Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Yeah. It might be. I still have to find money for a plane ticket.”
“You don’t need to find money for a plane ticket. You’re already flying out with Donny and Callie. Just change the dates.”
“It’s more than the dates, Bree. I’d have to change the return plans. I think the tour ends in Paris.”
“That’s true. But you can still change it. I’ll help. All we need is a computer and your confirmation code.”
“And extra money. I can’t ask my parents for anything extra. They’re already strapped.”
I can’t offer to pay for any change fees. She’ll take that the wrong way. But I’m going to make sure she goes. I feel terrible that she’s felt left out of the awesome foursome. The four core members are all family, so we don’t always think about outsiders.
I’ll do better.
Perhaps she and I can become closer in Europe.
“Plus,” she continues, “I have to check with the university. I’m on scholarship. What if they’re not willing to extend it to the next semester?”
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Because, Brianna, sometimes money doesn’t grow on trees. Sometimes money is available for a specified time period, and that’s it.” She huffs, her shoulders stiff.
Uh-oh. I may have just blown it.
“I know that, Maddie.” I push my hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Sometimes I don’t think about money.”
“You never think about money, Bree. None of the awesome foursome ever thinks about money. Right now, my family is in a bind. We lost most of our livelihood in that fire. Rory and Jesse are hoping to help out with the money they make from this tour.”
“Callie and Rory are engaged to my brother and my cousin. You guys don’t have to worry about money ever again.”
She scoffs. “Brianna Steel, you just don’t get it, and you never will.”
Damn.
How can I make this happen?
I rise, walk to the doorway of her bedroom, and then turn. “I see. Well, it would’ve been fun, Maddie. Maybe we could have gotten closer if we went to Europe together.”
Maddie claps her hands to the sides of her head. “For the love of God, Brianna, it’s not that I don’t want to go. There are just some things I have to look into. I’m not you. I can’t just decide something and then snap my fingers.”
“I can’t decide by snapping my fingers either, Maddie. If you don’t go, I’m not going to get to go.”
She shakes her head. “I should’ve known. You just want to use me.”
Now I feel lower than a sewer rat. “That’s not true, and you know it. We’ve been friends forever.”
“Yeah. Friends.” Maddie crosses her arms and drops her gaze to her hardwood floor. “But not family.”
I take a few steps back toward Maddie’s bed. “We’re going to be family. Callie’s marrying my brother. Rory’s marrying my cousin.”
And I’ll marry your brother someday.
“Yeah, right. That doesn’t make all the times you and the rest of the awesome foursome left me out of everything hurt any less.”
“I’ve already explained. None of us knew that, Maddie. We would never hurt you intentionally.”
“I’d like to think you wouldn’t.”
I sit back down next to Maddie. “Listen. How can I make this up to you? Even if you don’t want to go to Europe, I want to make it up to you.”
“The past is in the past,” she says. “And you’re not going back to school. It’s probably up to the other three.”
“Well… If you look into coming to Europe on the tour with me, I’ll try to make it up to you there. I’ll always ask you what you want to do.”
Maddie shakes her head. “Bree, that’s not what I want. It’s not all about me. I just don’t want to feel like the fifth wheel anymore.”
“In Europe with me, you won’t be the fifth wheel. You’ll be the sister of the two lead singers in the band. I’ll be the odd man out.”
She cocks her head.
For God’s sake… That’s what’s getting to her?
The Pikes are good people, and Madeline is a nice girl. I honestly always thought we were friends, and I never knew she felt so left out with Angie, Sage, Gina, and me. I vow right now to make it up to her, whether she goes to Europe or not.
“I would like to see Europe, and I know my parents would be much more comfortable if Rory and Jesse were there.”
“See? It’s a great idea all the way around.”
“All right. I’ll look into it. But I’m not making any promises.”
“That’s all I ask.” I give her a quick hug. “I have to go. Would you like to go get a drink later at Murphy’s?”
“With everyone else?”
“No. I thought maybe you and I could get one together.”
She cracks a small smile. “Yeah, Bree. I’d like that.”
Chapter Ten
Jesse
“Great rehearsal, guys.”
Rory clears her throat at me.