Page 28 of Fire

“Hell yes,” he answers. “Usually, I’m all for the insanity this family brings, but with how on edge Elena has been over the past few days, it’s the last thing she needs.”

“She’s on edge? About what? The tour?”

He nods, and we take a seat in the dining room. Mercury has apparently gotten over her fangirl freak-out, as she and Asher excitedly ramble on about bands they both know and various other things they have in common. Zander looks across the table and smirks.

Just then, my niece zooms into the room and plops down on Zander’s lap. He doesn’t miss a beat as he wraps an arm around her, continuing our conversation while Taylor steals one of his pieces of pizza.

“Yeah, she’s really nervous. Having Dr. Valentine there is a definite bonus, but there are just so many unknowns, you know? Toddlers are used to having a routine. Meals, naps, bath time, and bed, they all run on a schedule, and she’s just not sure how to manage all that when we’re constantly moving from one place to another.”

“You’ll adapt,” a deep voice interjects, and I turn my head to see Cash leaning against the doorframe. He’s still wearing his dark tailored suit and tie he wore to work. He may work for the family business, but he looks about as rock and roll as an accountant at a wine bar. “You both will. I swear, kids are like bloodhounds.” Zander snorts. “They can sense fear and stress, so if you learn to roll with it, she will too. And if shit does hit the fanand something goes wrong, at least you have that hot doctor Hen found you.”

“What the fu—” My big brother cuts me a look that can only be described as the dad stare. “F-f-udge, man?” I manage to say, making Zander choke out a laugh. “And who told you she’s hot?”

“No one. I saw her with my own two eyes.”

“What? When?”

“She came in to meet Dad and sign papers last week, and I ran into her in the hallway and chatted.” I grind my teeth together in annoyance because the thought of my brother laughing it up with Zara makes me want to punch something, and I have no idea why.

It’s been nearly two weeks since the day I was in her office. Twelve days since I got a text from her with a single word: Okay.

Okay?

That’s all you have to say to me?Okay?What the fuck.

Apparently, she had plenty to say to my brother, though.

I’m not entirely sure what I expected. A thank you, maybe? A teensy bit of enthusiasm or gratitude?

Actually, no. I don’t give a shit about any of that.

What I really want to know is whether she’s thought of me. Because I sure as hell have thought about her. After that day in her office, when we both agreed to keep that night to ourselves and remain friends or whatever, I think I somehow unintentionally cursed myself.

Because, as it turns out,that nightis all I can think about.

“Hey, losers.” Presley pushes past Cash and makes her way to an empty seat, carrying a plate of cheese pizza and a beer.

“So nice of you to join us.” Cash’s deadpan delivery is really putting thebigin big brother tonight. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

I don’t know why he bothers asking. None of us likes the guy. They’ve been dating almost a year now, and a family dinner without Jace is something we all prefer. The last time he washere, he asked Zander who the hottest groupie he’d ever hooked up with on tour was. In front of his wife.

The guy is an asshole.

“Couldn’t make it. And didn’t you get here late too?” she says around a mouthful of pizza, completely unfazed by the rock star sitting next to her. He doesn’t seem to notice her much either, offering a polite nod before returning to his conversation with Mercury.

Thank God for that. Not to say Asher wouldn’t be a step up from Jace, but his life is insane. Just last month, someone broke into his house and tried to snap pics of him sleeping in bed. He can barely go out in public without being mobbed.

I wouldn’t want that for my sister.

“I did,” he replies. “But?—”

She cuts him off, turns, and smiles sweetly at Zander and me. “What were you talking about? What’d I miss?”

Things have always been a bit frosty between Cash and Presley. It’s not that they don’t love each other. I wouldn’t even go so far as to say they dislike each other.

Their personalities just…clash.

There is a reason Cash works on the business side of the company. He’s incredibly practical and disciplined. Presley, on the other hand, is creative and spontaneous. And even though she’s done some amazing things with the bar lately, my brother only seems to see her as an impulsive woman with no real goals.