“What?”
“Groupies, man. We’re country music groupies.” His voice held a hint of disgust. Few people knew he hated country music.
Nicky threw his head back and laughed. “As long as he doesn’t start singing songs about his truck, I think we’re okay.”
Avery tugged Nicky away from Wylder, ruffling his hair in that annoying brotherly way of his. “I’m damn happy for you, Nicky. For both of you.”
“I know it’s weird, but you sure you’re okay with this? Me with your best friend?”
“It’s weird because it’s new and unexpected. But it’s not bad weird. It makes sense. Me, you, Nari, Becks, and Wylder are family.”
Nicky linked his arms around his best friend and his brother, happy Avery included Wylder as part of their little family.
“They’re leaving soon,” Avery said, his voice sad. “It’s hard when they leave, and this time, it’s a full tour.”
“Hey, we’ve got each other and school to keep us busy until they get back,” Nicky said.
“I can’t wait to get you out of this insane country music world and back to the real world at school. You’re going to love it.”
Nicky was looking forward to life at Vanderbilt University and living with his brother, but he had a month of summer vacation left. A month he intended to enjoy.
“Good night, ladies and gentlemen!” Becks raised his fist to the sky and charged off the stage, handing off his guitar to one of the stage assistants.
Nicky’s breath caught in his throat as Becks cupped his face in his hands, his kiss gentle and sweet. It was the first time his kiss didn’t take him by surprise.
Becks pressed his forehead against Nicky’s, his eyes closed and his breath warm in Nicky’s face. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of doing that.” His eyes flickered open as they stood there, the rest of the world fading behind them. “I want you to know you are not a phase, Nicky St. Germaine. I feel more like myself in this moment than I ever have before.”
Nicky couldn’t help the huge smile plastered to his face. He’d once thought he loved Kenny, but they were never right for each other. Nicky hadn’t known it could be like this.
“I’m just sorry I have to leave so soon. April texted during the concert. Everything’s back on. I’m leaving with Etta next week for an eight-month tour. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted for my career, but I’m not ready to leave you.” Becks took his hands, worry filled his eyes.
“That’s probably a good thing since I’m about to invite myself on tour with you.” Nicky squeezed his hands. “I’m not ready to leave you yet either.”
“You’re coming with me?” Becks’ blue eyes lit up.
“I have a month off until school starts, so what better way to end my summer vacation than traveling with my boyfriend?”
“Yes!” Becks grinned and grabbed Nicky, whirling him around. Setting Nicky back on his feet, he whispered, “I love you, Nick-Nick.”
Nicky would never get tired of hearing those words from his lips.
Epilogue
Becks: one year later
What’s it like to have country’s hottest album?
That was what she’d asked, right? Becks stared at Charlotte Keaning, remembering the last time he sat on this very couch, baring his soul, nearly a year ago.
“Beckett.” She smiled as if she couldn’t quite figure him out.
“Can you repeat the question?”
“Your album has been on every country top ten list since it released earlier this year. That has to be exciting.”
A grin spread across his face. “I’m very thankful to everyone who loves these songs.”
“And humble.”
He laughed. “Charlotte, I think you’re probably the first person to call me humble. The truth is, it never really sinks in. Every day, I wake up and wonder just how I got here. That’s not me being humble. I know I’m good. And I’m definitely SexyBecksy.” He flashed her a smile. “But I’m also a small town kid who formed a band called Anonymous in high school because none of us wanted our classmates to know about it.”
“Why not?”
“Well, if you tell someone you want to be a performer, that you want to be famous, they think you’re ridiculous. I mean, how many people are lucky enough to get this far? The odds are against you. But then if you manage to catch a shooting star, to get lucky, those doubters pretend they believed in you all along.”
“Did you have a lot of doubters?”
“It’s the age of the internet, Charlotte.” He lifted a brow, not finishing his answer. “But my support was always louder. That is how I got here. Well, that, my insane talent, and ridiculously good looks.”
“I take back my humble comment.” Her smile crinkled the corners of her eyes. “You’ve just returned from an eight-month tour with Etta Morelli. That had to be a wild ride.”
“It was more than I could’ve imagined.” His eyes drifted to the side of the stage where Nicky watched with a proud smile on his face.
“You even got to play at the president’s son’s birthday party.”
“Asher Brooks is a cool dude. We’re bros.”
“Beckett.” She set aside her notes and leaned forward, her gaze meeting his.
Becks only responded with a smug grin. He knew exactly what she wanted him to say, what the viewers wanted to hear. There’d been rumors but no announcement yet.
“Fine.” Becks crossed his arms and leaned back. “You want me to reveal my big secret? Nicky is pregnant.”
Confused chatter wound through the audience, and Charlotte only gaped at him, unsure how to take his joke.
Becks didn’t get to enjoy his joke for long because Nicky charged onto the stage, his brown hair swept back from his forehead. “For God’s sake, we’re engaged.” He froze as he reached the chairs, realizing for the first time he was on live TV with an audience cheering for him.
Becks watched the red creep up his neck and into his cheeks in the most adorable way. Before last summer, he’d never imagined spending his life with Nicky St. Germaine. Now, he wanted nothing more than to make him blush every day.
With more calm than Nicky currently showed, Becks turned back to Charlotte. “It seems Nicky has told our secret to the entire world. Our relationship played out in the press, so it only seems fitting.”
“Beckett.” Charlotte’s lips tugged up as she stared at Nicky who stood completely still, unable to move under the bright lights. “If you don’t get off your butt and kiss that boy, someone from my audience will.”
She was right. The cheers for Nicky were louder than they’d been for Becks. He was America’s sweetheart, the guy who proved nice guys could win.
Becks reached for Nicky’s arm and tugged, pulling him toward the chair. When Nicky didn’t resist, Becks yanked him down onto his lap. He leaned in until his lips were inches from Nicky’s. “We’ve got to give them what they want.” As he kissed his fiancé with the crowd whistling and cheering them on, Becks realized he’d always been his own biggest doubter.
But Nicky washed all doubt away.
Bonus Chapter One: Becks
Two years later
The eyes. They were everywhere. And why shouldn’t they be? Beckett Anderson was getting married. Hells yeah, they should be looking at him.
He couldn’t have wiped the grin from his face if he tried. His gaze swept the grounds. The wedding was at an old plantation house outside Nashville. Silver garland hung from the trees lining the white-carpeted walkway to the aisle between rows of chairs where their families and friends gathered.
A few people waved to Becks up on the balcony as he gripped the golden railing. He smiled back at them. It was the best day of his life.
A hand landed on his shoulder. “You’re marrying my brother today.” Avery leaned against the railing.
Becks’ smile widened. “Did you think we’d ever be standing here?” It had been three years to the day since Becks jumped off a stage to kiss Nicky for
the first time. He hadn’t known it then, but that moment changed his life.
Avery shook his head with a low chuckle. “Definitely not. But it fits. You and him. Somehow, if I think back all the way to high school, it’s always made sense.”
“Nothing makes more sense to me.”
Avery bumped his shoulder. “You become my brother today.”
“I’ve always been your brother.”
Avery rewarded the sentiment with a smile as he lifted his face to the cloudy sky.
“Whose idea was it to have an outdoor wedding in June?” Wylder appeared in the doorway, her hands planted on her hips, in a beautiful yellow dress. “It looks like it’s going to rain. I already squeezed into this ridiculous dress for you.” She tugged at the fitted bodice.
“Hey!” Becks protested. “I like yellow.”
“I know. And you, brother, are not normal. Couldn’t you have chosen something darker? Or at least a shade of yellow that wouldn’t blind the guests?”
“Blame Becks for all these choices. He’s had this wedding planned since he was like five.” As soon as Nicky joined them on the balcony, Becks let out a yell and tried to cover himself with his hands.
“What’s he doing?” Avery whisper-hissed.
Nicky tried and failed to hide a grin. “He doesn’t think I’m allowed to see him before the wedding.”
“You just jinxed us.” Becks glared at him. “When you run off with your secretary because my hair has gone gray, it’ll be your own fault.”
Wylder gave him a “duh” look. “Well, yeah. If he runs off, it is his fault.”
“No one understands me.” Becks stormed inside, the nerves rolling through him like the storm building outside. He caught sight of Nari and rushed toward her. “I need you, Nars.”
She took one look at him and slipped her hand into his. “Come on. Let’s have a chat.” They went into a dressing room where Avery’s things lay scattered around. He shoved a shirt off the padded chair and sat down with a heavy sigh. “Why didn’t I get a dressing room?” He muttered.
Nari knew him better than anyone—other than Nicky. She’d dealt with his moods while they were on tour together. She sat on the ottoman now and waited for him to speak.
“I can’t do this.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you not want to marry Nicky?”
His head jerked up. “Of course, I want to marry him. Nicky is… I want to be his husband more than anything else in the world.”
“More than a grammy?”
“More than the chance to host the Grammys.” He met her gaze. “And with my brilliant personality and hilarious comedic sense, you know how good I’d be at that. But, Nars…they never ask.”
Nari’s lips curved up. “Becks, if you want to marry Nicky so badly, then what’s the problem?”
He leaned in to whisper. “I haven’t been able to find my lucky socks.”
“Socks.” Nari’s brow scrunched.
“But not only that. My hair is so flat today. How am I supposed to get married with flat hair?”
Nari put a finger under his chin to tilt his face up. “We can fix the hair, but I’m not going searching for your socks. Why are you so nervous? Standing in front of people is kind of normal for you.”
“But not like this. I get up on stage and I’m Beckett Anderson with the band and the voice and the crazy personality. Here, now, I have to walk down that aisle and be me. There’s no superstar persona to hide behind.”
“You don’t need to hide behind anyone. Beckett Anderson is cool, but my friend’s name is Becks, and I think he’s even better.”
He blew out a breath. “I’d like your words a lot more right now if you hadn’t allowed Nicky to steal you.”
Nicky’s voice came from the doorway. “I only stole her because you stole my brother.”
“Avery is my best man.” Becks shot his soon-to-be husband a glare. “Back off.”
“Are you going to combust if I come in? I promise I won’t leave you for my secretary just because I saw you in your wedding dress.”
“I’m not wearing a dress,” Becks grumbled.
Nari looked between them and grinned. “I’ll just let you two talk.” She closed the door behind her.
Becks stood, adjusting the gray jacket he wore. “How did you get my band mate and my sister to be your grooms-maids?”
“Stop calling them grooms-maids.” Nicky crossed the room to stand in front of him. “And I got them the same way you got my brother to be your best man. You have Avery and Julian. Don’t make Wylder and Nari feel bad for thinking I’m cooler than you.”
“In your dreams.”
Nicky’s face sobered. “Are you okay? You seem a little rattled.”
Becks shrugged, unable to get the words out.
“Come here.” Nicky wrapped his arms around Becks and pressed their foreheads together. “Forget about anyone else out there. This day is for you and me. In less than an hour, you’ll be my husband.”
A tear slid down Becks’ cheek. “It’s just us.”
Nicky nodded and wiped the tear away. “You can’t start crying yet.”
“Why not? It’s my wedding. I’ll cry if I want to.”
“Becks, if you cry, then I’ll start, and I won’t ever be able to stop.”
Becks laughed. “I’d cry if I was stuck with me too.”
“I am stuck with you. I always have been. Do you realize how much of a dream come true this day is for me? I get to marry the best guy I know. We’re forever. I don’t want you to be nervous. Not today. Only happy.”
“I am happy. So happy.” He pressed a soft kiss to Nicky’s lips, marveling at the fact he got to do that for the rest of their lives. All his nerves faded away. “Nicky St. Germaine, will you marry me today?”
Nicky brushed a hand over Becks’ jaw. “Always.”
Becks forgot about his lucky socks and his flat hair as they left the dressing room hand in hand. Their wedding party awaited them near the large antique doors separating them from their guests.
Music started and the doors opened. With a final kiss, Nicky followed Wylder and Nari out the door.
Becks took the last moments to breathe in slowly and close his eyes. When he opened them, Julian patted his arm before walking out. Avery went next.
Finally, it was time for Becks to step into his future. Only a single camera flashed as he stood on the threshold. They’d asked their guests to leave their cameras inside the building during the ceremony. There’d be nothing in the news or on social media. Only their hired photographer focused his lens on Becks.
As Becks stepped onto the white carpet covering the stone walkway, a drop of water hit his cheek.
Another came, and before he knew it, the skies opened up, soaking the onlookers. Some scrambled for cover. Others shielded their heads with their programs.
But nothing could have stopped Becks from reaching Nicky. No amount of rain or storms. Not the fact that he was a guy or that he had a horrible singing voice. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for Becks.
So, he kept going. By the time he stood in front of Nicky, only their families and close friends remained seated. Other attendees stood under the balconies near the plantation house.
Water dripped from Becks’ hair into his eyes. His suit hung off him, soaked through.
Yet, he grinned.
And the best part? Nicky grinned back.
Bonus Chapter 2: Nicky
“Oh my God, we just got married!” Nicky ran through the drizzling rain, clutching his husband’s hand. He never dreamed this day would come, but it was here and, despite the rain, it was everything he could have wanted for their special day.
Nicky had spent much of the last months arguing with Becks about flowers and venues and center pieces, but the one thing they had both agreed on was that they wanted a big wedding with all their friends and family. They were only doing this once, and it had to be perfect, right down to the last flower petal.
“I’m so
sorry it rained, Nick-Nick.” Becks charged up the steps of the old Plantation house, pulling them under the shelter of the wrap-around porch. Most of their guests were already inside, watching their exchange of vows from the safety of the second floor balcony.
“It’s raining? I didn’t notice.” Nicky stared up into Becks’ eyes, marveling that he got to call this man husband.
“Hi there, Mr. Anderson.” Becks smiled, pulling Nicky into his arms.
“I thought we agreed we’re both dropping our middle names and changing to Anderson St. Germaine?”
“Beckett Anderson St. Germaine, at your service.” He pressed his lips against Nicky’s. “But you’ll always be my Nick-Nick.”
“Always.” Nicky leaned into him, savoring their last moments of peace before Wylder found them.
“There you are!” His new sister’s voice shattered their romantic bubble. “Come get cleaned up so the photographer can get some decent pictures of you not looking like drowned rats.” She snapped her fingers at them.
“Little sis.” Nicky turned toward her with his arms outstretched.
“No, you’re not starting that little sis crap with me already. I’ve always been your sister, now that it’s official changes nothing.”
“How did you manage to stay dry?” He admired her bright yellow “grooms-maid” dress and her signature blond dreads.
“I had enough sense to stash an umbrella near the altar when those dark clouds started rolling in.”
“And you didn’t share with your brother and his husband?” Becks’ voice rose several octaves the way it only did when he argued with his sister. “On our wedding day?”
“This dress you put me in is silk. You know what happens to silk when it’s wet?” She shouldered her way between them, grabbing their hands. “Come on, you’ve barely got an hour to dry off, get pictures with the photographer, and get to your reception. Save the making out for the honeymoon.”
“Ooh, now that we’re married, are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?” Nicky couldn’t resist flirting with his husband.
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