Taming the Storm (The Storm #3)(87)
Author: Samantha Towle

“What the fuck, dude?” Tom hisses. “I can’t believe you just told her that.” He turns to me. “Ly, I was drunk, and it was a really fucking sad part in the movie. I didn’t cry like a baby, like fucknut here is saying. I might have shed, maybe, one minuscule tear. But that was it. Asshole here called me Magic Legs ’cause I’m an awesome dancer.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Magic Legs.” Den looks at me again. “Cried like a baby,” he reiterates, grinning. He runs his fingers under his eyes, catching pretend tears.

I start laughing, but I clamp my hand over my mouth when Tom gives me a death stare.

“Can’t believe you cried at Forrest Gump, man,” Smith says, shaking his head at Tom.

Smith is TMS’s lead guitarist. He took Jonny’s place in the band when they started recording again. And seriously, I’d never tell Tom this, but holy wow, he’s seriously hot. He’s wife, Carly, is really gorgeous too.

Tom flips Smith off before taking a swig of his beer. “Whatever,” Tom says, turning to Denny. “You’re no better. Hey, Simone, did Den tell you that he cried like a little bitch when we were watching Beyoncé sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Obama’s inauguration?”

Simone is Denny’s fiancée, and Tru’s best friend. She’s really pretty and so sweet. She’s really made an effort to make me feel welcome and part of the group.

Denny gives him the middle finger. “Thanks for that, assface.”

“You’re welcome.” Standing up, Tom gives a half-bow. Then, he sits back down.

Simone laughs. “Don’t worry, babe. I still love you even if you are a dork.” She leans over and gives Denny a peck on the lips.

“Smith cried when we got married,” Carly, shares.

“Jesus, babe.” Smith gives her a look.

She just shrugs, smiling.

“I think crying on your wedding day is sweet,” Simone says.

Denny stares at her. “Don’t expect me to cry on our wedding day.”

Tom leans forward. “Simone, the second you say I do, he’ll be The Star-Spangled Banner all over again, trust me.”

He winks, and Simone giggles.

Denny lifts his hands in defeat. “Fine, whatever. I’m man enough to admit that I cried while hearing Beyoncé kill our national anthem. It was a bad experience for me. Fucking horrible. I still have nightmares about it now.” He fake shudders.

“True,” Tom agrees, nodding. “Seriously, what was up with that? But then, she did totally make up for it when she sang it again live for the press.”

Simone and I look at each other and bust out laughing.

“Jay-Z is one lucky bastard,” Tom muses. “Really, who cares how she sounded? She’s seriously hot. I pretty much spent the whole time looking at her—”

“Um…hello?” I stare at him, returning the death stare I received moments earlier. “Lyla Summers. Your girlfriend. You remember me?”

“Like I could ever forget you.” He grins down at me, and he presses a kiss to my pursed lips. “Don’t worry. Just an observation, babe. Window-shopping is not a crime. As long as no purchase is made, it’s all good.”

“Right…” I graze my teeth over my bottom lip. “So, you won’t mind if I do some window-shopping then?” I cast a glance around. “Because I’m seeing some seriously hot British men here that I could spend hours window-shopping over.”

“Okay. Enough.” He takes hold of my chin, turning my head back to his. “Let’s not get carried away here. Rules have changed. As of now, we only window-shop each other. Deal?”

“Dealio.” I smirk, knowing I won that round.

He leans in and presses another soft kiss to my lips.

“Ugh, can’t you leave the poor girl alone, Tom Cat?” I turn to see Stuart pulling up a chair beside me.

“Jealous?” Tom smirks at him.

“You wish,” Stuart bites.

“What?” Tom cups his ear. “You’re saying, you wish you could have my meat? Sorry, dude, but I’m off the market now, and sausage never was my thing anyway.”

“Yeah, how did that happen exactly? And I don’t mean the meat, but you off the market?” Stuart looks at me. “Seriously, I need to hear this story. How did a great girl like you end up with our Tom ‘Cat’ ‘Rub the Lamp’ Carter?” He gives me a look of total bewilderment.

“Stuart’s just jealous ’cause he never got to rub the lamp,” Tom says, putting his arm back around my chair.

“You’ve seen the tattoo, right?” Stuart asks me. He winks, letting me know he’s teasing Tom.

“I’ve seen the tattoo.” I nod before sipping my wine.

“And you still want him?”

I cast a glance at Tom and then look back to Stuart. “Yeah, I do.” I smile.

“And that’s because my girl is the smartest girl in the world.” Tom’s arm comes around my neck, pulling me close, and then he presses his lips to my temple.

I love it when he calls me my girl’.

“Oh God, now, he’s doing random acts of PDA. I feel vomit rising. Seriously, Tom, if you get down on one knee, I’m outta here.”

“Um, no proposing today. I’ve got Tom down for being with Lyla for a year before he pulls out the ring. Tom proposes to Lyla within the year, and I’m down five thousand bucks.”

My head whips around to Denny.

“Jake and I made a bet,” Denny tells me at my questioning stare.

Um…what the hell?

“Yeah, I bet up to a year…but now, I’m thinking six months max, and Tom Cat will be getting down on one knee.” I hear Jake’s voice, and look up to see him and Tru standing at our table.

They look ridiculously beautiful together. Perfect.

“Why aren’t I in on this bet?” Stuart asks Jake.

“You want in?” Den asks.

“You know I do.” Stuart laughs.

“Yeah, count me in,” Smith says.

“Seriously, what the fuck? What is it with people betting on me recently?” Tom exclaims.

He gives me a look, reminding me of the bet I made with Sonny. The bet I made as an excuse because I was jealous over seeing Tom with another woman.

It takes me a minute to realize that Tom’s not freaking out over the mention of marriage with me. It’s surprising, but nice to know that marriage could be a possibility down the line for us.