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The door bursts open and he is pulled off his chair backwards, nearly sending the food in front of him flying.
‘Oh for goodness sake, Shane. Let him eat first.’
His older brother slaps him on the back and takes a couple of beers from the fridge. He passes one to Tate then sits down opposite him. ‘I’d take your time eating that. The hordes are desperate to get a piece of our superstar.’
‘Please say you’re kidding.’
Shane shakes his head. ‘Afraid not. Emma and Stacey have already picked out a few songs you’re going to sing.’
‘Who?’
Bria pokes him in the back as she walks past on her way to the fridge. ‘You haven’t been away that long. Cousins, Tate.’
He smiles and nods at her. ‘Ah. Right. Great.’
His mum squeezes his arm. ‘Just say no. I’ll find your father.’
‘I think he’s hiding in the shed.’ Shane laughs as his mum glares at him before shutting the door behind her. ‘You look wrecked.’
‘Thanks. I’ve already got that from Mum.’
Bria sits down beside Shane and leans against his arm. No way you could miss the fact the pair are related. Both have the exact same strawberry-blond hair and brown eyes. If not for the ten-year age gap you’d think they were twins.
Shane holds up his beer and taps it against Tate’s. ‘Congratulations by the way. Christmas number one for the second year running. Well done.’
‘Cheers.’ He can’t quite believe it himself. Getting to number one at Christmas last year had been completely unexpected. Getting it for a second year was taking time to sink in.
Tate stifles a yawn. He only arrived back in Ireland yesterday after touring around Europe for the last month with Broken Chords. Gregg, Dillon, and Luke had the day off, but he wasn’t so lucky. Being frontman for the band means he has the added job of going to more interviews than the others. He didn’t mind it in the least. The more publicity the band gets the better. He’d just prefer he didn’t have to get in front of a camera a few hours after getting home.
The door opens and his father, Rick, steps in. He pulls Tate into a rib-crushing hug before releasing him and dropping into a chair. ‘Welcome back. What do you think of your welcome home party?’
‘I’m trying to avoid it.’
Rick laughs. ‘You and me both. I was just ambushed by your mother. So much for hiding in the shed. I think I’m in trouble later. By the way, avoid your aunt Sandy. Half an hour about the ins and outs of her appendix operation. I can tell you the entire surgery in detail.’ He shudders and makes a face. ‘I know things about your mum’s sister I never wanted to know. And now can never forget. Oh, by the way, Bria. Your friend just arrived.’
She jumps to her feet and disappears from the room.
‘You back for long?’
Tate swallows the last forkful of dinner and nods. ‘A few weeks. I’ve got to head over to Germany mid-February.’
Rick leans back in his chair and smiles. ‘My two boys. International travellers. Couldn’t you have picked jobs that keep you closer to home? Give your mother two less things to stress about. And make my life easier,’ he adds under his breath.
Shane grins at him. ‘Canada is my home.’
‘And I live less than an hour down the road,’ Tate adds.
‘When you’re here. Don’t get me wrong. I am absolutely not complaining. You just need to have a chat with your mother about the whole worrying thing.’
‘You’re on your own with that one. I’ve tried.’
‘Tried what?’ Becca asks as she joins them again.
‘I was just telling these two that you worry when they’re away.’
‘Of course I do. Especially about this one,’ she says, gesturing to Tate. ‘I don’t know where he is from one day to the next.’
‘You’ve got my schedule so don’t even go there.’
