go through rigorous questioning, to hopefully weed out people like that who aren't doing this for the right reasons."
"And you want me to do this?"
"Yes, but only if it's something you think you can seriously commit to and be open-minded about. I think, inside, you do want commitment. But you hide it with your 'I'm just a player' attitude and one-nighters."
"Maybe that's all I'm good for, one-night stands."
"That's total crap. I've seen the way you look when Storm and Evie are around. I think you want that closeness with someone, even though you're too stubborn to admit it. I can see it in your eyes, though."
Leaning forward, I smash my cigarette into the ashtray. "I've never even been in love. I don't want to hurt some chick who's getting into this hoping to find a knight in shining armor. The chances of me staying in a relationship, or them wanting to stay with me, are pretty slim."
"I disagree."
"What if they put me with someone totally ugly or demented?"
"They won't. They'll match you with who they think is right for you based on their interviews with you."
I ponder this insanity in my mind for a few minutes. If someone could plop the perfect girl into my lap, you wouldn't hear me complaining.
"Do you get to meet the chicks getting into this? Or at least see their pictures and applications? Can you pick me a good one?"
"I might," she says vaguely. "So what do you think?"
"I think you're using me as a guinea pig. Does Dad know you're doing this?"
"Yes, of course. He thinks it's a great idea. And no, I am not using you. I just want to see all my kids happy and in love, and I think this might give you the little extra help you need."
"Do I get to fuck her?"
"Talon!" she exclaims. "For God's sake, your mouth!"
"Well, do I?"
"Of course. It's a real marriage. There will be a wedding, with real vows. You'll sleep together, live together, everything. I'd prefer you say make love, though."
Shaking my head, I laugh at her. "Says the woman who just wrote an erotic best seller," I tease. "Mom, this is seriously the most messed-up thing you've ever done to one of us, and that's saying a lot. I know you use us in your twisted little books, but this really takes the cake."
Leaning back in her chair and crossing her long legs, she smiles knowingly at me. "I know you, Talon. You're my youngest son. I spent more time with you than any of your brothers, and you were such a sweet little boy. You loved to be loved on. I know you must be a little bit intrigued with this, right?"
Actually, I am, but I have no idea why, because this has disaster written all over it. "Yeah, I am, I guess. If it works, it would actually be pretty cool. I'm tired of the bullshit that comes with dating and dealing with sluts and women who only want to be with me because I'm in a band."
"See? This girl will have no idea who you are. Not a clue."
"I like that idea a lot."
"If you get accepted into the program, you'd have to seriously commit to this in every way."
"I would."
"And you cannot cheat on her. I will not tolerate infidelity in this family," she warns. "If you're unhappy with her, you wait until the six months are up and you split up before you touch another woman. That includes groupies, fans, and psychotic exes. Is that clear?"
"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
She tilts her head to the side. "You forget I married a musician. I know what goes on, believe me."
"Dad would never cheat on you. He loves the hell out of you."
"That's true, but that never stopped other women from trying to lure him."
My decision comes fast. "If your nutty little group can find me the woman of my dreams, trust me, I ain't gonna cheat on her."
"That's the goal, Talon. You just have to have an open mind and heart."
Squeezing the heart-shaped stress ball on her desk, I grin at her. "All right, Mom. You're on. Challenge accepted. Let's see if you can find the perfect chick for me."
Chapter 4
Asia
I 'm at my archaic sewing machine trying to piece
"And you want me to do this?"
"Yes, but only if it's something you think you can seriously commit to and be open-minded about. I think, inside, you do want commitment. But you hide it with your 'I'm just a player' attitude and one-nighters."
"Maybe that's all I'm good for, one-night stands."
"That's total crap. I've seen the way you look when Storm and Evie are around. I think you want that closeness with someone, even though you're too stubborn to admit it. I can see it in your eyes, though."
Leaning forward, I smash my cigarette into the ashtray. "I've never even been in love. I don't want to hurt some chick who's getting into this hoping to find a knight in shining armor. The chances of me staying in a relationship, or them wanting to stay with me, are pretty slim."
"I disagree."
"What if they put me with someone totally ugly or demented?"
"They won't. They'll match you with who they think is right for you based on their interviews with you."
I ponder this insanity in my mind for a few minutes. If someone could plop the perfect girl into my lap, you wouldn't hear me complaining.
"Do you get to meet the chicks getting into this? Or at least see their pictures and applications? Can you pick me a good one?"
"I might," she says vaguely. "So what do you think?"
"I think you're using me as a guinea pig. Does Dad know you're doing this?"
"Yes, of course. He thinks it's a great idea. And no, I am not using you. I just want to see all my kids happy and in love, and I think this might give you the little extra help you need."
"Do I get to fuck her?"
"Talon!" she exclaims. "For God's sake, your mouth!"
"Well, do I?"
"Of course. It's a real marriage. There will be a wedding, with real vows. You'll sleep together, live together, everything. I'd prefer you say make love, though."
Shaking my head, I laugh at her. "Says the woman who just wrote an erotic best seller," I tease. "Mom, this is seriously the most messed-up thing you've ever done to one of us, and that's saying a lot. I know you use us in your twisted little books, but this really takes the cake."
Leaning back in her chair and crossing her long legs, she smiles knowingly at me. "I know you, Talon. You're my youngest son. I spent more time with you than any of your brothers, and you were such a sweet little boy. You loved to be loved on. I know you must be a little bit intrigued with this, right?"
Actually, I am, but I have no idea why, because this has disaster written all over it. "Yeah, I am, I guess. If it works, it would actually be pretty cool. I'm tired of the bullshit that comes with dating and dealing with sluts and women who only want to be with me because I'm in a band."
"See? This girl will have no idea who you are. Not a clue."
"I like that idea a lot."
"If you get accepted into the program, you'd have to seriously commit to this in every way."
"I would."
"And you cannot cheat on her. I will not tolerate infidelity in this family," she warns. "If you're unhappy with her, you wait until the six months are up and you split up before you touch another woman. That includes groupies, fans, and psychotic exes. Is that clear?"
"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
She tilts her head to the side. "You forget I married a musician. I know what goes on, believe me."
"Dad would never cheat on you. He loves the hell out of you."
"That's true, but that never stopped other women from trying to lure him."
My decision comes fast. "If your nutty little group can find me the woman of my dreams, trust me, I ain't gonna cheat on her."
"That's the goal, Talon. You just have to have an open mind and heart."
Squeezing the heart-shaped stress ball on her desk, I grin at her. "All right, Mom. You're on. Challenge accepted. Let's see if you can find the perfect chick for me."
Chapter 4
Asia
I 'm at my archaic sewing machine trying to piece
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