Sarcastic little punk.
Laughter bubbled below the surface. I did my all to contain it.
“Watch yourself, man, or I’m going to be coming through that door to kick your ass instead of telling you not to hesitate to order room service. Next time I won’t be so nice.”
So what if I loved it when it was like this? When we could just joke around without any strain weighing us down. When I knew things could be good for him and he had the whole world at his feet. It was just waiting for him to get brave enough to take a step. It gave me the kind of hope I thought we’d lost a long time ago.
Back in L.A., I couldn’t shake the worry from plaguing me, his mood dark and ominous, expression filled with shadows and memories and suffocating regret. Once we’d left, his spirits seemed to improve, and each day the kid seemed to become lighter and lighter, the smile that was so rare resurfacing on his face.
Just like now.
That smile broadened as the sarcasm grew thick. “Oh, yes. Now there’s the big brother I know and love. Some things will never change.”
“Whatever.”
But both of us knew everything had changed.
I gestured with my chin toward my door as I drummed my fingertips on his doorframe. “I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”
A grin pulled hard at his mouth. “Ah…figured you might be. We all know how these nights go down now…the rest of the guys out partying, living it up on the town, while you tuck tail and head back to your room. Big, bad Sebastian Stone *-whipped. Don’t act like I can’t see that leash strapped around your neck.”
Fighting the laughter rolling around in my chest, my teeth clamped down on my bottom lip.
“Watch it, man, or I’m going to make that ass-kickin’ a reality.”
Liked seein’ the smile on his face. Needed it. Life was coming together in a way I never thought it could, everything important to me flourishing. Thriving. The band and my baby brother and a breathtaking love I never saw coming.
“Bring it on. Wouldn’t want you to get rusty or anything,” he ribbed, rubbing it in a little deeper as he stepped back and widened his door, just begging for it. “Last thing we need is for you to go and get soft on us.”
Taking two steps to the side, I slid my keycard through the slot of my door, still leaning back so I could toss him a wry smile. “Someone around here needs to be.”
“Thought that was Zee’s job.”
“Touché, little brother, touché.”
I opened my door and Austin stepped back in his. “Fine, asshole, leave me for your wife. I’m bored as fuck in here.”
“You could come in and hang out with me,” I hollered.
“And listen to you two going on and on about how much you miss each other, making fucking kissing noises and all that mushy bullshit? Um…no. I’d like to keep my dinner down, thank you very much. We all hear it enough on the bus.”
He took another step back and let his door fall closed.
“You’re just jealous,” I called out with the shutting of my own door.
His muddled answer echoed through the wall. “You might just have me there, big brother.”
I was still shaking my head, my face full of a smile, as I crossed the living area and headed into the huge bathroom I really didn’t need, then hopped in the shower big enough for five. I lathered up, rinsing off all the sweat from the show, jumped out, and dried just as fast.
Couldn’t wait to get to my girl.
Grabbing my phone, I tapped out a text. Turn on Skype. Need to see your face.
Two seconds later, my phone blipped. Okay.
I frowned, expecting a smiley face or a silly heart or an I can’t wait, but I guess that would just take more time.
I dragged on a clean pair of boxers, pulled my laptop from its case, and flopped down at the center of the bed. Couldn’t wait to catch a glimpse of her.
God, Austin was right.
I was whipped.
Locked down.
Gone for this girl.
I didn’t stand a fucking chance.