“Did I wreck it?”
Risk eyed me. “Looks perfect to me.”
I looked at Summer. “Same question.”
Risk snorted about his answer not being good enough for me. Summer carefully inspected my face, my eyes mainly, and when she nodded, I relaxed.
“Thank God.”
I returned my attention to the bracelet and I carefully removed it from the box. I ran my fingertips over it, not being able to believe it was mine.
“Thank you, Risk.”
“You’re welcome, Cherry.”
He helped me put it on and I was pleased to find that the fit was perfect.
“This is the nicest thing I own.” I stared at it, mesmerised. “I’ll have to buy a safe to put it in when I’m not wearing it.”
Risk snickered as he pulled me up to my feet. We were all about to leave the room when Hayes held up his hand and got everyone’s attention. We all paused and looked his and Summer’s way.
“Before we go.” He put his arm around Summer’s shoulder. “We have something to announce.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
“We’re having a baby!”
My scream frightened both Risk and May, which cracked Hayes, Angel and Summer up. I shot across the room and wrapped my arms around both Summer and Hayes. This was the first day I had ever met Summer and we became fast friends. I was over the moon for her and Hayes, but Hayes . . . I couldn’t believe it.
“Congratulations! You’re gonna be a daddy, Hayes!” I leaned back and lifted my hands up to his face. “You! A daddy! My God. I’m so excited!”
The guys hugged one another, each of them gave Summer a squeeze too.
“How far along are you?” I asked. “You aren’t showing yet.”
She was very petite, I think it would show even if she ate a large meal.
“Nine weeks.” Summer beamed. “I’m due the twentieth of September. I would have kept it a secret longer but holy shit, morning sickness is killing me and pretty much all food smells make me puke.”
I winced. “Poor mummy but a little baby!”
Summer hugged me again, laughing. When I returned to Risk’s side, he nudged me.
“You like kids?”
“Are you joking?” I questioned. “I love children, I love when babies and toddlers come into the diner. They’re so bloody cute I want to gobble them up.”
Risk looked thoughtful as he draped his arm over my shoulder. We all left his house and piled into a bus that was waiting outside. Joining the band, myself and Summer were ten members of the band’s personal security team. I only knew two of their names so far, Jacob and Tobias. Jacob because he was the head of the team and Tobias because Risk informed me that I was his responsibility while at the venue. I didn’t mind that I had a babysitter, it made me feel better knowing I had someone looking out for me when Risk wasn’t around.
Blood Oath’s manager, Chris Harrison, and the band’s personal assistant, Nolan Kennedy, were aboard the bus too. Nolan greeted me with a big smile but Chris didn’t. He wasn’t rude, just a little cold. Risk mentioned they had just flown in from LA the day before so I guessed he was a little jet-lagged and likely stressed out with the upcoming concerts. It didn’t take long to reach the stadium from Risk’s house, but when we pulled up, my hand in Risk’s tightened as I stared out at the sea of people that were behind the barriers.
I knew that Blood Oath were famous, but until I arrived at Wembley Stadium with the band, I didn’t understand the full extent of what that actually meant. I had never seen so many people bunched together before. They were all screaming and waving signs in the air or had their phones held up high to take pictures. Risk removed his hand from mine, slid his arm around my waist then plucked me onto his lap.
“Look at me,” he said into my ear. “Not them.”
“That’s a lot of people.”
“A bunch of them always chance coming to different entrances of venues we gig at to see us when we arrive and leave.
I lifted my hand to the coin on his chain and I played with it.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Risk kissed my cheek. “You’re gonna love seeing us live.”
I felt a little guilty about keeping it a secret that I had never seen them perform at all, nor had I heard their studio version of their songs, only the instrumentals. I didn’t know how to say it without hurting Risk’s feelings. His music was his life and I could only imagine how it would feel if he knew I had worn earphones everywhere I went just to avoid hearing him sing.
It’d break his heart.
“I’m excited,” I told him. “It’s gonna be so cool seeing you sing to thousands of people.”