Page 23 of Hard Rock Sin

"I'm not anyone's baby sibling."

"Just because Noah—"

"It's not just Noah," he interrupted. "I still remember when you were in knee high socks and pigtails."

"I never wore pigtails."

"It's a metaphor." Cameron gave me a rueful smile. "It's hard to look at you now and not remember the little girl you used to be."

I looked down at the papers and books on my bed, avoiding his eyes. "Is that really how you see me? Just a little girl? A little sister?"

He went silent.

"No," he said eventually. He didn't elaborate.

I met his eyes. "I've always been treated like a kid. First Noah acting like the protective older brother my whole life, then being stuck at boarding school. I hoped that by coming home I'd finally be able to live the kind of life I want."

Cameron cocked his head at me. "And what kind of life is that?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but paused.

"I… don't know," I said slowly. "All I ever cared about was coming home, going to art school. I didn't think much past that."

"You really have a problem with thinking ahead, don't you?" Cameron teased, referring to my failed plan to show up backstage and surprise Noah.

"I hate feeling like I've missed out on half my life," I blurted out. "I feel like I'm years behind everyone else."

Cameron looked at me thoughtfully. He strode across to room and sat next to me on the bed.

"Listen." His tone was earnest. "I know you're insistent on everyone treating you like an adult, but you're only nineteen. You have the rest of your life ahead of you. Whatever you think you missed out on, you've got time."

"I've never been drunk," I blurted out.

Cameron looked astonished. "Never?"

"The other women and I at my artists' retreat would have wine with supper. That's it. Anyone caught sneaking in alcohol at my boarding school got expelled, so few risked it." I took in a deep breath. "I've never gone to a rock show that wasn't my brother's. I've never gotten high. I've never snuck out of my bedroom window at midnight."

The appalled expression on Cameron's face would have been amusing, if I hadn't been so disgruntled. I gave him a helpless look and gestured wildly with my hands.

"I've missed out on so much. I want to finally experience life, and I don't want it to be under someone else's rules. Is it really that hard to understand?"

"No. I get it. I guess we had the opposite problem." Cameron ran a hand through his bangs, revealing both blue eyes. "As someone who had to grow up too fast, I can tell you there's nothing wrong with taking your time."

"I think my brother would have a word or two to say about you applying the wordgrown upto yourself."

"I haven't set fire to the place yet. That counts for something, doesn't it?" He flashed me a grin before going serious. "I promise, I don't see you as a little girl."

My heart thumped in my chest as I met Cameron's eyes.

"How do you see me?"

I knew what answer I wanted.

I wondered what answer Cameron was going to give me.

"Lily…" His face was pained.

Cameron's phone buzzed, saving him from having to respond. He gave it a quick glance.