Chapter 1
10 years ago
Turning twenty was an exercise in futility. You were no longer in your teens, but you still couldn’t have a drink to celebrate your birthday.
Not that Bristol Montgomery was actually obeying that teeny tiny little law at the moment.
She sipped her cheap champagne as she looked over the group of friends who had gathered for her party and tried not to grimace.
She didn’t actually like the taste of champagne, but it was her birthday-slash-going-away-party, and she wanted to be fancy, classy, and the epitome of perfection.
She’d have a Coke later to wash her mouth out.
“Well, how is my baby sister?” Liam asked as he came to her side. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she glanced up at him, grinning. He looked exactly like her other two brothers and cousins, though his eyes were different, looking more like their mother’s than the rest of the family.
All the Montgomerys had dark hair and light eyes. The men were all big and built, the women mostly curvy, and her female cousins could probably break a man over their knee if someone dared to hurt their family. Bristol might not be able to do that, but she could try.
“I’m doing fine.” She leaned into him. “How are you, Liam?”
“Doing great. Mom knows how to throw a party. Though I am wondering why you have a glass of champagne in your hand when I do believe this is your twentieth birthday, not your twenty-first.”
Bristol rolled her eyes. “Mom’s the one who poured it for me.”
“Ah, yes, the whole you’re-allowed-to-have-a single-drink-on-your-birthday-as-long-as-you’re-in-the-house-and-not-driving rule. I remember that.” He let out a breath, and she knew he was smiling above her head.
“Just because you’re an old man who’s allowed to drink now, doesn’t mean you can try to lower your voice and pretend you’re giving me sage advice and thinking of the old days.”
“I’m not old. I’m not even thirty yet.” Liam grinned, and she smiled.
“Don’t tell Mom that you said thirty was old.”
“Considering you’re the one who lamented over the fact that you were reaching old age at twenty, I really don’t think you have a leg to stand on.”
Bristol grimaced. “I was having a bad morning. Plus, the fact that Mom couldn’t stop laughing at me as I said it probably meant she didn’t take me seriously.”
“You’re the baby of the family. Of course, they’re not going to take you seriously when you lament about your age. They’ve already been through it all before.”
“I am not the baby of the family, thank you very much. Aaron is still a teenager,” she said, speaking of their youngest brother. “Where is Aaron?” she asked, looking around for him.
Liam shrugged. “Probably making out with a girl in a closet.”
She looked at her big brother and rolled her eyes. “You would think since you’re the model and all, you would be the one making out with a girl in a closet. Or a guy.”
Liam just smirked, shaking his head. “I don’t need to make out with a girl or a guy in my parents’ closet. I can rent a hotel room to get out of here. And I won’t tell you exactly what we’d be doing.” He winked, and she visibly shuddered—like she knew he wanted her to.
“Gross. Don’t talk about things like that. I am pure and innocent, and I don’t need to hear any of that.”
Liam threw his head back and laughed, and she flipped him off.
“I’m the birthday girl, and this is my going-away party, you should be nice to me.”
“I’m always nice.” He paused. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”
Bristol shrugged, not really knowing if that was the right answer or not. “I want to be okay. Though I’m a little nervous.”
“You’re supposed to be. This is a big thing.”
She looked at her big brother, then leaned into his side and sighed. “I thought you were supposed to help me not stress out about things like this.”
“No, I’m supposed to help you with the big things. Just like the rest of your big brothers are, and your little brother, and your parents. You’ve got your BFF to help you feel better.”
She looked over at her best friend, Marcus, who was hanging out with his sisters. He turned to glance at her over his shoulder and winked.
She smiled and then looked back at Liam. “Marcus tells me things honestly, too. None of you guys only try to make me laugh and do your best to make me feel better.”
“You’re about to enter a world where everybody is going to want a piece of you. They’re going to tell you that you’re pretty and you’re amazing, and then they’re going to want something. Maybe not money, maybe not fame, but they’re going to want you. And your soul, and your heart. So, you’re going to have to keep people around who tell you the truth and tell you exactly how it is.”
Fear crawled up her spine, though she kept a smile in place. This was her birthday party mixed with her going-away party. She wasn’t going to look scared or worried. Because she was Bristol fucking Montgomery. She wasn’t scared of anything.
Lies.
“Well, that’s a pep talk.”
Liam turned and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around her big brother’s waist and held on for dear life.
“I love you, baby sister. And even though we’re going into slightly different worlds, I know firsthand what happens when people see you differently. You are a nationally renowned cellist, and you’re about to be a world-renowned one. You’re going to play for kings and queens and dukes and duchesses. For celebrities and for the high-stakes people of the world. I’m so proud of you. However, if you need me, I will be there in an instant. Because you don’t have to do any of this alone. I want you to remember the Montgomery that you are, and know that we are flesh and blood, and all of us will always be here for you.”
She wiped away tears, really annoyed with herself for crying. “I cannot believe you made me tear up.”
He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back through the silk of her dress. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. In fact, I was going to give you this pep talk tomorrow or even when I saw you next in France or Venice because you know I’m going to visit you as much as I can.”
“Really?”
He scowled at her. “Of course, I’m going to visit you. You may be an adult and everything, and you may have a whole team that’ll be there for you, but your family will be there for you, too. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And thank you. I know that it’s not going to be easy, but this is what I’ve been training for my whole life.”
“And you are the best at what you do. I can’t wait to see where you go. But remember, if you need anything, we’ll be on a plane in the next instant,” he promised, pausing. “And so will your best friend.”
He glared as he said it, and Bristol just laughed. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing that Marcus and I are still best friends after all these years.”
“I don’t know. The first time you brought that boy home, I thought Dad was going to have a fit.”