Emma tilts her head to one side. "Maybe I should get an eyebrow piercing."
"Cute." I nod.
She lets her voice get loud. "Or maybe my nipples."
"You trying to piss me off?" Brendon asks.
"No. I'm trying to talk to my best friend. No one invited you to eavesdrop." She does nothing to hide the irritation in her voice.
But it's not the eavesdropping.
It's the suspicion.
She knows.
Or she's going to know soon.
This isn't good.
I squeeze Emma's arm. "Shh. I love this song."
She play swats me.
I play swat her back.
Her smile is normal. Like she's not trying to figure out if I'm sleeping with her brother.
I do love this song.
I focus on the guys on stage. On the music flowing into my ears. On the sway of my hips.
Then on belting out the chorus. The one I've heard a million times.
Emma sings with me.
And everything is normal.
All the way through the end of the song.
The singer smiles. "We've got a few more. You guys excited to hear Dangerous Noise?"
The crowd cheers.
Emma too.
"We've had a blast this tour. We want to thank them for inviting us. And to thank all of you for showing up tonight." He turns back to his band and shoots them a thumbs up.
Then the bassline is kicking in.
And the drums are pounding.
A guitar riff fills the air.
Then this low roar of a verse.
Emma turns back to Brendon. "Are you sticking around?"
"How else can I ruin your good time," he teases.
"Oh." Her eyes light up. "We're on the list. Why are we here. We could be backstage."
"Because here is fun?" I offer.
"And backstage isn't?" She motions to the hall where we came in. "Only a few songs left. Now is our chance."
He looks to me for permission.
I nod. This will be fun. And it won't advance Emma's suspicion. I think.
He nods back. "Follow me."
Emma steps forward. "No, follow me."
She cuts through the crowd expertly. I follow just as swiftly. We've got a lot of experience weaving through crowded venues.
The lighting dims as we step into the hallway. There's a security guy guarding a door at the other end of the hall. The one opposite where we came in. He has an earpiece and a clipboard. A this is the list kind of clipboard.
Emma squeals. "Oh my God, this is… oh my God. They're all so hot. I can't even. What am I going to say?"
"Fuck me please." I laugh.
"No, they're all taken." She pouts. "What would possess a smoking hot rock god to settle down?"
"The right woman," Brendon offers.
That shakes her out of her starstruck daze. She turns back to Brendon. Examines his expression. "You have a secret girlfriend I should know about?"
He shoots her a really look.
She returns it.
Uh uh. My night is not heading down this path. Not when everything is perfect.
This is my chance to be happy before everything goes to shit tomorrow.
I'm not losing that.
I move toward clipboard guy. "Excuse me. Um. I'm Kaylee Hart and this is my friend Brendon Kane. We're on the list."
He looks to Em. "And you, sweetheart?"
"Emma Kane." Her smile is equally parts sexy and sweet.
He glances at the clipboard. "Looks like you are." He moves aside from the door. "Head in. But stay out of the way."
I nod as I step through the door. "Thank you."
Emma and Brendon follow.
We're actually backstage.
It's a lot more crowded than I'd expect. There are roadies and other crew type people milling around.
And there's the opening band's dressing room on our right.
And just beyond it, a sign taped to a door reads Dangerous Noise.
Emma squeezes my hand. "That's it." She skips forward.
I follow her into the room.
Oh my God.
That's actually Joel Young, Brendon's supposed client.
And he's actually looking at Brendon like he recognizes him.
And at me like he—
He has this knowing smile. This mischief in his green eyes. Like Brendon did fill him in on all sorts of dirty details about me.
"Didn't think you'd show." He moves forward. Nods hello to Brendon then looks to me and Emma. "I'm Joel."
"I know." My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
Emma nods.
"You must be Kaylee," he says.
"Yeah." It's all I can say. He knows my name. A famous rock star knows my name.
"I dig the glasses." He holds up his left hand and wiggles his adorned ring finger. "If only you'd found me before Bella did."
"Huh." I giggle. If only I'd met him before he was married, then he would have slept with me.
With the way he's smiling in Brendon's direction, I'm pretty sure this is for my not exactly a boyfriend's benefit.
But still...
A rock star is flirting with me.
"This is Emma." I nod to my best friend. "She's a big fan. We both are."
"Thanks." He offers me a hug.
I take it.
I'm hugging Joel Young.
This is so weird.
Then he's hugging Emma.
He opens his arms to Brendon. Chuckles when Brendon shakes his head. "It's been what, six years now? Still can't get any affection from the guy. Must be hard living with a brother like that."
"You have no idea," Emma says.
"Nah, I do. My older sister is a tough cookie. And she's a shrink. Count your blessings," he says.
Emma laughs.
"He doesn't talk much, does he?" Joel asks.
Emma shakes her head. "Not usually."
"So sometimes?" Joel cocks a brow. "Go on. But only if it gets juicy."
"There's someone he talks about a lot." Emma presses her lips together. "A girl."
A voice echoes through the room. "Five minutes."
"Damn." Joel shakes his head. "They really gotta warn us about this shit. Pretty sure Ethan is still fingering Vi off some place."
"Oh... Uh..." My mouth gets sticky. How can he be so casual with that information? It's just... Umm... Uh...
"It was nice to meet you, Kaylee. Emma." He winks. "Give your brother a hard time, for me."
She laughs. "Will do."
The three of us make our way back to the main room. We cut through the crowd just in time for the lights to go down and the band to step on stage.
Emma and I get lost in the music for the entire set. Even Brendon seems to enjoy it.
Everything is perfect.
Until we're on our way out.
And Emma is dragging me into the bathroom. "Come on, Kay. We need to talk."
Chapter Forty
Kaylee
I get lost in my routine. Breakfast with Emma. School. Homework. Watching movies with Brendon on the couch. Writing. Reading. Bed—sometimes his, sometimes mine, sometimes without much sleeping involved.