Anna opened her eyes wide, like I’d just admitted to something so preposterous she could hardly believe it. I flicked my fingers across her shoulder, and she giggled. Seeing more humor in her demeanor, I asked the question I really wanted an answer to. “Are you okay with what happened earlier . . . with Griffin?”
The humor immediately vanished. “What do you mean?”
I contained a frustrated sigh. Those two were both so damn pigheaded, worse than Kellan and I ever were. “You told him you loved him, and he froze up like you just dipped him in carbonite.”
Anna scowled and returned her eyes to the stage. “No, that doesn’t bother me, Kiera. We don’t have the hearts and flowers relationship that you and Kellan have.” She shot me a quick glance out of the corner of her eye. “Which is fine. I don’t need that romantic crap.” She shrugged. “I was just joking around anyway. I didn’t mean it.”
She clamped her mouth shut and swallowed three times in a row. A new layer of moisture amplified the depth of her eyes, and I knew my sister was lying. She did mean it. She did love him. It did bother her. She did want more from him. But she wouldn’t let herself admit it or feel it. When all else fails, deny, deny, deny.
Not knowing what else to do for her, I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Anna.” Griffin may not be able to say it, but she should hear it from someone. Anna looked up at me, just as a tear dropped to her cheek. She immediately brushed it away and retuned her eyes to the D-Bags’ stage. “He told me that he loved you,” I added.
I thought my words would make her feel better, but all she looked was tired as she watched Griffin onstage. That could just be the pregnancy, though.“I’m gonna go back to the bus and lie down. Let Griffin know? If he asks . . .”
Heart heavy, I told her that I would.
Griffin didn’t ask about her when the set was over, but I told him where she was anyway. He nodded at me, so I knew he heard me. But instead of heading out to the bus to be with his baby-mama, he sat in quiet contemplation until it was time for the D-Bags and Sienna to close the show with their number-one smash hit. For the first time ever, I found myself watching Griffin onstage more than Kellan and Sienna. Even smack dab in the middle of the limelight, Griffin seemed uncharacteristically pensive. I really didn’t know what to make of it.
When the show was over and the crowd was roaring its approval, the guys rejoined me backstage. Sienna was a step behind them. I thought Griffin would surely want to go see Anna now. We were playing at this venue again tomorrow night, so we had some free time to kill and a peaceful night of sleep at a plush hotel to look forward to. I, for one, was eager to go crash, mainly because Kellan had lived up to his promise and secured us our very own room. But instead of collecting Anna, Griffin turned to Matt. “Let’s go drink.”
Matt nodded, then asked the rest of us, “You guys want to go out?”
Kellan was already answering “No” when I set down my laptop and told Matt, “Sure.” Kellan’s eyes were disbelieving when he looked back at me. Kellan and I hadn’t joined the group much for drinks once the Kell-Sex explosion had happened. We’d both been keeping a low profile, much to the band’s dismay—well, to Griffin’s dismay. I wanted us to go this time, though. I didn’t like the look on Griffin’s face. Griffin rubbed his hands together eagerly, and I liked his look even less.
Sienna had joined us by this time and seemed just as elated as Griffin. “Drinks sound bloody fabulous! I know just the place.” She made a move like she was going to wrap herself around Kellan, but she surprisingly refrained. I was almost proud of her. Almost.
Kellan looked my way with a clear question in his eyes: Wouldn’t you rather be alone in a hotel room with me than out drinking with Griffin? I forced myself to smile when I really wanted to frown. Yes, I would much rather be alone with him right now. But Anna was my blood, and I needed to look out for her.
Sienna was on the phone making arrangements while we walked toward the dressing rooms. I had no idea who she knew in North Carolina or what place she was taking us to. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to hang out with her, but it was too late now. Kellan and the guys took five minutes to refresh from their show; they pretty much just changed their slightly damp T-shirts and spritzed on some cologne. Griffin’s was way too strong, burning the back of my nostrils.
Sienna took considerably longer, and when she reemerged, I wondered if I should change. She was in a bright coral dress that looked made for dancing. Loose and flirty, the bottom of it had wide panels that resembled a flower’s petals. The petal layers were slit almost up to her waist, so every time she moved she flashed her tight, toned thighs.
I was wearing jeans and Keds sneakers. Hot.