AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t you worry. He’ll get it on the way home if I have to drag him into the first-class cabin myself.”
“He’ll come around. My brother may be bullheaded as…well…a bull, but he’s not stupid. He’ll eventually stop being so belligerent about accepting your help.”
“Why did you accept my help, Maddie? I know your parents are very strict about not taking handouts. Not that what I gave you was a handout.”
“You didn’t make it feel like a handout. You made it feel like it was a gift. A gift to a friend. And it made me want this trip more than ever because I felt like you and I could get closer.” She sighs. “Until my brother fell in love with you, I guess.”
I grab Maddie’s hands. “I think we have gotten closer, Mads. I’ve enjoyed being with you, and I’m not going to stop being with you. Unless, of course, you want to be alone with Dave more often. But Jesse will still be in rehearsal and working with the band on other things a lot of the time while we’re touring. You and I will still have lots of time to spend together.”
“And Dave?”
“Dave can hang out with Brock. Or you can hang out with Dave, and I can hang out with Brock. You and I will definitely have some girl time. I swear it, okay?”
She pulls me into a brief hug. “I’d really like that, Bree. This has been an amazing trip so far, and honestly, I’m really glad Jesse broke up that thing with Zane.”
“I am too,” I say, “especially after what happened with Dragon.”
“Do you think Zane would have given us drugs?”
“No. I have no reason to believe he even does drugs. But it just wasn’t a good idea. We both thought it was for our own reasons.”
“Why did you want it?” she asks.
“Because your brother had basically told me whatever had been between us was over. That he had to keep his mind on the tour. He was right, of course. So I just decided, why not have a little fun? Zane is attractive and seemed like a decent guy. If a decent guy takes two consenting women back to his room, that’s his business. It’s what rockers do. Jett probably did it before he met Heather.”
“I suppose you want to know why I wanted it as well.”
“I just assumed it was for the same reason, Mads. You wanted to have a little fun. And Zane Michaels is hot. And he’s famous. A huge rock star.”
She bites her lower lip. “That’s part of it, for sure. But there’s more of a reason.”
“You want to tell me?”
“It made me feel…beautiful.”
I cock my head. “Maddie, you are beautiful. My God. How can you not see that?”
“I see it. But I’ve watched both my sisters snag Steels. And I’ve seen how men hang all over you guys—you, Sage, Angie, and Gina—at school and even at home. At Murphy’s.”
“You’ve always gotten your fair share of attention from men,” I say.
“Have I, though?”
“Yeah, Maddie. You have. Are you truly the only one who doesn’t see it?”
She sighs. “I’ve been thinking about talking to your aunt.”
“Melanie?”
“Yeah. Do you think she would talk to me?”
“I know she would, but I don’t think you need therapy, Maddie. You just need to look at yourself in the mirror and stop comparing yourself to your sisters—and to my cousins and me.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“That’s because it is simple. But if you think talking to someone would help, absolutely, talk to Melanie. She’s amazing. I could arrange for her to see you virtually while we’re here.”
“Ugh. No. I hate that idea. I’d rather see someone in person.”
