“I know.”
Dex gazed at him dreamily and grinned around his sandwich. “I lub you.”
Sloane winked at him and playfully nudged his cheek. “I know, sweetheart. I lub you too.”
“COME ON, people! That the best you got?”
Dex played air guitar across the stage, his fingers moving in time with the sweet riff. He switched to drums as he sang into the microphone, shouting out at the crowd when there was a pause between lyrics.
“Come on, you all know this.”
The bar broke off into cheers and sang the chorus of “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner. Dex hadn’t been able to help himself when he’d scrolled through the song list and it popped up. The best part was that every time the chorus sang “stars in his eyes,” Dex met Sloane’s gaze and Sloane blushed.
Sloane was right. Dex needed this. After their little training session yesterday, he wanted to cut loose and let it all hang out, so to speak. The bar was packed, the regulars all fired up and joining in as he rocked out. Those who weren’t singing along were dancing. Dex winked at Sloane, then motioned for him to come up. The crowd cheered, and Sloane had no choice. He shook his head, his eyes lit up in amusement, and his face flushed as he joined Dex up on stage.
Dex grabbed the microphone and sang loud, the music pumping through his veins, thrumming and reverberating through every inch of his body, deep to his soul. He tapped his foot, his hands grasping the microphone stand. Sloane wrapped an arm around him from behind, and Dex leaned back into him, slipping a hand to the back of Sloane’s neck as they moved together. Everyone whooped and cheered. Dex picked a song list guaranteed to keep everyone revved up, passionate, and excited. Tonight they were all family. They were invincible, the fire in their spirits never to be extinguished. This right here? He could never lose sight of this. Even Ash was laughing and enjoying himself from the table where Cael sat on his lap as he sang along.
The song ended, and the next one in the queue started up. The crowd went nuts as Dex started singing Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite.” When the chorus came, he tilted the microphone stand out, prompting everyone to join in, and they did. West was jumping around Dom, fist up in the air as he sang at the top of his lungs. Hudson was laughing as Seb played air drums while Taylor and Angel sang loud, Taylor’s arm around Angel’s shoulders. Cael was playing kissy-face with Ash, while Calvin and Hobbs did their best Lady and the Tramp impression with a mozzarella stick they were sharing, both snickering like a couple of schoolboys. Rosa and Letty were rocking out, and everyone was having a great time.
After a couple more songs, karaoke time was over, and Dex bowed as everyone cheered. He waved at them and took Sloane’s hand in his, then gave him a kiss on the cheek before they walked off the stage together. Sloane resumed his seat next to Ash, and Dex sat next to him, thanking Bradley for the frosty bottle of water he brought over to him.
“Killed it again,” Bradley said. “This place gets crazy when you do karaoke. They love it.”
“You should sell tickets,” Hudson teased, winking at Dex.
Ash rolled his eyes with a groan. “Please don’t encourage him. His ego’s big enough. Next thing you know, he’s going to hire a manager and backup dancers.” Ash cast Sloane a wicked grin. “Wait, he’s got Sloane.”
“Fuck off, Keeler,” Sloane said with a laugh, everyone joining in. They’d had to put together several tables since their motley crew was growing, with Dom, West, Taylor, and Angel having been officially adopted by Destructive Delta thanks to Seb and Dex. They ordered a truckload of food and drinks for everyone.
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A familiar song came over the speakers, and Dex jumped to his feet. “Holy shit.” He spun around and thrust a finger at Sloane. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
Ash let out a long, loud groan. “Bradley, you’re killing me, bro.” He shook his head, his frown deep. “How much is he paying you to play this shit?”
“Nothing,” Bradley said, his grin wide. “Come on, man. He’s getting married. I couldn’t say no. Look how happy it made him.”
Dex grabbed Sloane’s hand and pulled. “You gotta dance with me, babe.”
“Really?” Sloane said, his eyes alight with amusement. “Do I really gotta?”
Dex nodded. “Yep. We can either dirty dance here, or at our reception where it will forever be immortalized by both photographic evidence and video. The choice is yours.”
Sloane blinked up at him. “Um, in that case, let’s dance. But I get to be Swayze.”
“You got it.”
Ash shook his head in disgust at Sloane. “You know, the word no exists for a reason, pal. You should try it sometime.”
“Pot, kettle, Keeler,” Sloane called out over his shoulder as Dex led him to the dance floor. They joined several other couples as they got up close and sexy. Sloane put a hand to Dex’s lower back and pulled Dex hard against him, making Dex laugh. He slipped his leg between Dex’s, and Dex ran his hands up Sloane’s chest before wrapping his arms around Sloane’s neck. Dex lip-synched to the song as they moved together. As the song neared the end, Dex gave him a wicked grin.
“You know. If I—”
“You are not jumping off a table for me to catch.”
Dex threw his head back and laughed. “Damn, I’m getting too predictable. Might have to shake things up.”
After a couple more songs, they headed back toward the bar near where their tables were. Dex listened to their friends from several feet away, and it made his heart swell. He could hear Dom’s boisterous laugh above everyone else’s, and it was hard not to smile. Whatever was going on had everyone in tears. Sloane sat down, and Dex moved his chair in close. He leaned into Sloane as Sloane put his arm around Dex’s shoulders.