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“Because maybe we are. You’re our big brother. We don’t want to talk about sex stuff with you,” Laura replied.
“You’re going to a sex party?” I fired out, no longer joking.
“No,” Laura said in between cackles of laughter. “Our friend makes saucy sculptures and paintings. Some are abstract, some are… well, not so abstract.”
I heard what sounded like a slap, making Laura groan.
“She’ll kill you if she hears you calling them saucy sculptures. She creates erotic art,” Sophia corrected her.
I spluttered, as this was not the direction I saw this conversation going. “What the fuck? Where did you meet her?”
“At a party. We’ve been friends for about six months now and this is her first show. She’s been preparing for it for two years. I can’t wait to see all her work in one place. It’s a shame the statue of the woman bent over a mirror pleasuring herself sold already. I loved that one.”
I gripped my glass harder. “Are you two taking the piss out of me? It’s not nice, you know.”
Laura spoke, her voice softening, “Relax, big brother. It’s real. Just because you’re the world’s biggest prude doesn’t mean we have to be.”
“La la la. I’m not listening. In my head, you are both virgin nuns and I can’t think any other way. And I’m not a prude.”
“Arch, you’re a famous rock star and you have less sex than anyone we know.”
I scoffed. “How do you know how much sex I’m having?”
“We have a group chat with Charlie and Fox where we talk about how worried we are about you. All you do is work and worry. You’re twenty-six. You need to relax, brother. We’re good. Happy, even. You don’t need to put us first anymore. Everything is okay. Even Mum is in a good place.”
The hairs on the back of my neck instantly pricked up, and I had to swallow down a ball of emotion from even the mention of her name.
“She’s not good, Laura. She’s got dementia. She’s had dementia for twelve years. Forgive me for not being able to shake off my concern because I can afford to put her in a good home these days. All those years of taking care of her… of you all, that doesn’t end because I don’t live with you all anymore.” My voice wavered, tears threatening to spill over as I thought about my mum. The mum I’d not visited in six months because I couldn’t bear the fact that she wouldn’t recognize me.
There was a pause before anyone spoke. “Archer, you did a good job. You kept us all together, you looked after Mum, you looked after us and you managed to create a band the world loves. Maybe it’s time to take off the protector hat and live a little,” Sophia whispered the last sentence as if she was afraid to say it.
Before I could say anything, Laura spoke. “Come with us tonight. Please, Arch. We’ve not seen you in ages and it’ll be fun. We’ll sneak you in the back door so you don’t have to worry about any press. Come… not because you’re worried about us, but because you want to spend time with your little sisters.”
I let out a long sigh. “Laur, I always want to spend time with you. You make me sound like some heavy who only hangs around you to stop you having fun.”
I was met with more silence.
“Fuck, is that what you think of me… really?”
Laura let out a little cough before speaking again. “Archer, you raised us. You’re the closest thing to a parent we have. We get it, but sometimes we want our brother back.”
I sighed again, pushing my fingers through my hair. “What time does it start?”
“Eight. It’s on the South Bank.”
“Fancy!”
“Our girl is going places.”
“Fine. I’ll pick you both up, but I’ll have to bring security with me. I’m not allowed to go anywhere on my own these days.”
“What do you expect, famous rock star?”
“All I do is sing and play a few instruments.”
“Oh, big brother. If only you saw yourself the way we saw you… and the way the world is now seeing you.”
“You’re making me blush. I’ll see you about 7.30.”
