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Big D offers a sympathetic approach. “Look, there are good and bad directors in the theater world, like every profession. The wrong one can be a miserable experience. We spent our time vying for audition spots and taking whatever was thrown our way. Even when our band started taking off, some of our managers made us miserable. You’ve got to be careful with these people. Calvin was just trying to point out that we have experience. We know that director is bad news.”
Aurora seems to listen when he mentions our struggles. She was probably more aware of our successes, not our failures.
“Yeah,” I say, “It’s hard to make your dreams come true. Taking on stage personas is how we hang onto our love of acting.”
“So with your spectacular acting skills, you chose to be cocky?” A lightness shines through her tone.
“Us? You were the one grabbing crotches last night. Haven’t you heard of consent?” I chuck her under the chin.
She purses her lips. “Sorry. I know it’s not a good excuse, but the bourbon may have given me too much courage.”
“You’re forgiven. Now, we’ve made your life miserable, so as you said, we owe you.”
“You can’t control other people’s obsession with you. Just no more jumping in to save the day, unless I ask.”
We all voice agreement.
“But there is one more thing you mentioned last night that we’d like to explore.”
Nervous excitement flips through her eyes. “Could we just forget about last night?”
“Sweet Aurora, your sassy little mouth said something last night that I’ll never be able to forget.”
Her eyes fall shut and her breaths quicken. She grins sheepishly. “Remember the bourbon.”
“You mean Pappy? And how you said it to Calvin?”
“Does he hate me for that?” Her hands cover her mouth.
I slide onto the arm of her chair and pull her hands from her mouth, allowing my finger to skim over her lips. “He’ll have to speak for himself, but it made the rest of us jealous.”
“Jealous?” She licks where my finger touched.
“Not only did you torment us with that nickname, but you said we had to fuck you.”
Did all of us stop breathing? Road noise fills the void. Everything hinges on her response.
Big D breaks the silence from across the table. “Is that what you were hoping for at the auction?”
Travis adds, “You can be honest. Look how much clarity we’re getting now that we’re opening up to each other.”
She nods but turns her gaze to her fingers, fiddling with the ribbon around her dress.
“So you were hoping that whoever bought you would be worthy?”
“Something like that.”
“APappy?”
She laughs. “Please don’t ever remind me that I used that term.”
“But it was—”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Can’t go there with my brothers.”
I step in front of her and extend my arms. “Can you go here?”
Her brow furrows, but she nods.
