Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“You’re good. No rehearsal or concert today.”
I’ve always been the de facto leader of our band, but now that Rory has officially joined, she has taken charge. Funny, Rory always wanted to be a mother. It’s been her dream since she was a little girl.
Now she’s kind of acting as the mother for the band.
Honestly? I don’t have a huge problem with that. If she wants to take over leading, I’m good. She knows as much about music as I do, in some ways more.
“So,” I say, perusing the menu. “What are we going to do about Maddie? She was looking forward to seeing all of the UK.”
“Oh, right,” Brock says. “You don’t know yet.”
I lift my eyebrows. “Know what?”
“Donny and Callie have volunteered to stay here in London at the hotel with Dragon once he’s released. So Maddie and Brianna can continue on the tour with us.”
“Oh.”
I’m not sure how to feel.
I want what’s best for my sister—and she is putting off her last semester of college for this. I want her to be able to see the rest of our tour in the UK.
“Did they volunteer?”
“Yeah,” Rory says. “It was Callie’s idea, actually. She and Donny can come back and see the UK whenever they want, and this may be the only time Maddie gets the chance. So she didn’t want to take this experience away from her.”
Part of me jumps for joy at the idea that Brianna’s going to be with us for the rest of the UK tour.
Part of me dreads it.
I can’t be distracted.
But I can handle that. I can force Brianna out of my mind and do a good concert. I’ve proved that. But having her there—casually seeing her…
Constantly wanting her…
Her presence will make it all so much more difficult.
“Isn’t it great?” Rory says. “Everything has worked out.”
“Yeah, I suppose so,” I say.
She narrows her eyes toward me. “You don’t sound too excited.”
“Well, I think it was Brianna who volunteered to stay with Dragon.”
“She did,” Brock says, “but she also promised Maddie a wonderful experience. Something they could do together. So Callie decided, for Maddie’s sake, that Brianna should be with Maddie on this trip.”
It all makes sense, of course. Everyone’s thinking of our youngest sibling, and in truth, I get it.
“Jess?” Rory says. “Do you have an issue with this?”
I blink. “Of course not.”
“Good. Because it seems to solve all our problems.”
I shake my head. “All our problems? Our drummer’s in the hospital.”
“Yes, he is. He screwed up. But we’ve fixed it. We’ve got Derek as a backup drummer, and he’s fabulous. You said so yourself.”
I nod, saying nothing. No need to tell Rory of my doubts about Derek. I’m probably freaking out over nothing. So he runs his mouth off and says things he shouldn’t. Who doesn’t sometimes?
Rory pats my shoulder. “It’s not optimal. But we’ve got things fixed, Jess. The tour is going on as planned, and Dragon will meet up with us in Paris.”
“I know.”
“He may even be able to do the final concert in London once we get back here,” Rory says.
I look to the floor. “Yeah, I hope so.”
“If he can’t, we’ll use Derek.”
“Right.” I scan the menu.
Derek. The lifesaver. The guy who hates addicts. The guy who’d have my sister in the sack in a minute if he could finagle it.
Brock rises. “Excuse me. I’ve got to see a man about a horse.” He leaves the table.
“Brock ordered for us,” Rory says. “Traditional English breakfast.”
I slam my menu down on the table. “Maybe I don’t want the traditional English breakfast today. Did anyone ever think of that?”
Rory’s eyes go wide. “It’s what you’ve eaten every day since you’ve been here,” Rory says. “I just thought—”
“I am so tired of other people thinking for me. Making decisions for me.”
“Jess,” Rory says. “No one ever makes decisions for you. Where the hell is this coming from?”
I rise, rake my fingers through my hair, and then I plunk back in my seat.
Energy is sizzling through me. And those crows are pecking at the back of my neck again.
I’m angry. There’s no reason to be angry. Rory and Brock are right. Everything has worked out perfectly. More perfectly than we could’ve ever planned, given Dragon’s mishap.
And then I realize it’s not anger that I’m feeling.
No, it’s something much deeper, something that is inflaming my body.
It’s passion.
Angry passion, and I don’t want to have it.
And now…
Now Brianna will be with us.
Which is okay.
I can handle it.
I have to.
“Traditional English breakfast is fine. Black tea.”
“It’s on its way,” Rory says. “Now, do you want to tell me what that outburst was about?”
“Just everything,” I say.
“Yes, I know what happened to Dragon was horrible. But we have to look on the bright side, Jesse. He’s going to be okay. We found a replacement for the next several concerts. And if Dragon needs to go to rehab, we’ll keep Derek for the entire tour.”