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Hanging my head, I stare at my blue-painted nails, letting my hair fall in front of my eyes.
“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.” Rone is quiet for a while, looking up at the stars, a soft breeze moving through his hair. “I know about your mom from your brothers,” he says finally, turning to me. “You must miss her.” His voice is soft, his breath ghosting over my parted lips and I swallow hard.
I nod, not saying anything while I stare at the sky, listening to the waves crashing on the beach a couple of feet away from us. They calm my nerves. “Dad told me about your mom and your brother.”
He snorts, glancing up at the sky. “The woman I talk to once a year; that’s about it.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, looking at him.
Shrugging, he says. “It is what it is.” Then he grins at me. Rone has a slow, beautiful smile, and when it reaches me, I have trouble breathing.
“How old are you?” he asks, his voice deep.
Locking eyes with him, I lick my lips, and he follows the small movement. And there are the butterflies again, mixed with something I’ve never experienced deep down before. “Sixteen, but I turn seventeen in three weeks,” I add.
“Sixteen, huh?” He pushes me with his arm, warming my skin where he touches mine. This has never happened before.
“Yeah, how old are you?” I counter, feeling bold.
“I’m eighteen,” he says, leaning back on his arms. I can’t tear my eyes away from his chest straining against the black shirt he’s wearing, and those muscles flexing in his arms. All the boys in my class are still boys; they’ve got nothing on him.
“You’re older and younger than that at the same time, if that makes sense?” Shit, why do I always say stupid stuff like that?
He flashes me a dark look. “How much older?”
Taking a deep breath, I tell him, “I don’t know. It’s probably your eyes.” My voice is small and I sneak a look, loving the way his hair falls over his forehead.
He shoves his hands back behind his head, barking out a laugh. “I’ll take it, babe,” he says, gazing up at the stars again. I try to think of something else to ask, something safe. He turns his face to me, and the lines around his eyes crinkle.
“Yeah, definitely your eyes,” I blurt out.
The side of his mouth curls up a little, as he watches my chest rise and fall. “Being on the road adds a couple of years.”
“Is that so?” My mouth is dry.
“Yeah, really. Spent a lot of time working on my granddad’s farm since I was a kid too,” he says, a smile in his voice. “Been handling the guitars on tour, helping out backstage, and singing backup vocals.”
“Didn’t you have school?”
“I graduated. Had a tutor travelling with us on the road as my nanny.”
My eyes go big. “Do you have a girlfriend?” I ask, my stomach turning.
He chuckles. “No girlfriend—haven’t got the time. I don’t get struck by lightning a lot. Guess divorced parents have that effect.” He looks from my lips to my eyes before sitting up, his face inches away from mine. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Thinking about his I haven’t got the time remark, my smile falls.
Before I can answer, both my brothers plop down in the sand, breaking the spell between us.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Rone asks, brushing the sand from his hands.
“Your dad let slip there is a bar not far from here. Want to go check it out?” Gunner asks, always seeking trouble.
We both don’t say a word, and Gunner winks at Rone, Axl balls his fists like he knows the way my heartbeat speeds up every time Navarone’s dark eyes lock in on mine.
“Yeah, sure, we can take the Jeep. It’s not far from here,” Rone finally says, tearing his gaze away from me.
“Great.” Gunner stands, and Axl follows him. Rone gets up as well, holding out his hand, and I take it before he lifts me up. Axl’s icy blue eyes narrow on Navarone, I let go of Rone’s hand, and he inhales sharply while I pretend his touch doesn’t ignite every part of my body.
