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I watch as the cogs turn in his brain, no doubt trying to figure out who Reese really is. Then it clicks, and his eyes widen. “What the… are you shitting me? That’s the same girl Jessica called Fatty Patty and Peppa Pig? The girl whose locker she filled with them Super tampons?” I nod, although that’s the absolute tamest of the things Jessica did and said to Reese. Carson and Fletch may not remember it now, but when Jessica pulled one of her shitty pranks, or called Reese a name in the school hallway for everyone to hear, they laughed too. It was only Benji and I who stayed quiet, and watched from the sidelines. And damn if I don’t regret it. The summer Ryan came home from college, before Reese and I started our senior year, he beat my ass senseless. Reese told him everything. Thank God the guys were all too drunk to remember the night of senior prom. I shake the images of that night from my head. After today, I can’t deal with more. Not right now, at least, and not until I’ve had a chance to speak to Reese. Penelope steps up to me, tapping me on the shoulder.

“Can we speak for a moment?” she asks timidly. Penelope doesn’t do timid. She’s all fire and brimstone and take-no-bullshit. She has to be to survive the hurricane that is our band. I shrug. “Sure.”

I lead her into the kitchen for some privacy, and luckily Mom isn’t here because I know exactly what this is about, and I’m not going to let Penelope off the hook that easily. She may be one of the best band assistants ever, but she fucked up, and I have yet to forgive her for it. “I, uh…” she fiddles with the hem of her dress, and then a lock of her red hair, and then looks up at me. “I wanted to apologize. For what happened with Reese.”

I lean against the kitchen island and cross my arms over my chest. “I appreciate it, Pen, but I’m not the one you should really be apologizing to.”

“I know.” She nibbles on her lip. “Alex told me who she was. Is.”

I raise my brows. “Did he, now.” Alex knows less than the band does, but enough to know that she was an important part of my life before I royally fucked things up. He doesn’t know why Reese and I lost contact though, because I never felt right talking about it. I never felt like it was just my story to tell.

“He told me she’s important to you, and Thorin, please believe me, if I’d known who she was when she called me, I would have told you immediately. I was just doing my job.”

I expel a heavy breath because she’s right, she was just doing her what we pay her to do. I drop my arms, and give her a hug. “We’re good Pen, I promise. But like I said, I’m not who you should be apologizing to.”

She squeezes my mid-section, and takes a step back. “I was actually going to speak to Reese now, but I wanted to make sure you and I are okay first.”

“It’s done, Pen. We’re fine.” I kiss her cheek. “And thanks for being there for me today. I know you didn’t know Ryan, but I appreciate having you here all the same.”

“I would do anything for you, Thorin. For all of you, you know that.”

“Even Alex?” I smirk. Sure, he’s got a few years on her, but when they bicker, the sexual tension is so damn obvious to the rest of us. But to them? Not so much. Or maybe they’re just ignoring it. Penelope slaps my arm, but I don’t miss the way her cheeks redden. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Penelope blush, and she’s seen enough blush-worthy shit being around us.

“I have to tolerate him, Thorin. It’s an occupational hazard, unfortunately.”

Alex chooses that exact moment to step into the kitchen. “What’s an occupational hazard?” He glances up from his phone, looking between me and Penelope. She ducks her head, and mumbles, “Nothing.” Her blush deepens, and I bite my lip to stifle a laugh. These two can barely stand each other on a good day, and now Penelope is blushing? Priceless.

“Just talking about what a colossal pain in the ass you are,” I tell him with a grin, and wink at Penelope.

“Yes,” Alex murmurs, tucking his hands into his suit pockets. “Your bank balance says otherwise.” He glances at me, and then at Penelope. “You ready to head out?” I don’t miss his tone. It’s gentle, and the absolute opposite of how he speaks to us. Then again, Penelope isn’t a twenty-something year old man behaving like a little shit, which is how we tend to behave. Sometimes.

“Yes.” Penelope straightens her shoulders, something akin to defiance dancing in her eyes.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Alex tells me. “I should have a house secured for the guys by then.”

“Thanks, just don’t get a place too close to me, yeah? I’ll kill them if they’re here all the damn time.” He knows I’m only half-teasing, and the guys will give me space. Hell, even without the current circumstances, I think we could all use a breather after a long ass tour, and constantly being in each others faces. Alex nods once, and heads toward the open front door with Penelope trailing behind him. I shake my head, finally allowing a laugh to slip through.

“What’s so funny?”

I spin and see Mom coming down the stairs.

“Our personal assistant has a lady boner for our manager.”

“Thorin!” She admonishes. “Must you be so crass?”

“I’m a rockstar, Mamma, comes with the territory.”

With a shake of her head, she goes back into the kitchen, and minutes later, the guys are all making their way upstairs to get cleaned up and change. It’s not as late a night as we usually pull, but we’re all tired. Fuck knows I’m tired, right down to my bones, but I have one more thing to do before I call it a night. When I emerge from the bedroom, freshly showered, and dressed in a plain white t-shirt and grey sweats, Mom is still in the kitchen, sitting at the island with a cup of tea in her hands.

“Where’s Reese?” She disappeared some time ago, probably to take care of the nephew I haven’t met yet. I didn’t want to bulldoze my way in, despite my right to meet my brother’s newborn, but I’m cognizant of just how much Reese has had to deal with.

“At her house, sweetheart,” Mom replies. She sniffles, and wipes her nose. She’s been a pillar of strength, just like Reese, but now I see the toll losing Ryan and Melissa is starting to take. I wrap her in my arms, and kiss the top of her head, feeling an ache in my chest. “I love you,” I whisper. “You did a good job with me and Ry. You have to know that.”

Mom leans into me. “Thank you, baby. Just makes me wish your daddy was here to at least meet his grandson.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I let her go. “Speaking of, I think it’s time I met the little guy myself. Will you be okay while I step out?”

“Of course,” she replies, and then quickly adds, “but don’t be an ass to my Reese, Thorin.” Her expression is all business. She’s been protective of Reese all our lives, especially when things went horribly south with Reese’s parents. They were assholes, probably still are, and as far as I’m concerned, don’t deserve a daughter like Reese. Not that I deserve her either.