Hayes reappeared at this call and the guys headed to the back of the tent and out into the open air.

Emma and I went in the opposite direction to join the spectators.

The crowd was huge, but that was really no surprise.

The stage was fairly large with a screen behind it, flashing the Willow Creek logo.

Maddox’s drum kit already sat on the stage and I had to laugh. He’d had it custom painted with Sonic the Hedgehog—the video game hedgehog, not his pet.

Maddox was the first to bound onto the stage, so full of energy. He sat down behind his kit and began to tap out a beat as the other guys climbed the steps to the stage.

The girls had screamed at Maddox’s appearance, but now that the rest of the band had joined him the screams became deafening.

“Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God,” a girl beside me fanned her face, “I think I’m going to pass out.”

If she did I wouldn’t catch her.

Okay, that was mean of me, so I probably would help her out if she actually passed out but hopefully she could keep it together.

Emma snickered beside me.

Mathias grabbed the microphone, putting on his game face. He spoke charmingly to the crowd for a moment, hyping them up while Maddox continued to play a light beat in the background.

Mathias nodded to Hayes, giving him the cue.

Hayes began to play and the sound of his guitar blasted through us.

Mathias started to sing and Ezra joined in with the bass.

I loved watching Ezra play. He was always so in the zone, completely absorbed in the feel of the song. His foot tapped against the stage and he leaned into his bass, almost like he wished he could slip inside and become one with it. He bit his bottom lip and his eyes closed momentarily.

He was so beautiful.

And maybe that was a weird thing to think about a guy, but it was true. When he was up on stage, living his dream, and loving his music, he truly was beautiful.

Beside me Emma sang along to the song, really getting into it. She even busted out a few dance moves. Before Maddox she didn’t even listen to this kind of music. I loved that she’d managed to come out of her shell.

I joined her, singing and dancing to the song.

It was humid and in no time sweat drenched my body, but I didn’t care. I was having too much fun.

When I glanced back up at the stage my eyes connected with Ezra’s. Somehow he’d spotted me, even from this distance. He flashed me a smile before ducking his head and focusing on playing.

Mathias grasped the microphone, belting out the song like his very soul demanded he sing the words.

Hayes jumped around on the stage like he was possessed. I didn’t know how he managed to jump like that and play guitar at the same time.

Maddox’s drumsticks clashed against the cymbals and his shirt stuck to his chest with sweat. His messy brown hair was just as damp.

When the guys were on stage they truly performed, they didn’t just stand there. They made you feel and live the music with them.

When their set ended fireworks went off. I turned to Emma with surprise in my eyes.