Page 25 of Hard Rock Deceit

"Have you thought about how your brother feels?" Iasked.

Damon blinked, takenaback. "What?"

"He finds someone to love and his brother acts like it's the worst thing to everhappen."

He frowned. "It's not like that. We used to be so close. We only had each other to rely on. We took care of each other. And nowit'slike…"

"He doesn't need you anymore?" Iguessed.

Damon stared at me. Henodded.

"I'm sorry," I said. "It must be hard. For both you and your brother. He must feelsotorn."

Damon lookedpuzzled.

"Ian probably feels like he has to choose between you and Hope," Iclarified.

Damon's eyes grew wide, as if he hadn't thought of it from his brother's perspectivebefore.

"You're right," he said slowly. "I'm probably making him feel like shit." Damon groaned. "That's the last thing I wanttodo."

"You should be happy he's found someone who loves him as much asyoudo."

He took in a heavy breath, then let it outslowly.

"I guess I should stop being such a dick about it," he said, only half-grudgingly. "Stop giving them such a hard time." Damon banged his head against the wall. "Fuck. I'm such anasshole."

Musing on that, I wondered if pity was another emotion to add tomylist.

I left Damon to have his emotional crisis in peace. Taking my camera in my hands again, I scanned the backstage area. I saw August off totheside.

My mind flashed back to our kiss. I flushed. It was so innocent, a brief brush of his mouthonmine.

It had still set my bodyaflame.

I pushed the thoughts down. I was here to work, not to moon over the musician I was working for. No matter how gorgeous, brilliant, and talentedhewas.

I held my camera up to my face. August was taking a sip of water, tossing his head back to swallow. He winced and put a hand on his neck, right between his shoulder andthroat.

I wondered if he did any kind of exercises like Damon did. I imagined he held a lot of tension in his shoulders. I got a sore neck from hunching over my computer too often. Performing every night was no doubt even worse. I supposed that was why they stayed in hotels. Sleeping on a bus would cause even worse aches andpains.

He should probably see a masseuse. Or at least have someone give him abackrub.

Someone.My face continued to burn as I imagined me being the one to lay my hands on that firm,smoothskin.

"I swear to god,Cameron—"

Noah's quiet words were enough to catch August'sattention.

Cameron was clinging to the lead singer, an arm around his neck, a bright grin on his face. Noah was trying to shrug out from under it, to noavail.

"I'm just saying, a double date could be fun," Cameron said. "It's not like you haven't seen me and Lily playing footsies under the tablebefore."

Noah's glared. Cameron laughed inhisface.

"Cameron. Noah." August's voice rang outclear.

He didn't need to say anything else. Cameron stopped talking. Noah's expression eased into vague disgruntlement. Cameron let him out of the neck hold. Noah grumbled and fixed his messed up hair as he stalked away, leaving Cameron to give August asheepishlook.