Page 36 of Rising Star

“Does Riley know?”

She shook her head. “I think he suspects something but has never said anything about it. He’s so focused on this tour that I’m not sure he grasps any other stuff outside of it right now.”

“Please don’t tell him, okay? I’m not ready for the truth to be revealed. Like I said, the tour is the priority. And the girls. Nothing should come between any of these.”

“I’ll never tell a soul. But promise me that when it gets too much and you need to vent, you’ll come to me, okay? I’m having my first tour bus experience too. So, we’ll have each other to lean on. I wasn’t sure at first when Riley proposed we join you guys for a few months, but I think the change of air will do us all some good. Life has been intense since we met. We both need a breather in our daily lives. And I can work remotely, so why not?”

She squeezed my arm one last time before leaving me alone with our shared confessions. Seconds later, Emily walked in.

“There you are,” my sister said. “That man of yours told me I’d find you here.”

I pressed a hand over her mouth. “Shhh, Ems. He’s not my man.”

She burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. That’s why he’s not making conversation with anyone, too busy stalking you from his spot in the backyard. When Becks and I arrived, he made a joke about where my sexy baby sister was, and Sam almost jumped him. Told him to grant you the respect you deserve.”

I blinked.

“See, I’m sure you two are banging. I’m just surprised you said nothing about it.”

Warmth pooled in my cheeks at the way she studied my reaction. “We are not. It’s complicated. We’ll go on tour and discuss whatever this is afterward if there are still feelings involved. The timing sucks.”

I downed most of my drink in a gulp. First Devon, now my sister.

“So, there are feelings involved?” she asked in her big-sister-knows-it-all tone.

“I didn’t mean feelings, I meant attraction. Lots of it. It’s distracting.”

“Distracting. Nice choice of word.” She smirked, and the urge to rip it off her face tickled my fingertips.

I offered her a pointed look instead. “Fine. I have feelings. Happy now? Nothing says he mirrored them, though.” I sighed. “It was supposed to be a short-term crush, not a full-blown-scorching-head-over-heels firework.”

“Ha, I knew it.” Her smirk vanished.

Our eyes drifted to Sam through the window. As if he could tell I was staring, his eyes found mine, and we both froze, transported into a world where no one else mattered but us.

“See,” my sister whispered. “It’s not just you. He’s infatuated with you too. What’s meant to be will be. Don’t overthink it. Just see where it takes you.”

I bowed my head and sighed. “That’s the plan.”

“Maddie, one thing, though. Whatever goes down between you two, just make sure you’re not pushing your own dreams away in the process, okay?”

“I’m not. I’m exactly where I wanna be. This tour, the chance to go on a new adventure, has my blood pumping. That’s what makes me feel alive.”

“After that. If you two are together. How will you fit your lifestyle with being a mother? Because no matter what you tell yourself, that’s ultimately what you’ll become. A mama to those kids. Are you ready for what it implies?”

“That’s the part that scares me the least, Ems. We are already bound. I love them so much. But you’re right. After the tour, I don’t wanna work a nine-to-five job or get a permanent teaching position. Or be someone else’s trophy wife. I guess we’ll see how the next six months go, and I’ll reevaluate my career choices from there. Lots of things can happen in half a year. I’m confident it will turn out okay.”

My sister pulled me into her arms. “Now I’ll have to serve Sam Stevens my big-sister I’m-watching-ya and don’t-mess-with-my-little-sister warnings. I’m already excited.” She rubbed her hands together, mischief flashing in her eyes. “You think Mika and Justine will one day be as close as we are? That their tragedy will bring them closer? Like it did to us?”

“Yep. They already are.” I paused to drink a glass of water and cool down my conflicted emotions because the mere thought or talk about Sam got me unnerved.

“Have you told him? About our past?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. I opened up to Jacob. It was the first time I trusted someone enough to be honest about everything. And it didn’t prevent him from walking away. Next time I’ll tell someone I love about my history, I’ll make sure we’re meant to have a long-lasting relationship. I learned my lesson. It hurts too much when someone I care about breaks my heart.”

“Love. You deserve it. Never settle for anything less.”

I looked away, the tumult inside me messing with my composure.