Minutes passed and we clung to each other. “I didn’t know what happened to you. Thought I’d never see you again. I thought…” A small part of me thanked Violet for leaving and that she wouldn’t see me become a blubbering mess. Not very manly. But the rest of me didn’t care about anything other than being with my sister again.
My body went rigid. But was she really back? And for how long? Inch by inch, I loosened my hold on her. “So what now? You run off again, disappear?” I couldn’t help the resentment creeping into my voice.
She leapt away from me, like she suddenly realized I had an infectious disease. The doorbell rang and I turned to get the door. Before I got there, she opened it and bolted. I almost smacked into the pizza guy. “Sorry, man.” I slipped past him and caught up to India, snagging her hand and spinning her around.
“You were going to run again, without even giving me a chance?” I scoffed.“And you wondered why I was worried about you disappearing? Jesus.” Still gripping her hand, I cursed under my breath, then focused on her again. I took the anger down a notch. I didn’t want to drive her away. So I told her the truth, hoping that would be enough. “I couldn’t take it if you left. It would destroy me.”
“For a second there, I was back at home and Dad was angry at me.” Tears sprang from her eyes and she shook her head. “I’ve been on the run a long time, and I reacted. But... I only just found you. I don’t want to leave.”
“Then don’t.” Gently this time, I squeezed her hand. “We’ll swing by wherever your stuff is and then I’ll take you home. My house. Or we can forget your things, forget that life ever existed, and I’ll buy you all new stuff.”
Her cheek fell onto my chest and she wrapped her arms around my waist. “I missed you so much. You have no idea.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I’m pretty sure I do.”
A throat cleared behind me. “Uhm, excuse me, where should I put the pizza?”
India gave him a watery laugh. “We should go in and eat.”
I slung my arm around her shoulder. “Yeah.”
On the way back to the guest house, I relieved the delivery man of his two boxes. “Thank you,” I told him, then I eyed India. “You guys better have ordered pepperoni.”
She darted ahead of me to turn the door knob, then she paused and twisted with a smile. “I remember everything,” she said softly.
I set the boxes on the counter, then pulled her in another hug. “I need you to stay.”
“Okay.”
I hoped that meant she wasn’t going anywhere. As ravenous as I was, I let India get the first slice. “Was it hard on your own?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Only because I didn’t have you.”
I returned her smile. “But you were safe?”
She took the first bite of the slice but managed to answer. “I want to be bitter and tell you how much people suck. Because it’s the truth. But there are so many good people out there. I had decent people looking out for me.”
“You don’t want to tell me who they are?” I dug into my pizza.
“They made me promise.” She shook her head. “They were kind to me, treated me like I was their own. I’d never had that before. Except with you.”
I chewed and swallowed. “I’m glad you had a safe place.”
She grinned. “What’s it like being a famous rock star?”
Sensing she didn’t want to do the talking, I squashed my urge to ask her why she chose now to find me. I set the pizza down and wiped my hand on a napkin. “Strange. Fun. Stressful. Exciting.”
She asked me questions faster than I could answer them, about the band and touring, while not talking about her life the last three years. We’d get to that eventually. Right now, I just wanted her to feel safe with me.
She wiped her mouth, tossed her crumpled napkin on the coffee table and shoved the pizza box away. “Four pieces left. We should save them for Violet.”
“Speaking of which, we should probably let her into her own house.” I leaned back in the chair, wondering if it was possible for a stomach to actually explode. Thankfully, I didn’t have any photo shoots coming up where they would want to see my abs. “Do you mind?”
“If Violet’s here?” She tipped her head to the side. “Why would I mind? She was super cool today.”
I snatched my cell from next to the pizza box and texted her. She wants to see you. Will you be home soon?
I’m actually already here. Up front hangin’ with my dad. Be right there.
I chuckled. “She’s in the main house. So…” I flipped my cell from palm to palm. “You’re coming to my house later to stay?”
“Won’t having a teenager around all the time ruin your chances with the ladies?” She wiggled her eyebrows, then her face grew serious. “I don’t want to cramp your style. And I don’t want to be a burden. I can’t stay with you if I’m always feeling like I owe you.”
I snorted. “We’re family. It’s our job to take care of each other. I can’t imagine you’re going to want to lie around all day making messes and eating ice cream. That might be a problem for me eventually. But I don’t think you’d be satisfied with that kind of life. Either way, there’s no pressure to leave. Hell, we have three years to make up for.”
A shaft of light flooded the place and I whipped around to see Violet coming in. She made a beeline for the pizza. “You losers better have saved me some.”
I stood and held her by the shoulders, turning her until she faced me. Lifting her chin with my thumb, I bent toward her until our faces were only an inch away. Then my lips grazed hers, lingered for a moment before I straightened, my gaze holding hers.
Her lips curved up. “You’re welcome,” she whispered, then turned to India. “You’re not leaving, right?”
India beamed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Except with me,” Sebastian said. “We should get going and not overstay our welcome.”
Violet laughed softly. “I wouldn’t mind the company.”
That wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe she could squeeze some answers out of India. I switched to my sister. “Whatever you want to do.”
“We don’t have to rush off.” India moved two slices of pizza onto a paper plate and handed it to Violet. Then she gathered up the used napkins and threw them in the kitchen trash.
“India, do you have a car?” Violet sunk into the couch and took a bite off the pizza.
“No, couldn’t afford one.” She perched on the arm of the sofa and I got comfortable in the chair where I could see them both.
Violet chewed and swallowed hurriedly. “When you tracked my dad and found me, how did you follow him without a car?”
“I borrowed a friend’s,” she said, fidgeting with the sleeve of her hoodie. “Except she didn’t know I borrowed it. I filled up the tank though.”
I chuckled. “That wasn’t obvious,” I joked.
Her brows knitted in the middle. “She didn’t know it was me. But at least she knew the thief meant well.”
“What made you choose today to see Sebastian? Why now?” Violet bit off another chunk of pizza.
“I’ve been keeping tabs on him all along, even before he had Instagram and Facebook.” India switched to me. “First, I was angry because you’d left me. Watched you get more famous, went to a live Full Throttle concert right around the time you guys won your Grammy. The last two years, every time you and your friends hit the news, it was all bad. And after growing up with them and the drugs and the violence, I vowed I wouldn’t be anything like them. You’d become just like our parents and I refused to be around anyone like that.”
I twitched. “I guess I can’t deny it.”
“Which is why I didn’t try to contact you. Then suddenly you disappeared two months ago. When you reappeared last week you were everywhere all at once, but you seemed different. Then I read about you going into rehab.”
I’d been so torn up about her disappearance that I’d hit the bottle, but the very reason
she’d stayed away was because I’d been drinking. I’d lost all that time with my sister, because I’d been feeling sorry for myself. If I hadn’t been so pathetic, she might’ve come back to me sooner.
I scrubbed my hands over my face, wishing I could undo the last three years. “I’m sorry.” I dropped on the couch next to her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not like I can blame you.” She joined her hands with mine. “You had eighteen years with those toxic people. I only had fifteen and most of that time, you were taking the beatings for me. It was messed up, but it’s over. We’re together again and they’re out of our lives.”
“So what happened to Dad?”
Her gaze drifted to the carpet. “An injury, followed by painkillers.”
“I remember the back surgery. There’s gotta be more to the story.” I nudged her knee. “What else?”
“After a while, the painkillers weren’t enough. He moved on to harder stuff, like cocaine. He died of a heroin overdose. He just stopped breathing.”
A sick feeling festered in my gut. “And he got Mom hooked?”
“Looks that way,” she whispered. “She’s still in the same house. I have no idea how she manages the mortgage payment without Dad. I think she makes meth.”
I groaned as the last shred of hope died that my mother would pull herself out of her own hell. “Last time I passed by the house, I assumed they’d sold it and someone else had moved in. There was all kinds of junk in the yard and a window was boarded up. I couldn’t imagine they would live in a dump like that.”
India grimaced. “And yet they did.”
“I wish I had figured out a way to get you.”
“You couldn’t do anything, I see that now.” Air rushed out of her lungs and her shoulders slumped. “By the time I realized they were getting worse, you’d stopped coming around and they’d taken my phone. I didn’t have your phone number anymore.”
“I stopped coming around, because Dad threatened me. Rather than fight with him, I put all my energy into taking the legal route. But I was too late and you left before I could get custody of you.” I paused, remembering the burning frustration. “After you disappeared, I hired two private investigators to find you, but you’d made sure no one could. I don’t blame you.”
India laid a hand on my arm. “Violet says you’re done with drinking. Is that true?”
I raised my right hand. “I swear on my life.”
“Can we stop by my friend’s house and pick up my stuff?” India giggled. “She’s a huge Full Throttle fan and has no idea we’re related. She’ll just die when she sees you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Violet
Adrenaline had rushed through my veins since I’d first seen India earlier this morning and my nerves had held me captive since then. But I’d done it. I’d reunited Sebastian with his sister without her running away. It was over now though, and cell by cell, my body returned to normal. As I watched India and Sebastian get gradually closer, the old wounds healing over, I realized I was losing a piece of Sebastian. What had begun between us and might’ve had the chance to grow into something deeper would likely fizzle over the next few days. He had India back.
Granted, a sister couldn’t take the place of a love interest. But she would fill that hole in him that had been drilled into his heart three years ago. And he’d likely be busy over the next few days, reconnecting and getting her settled in. Between that and my list of appearances, he wouldn’t have time for spontaneous dinners. A darkness settled over me at the thought of missing Sebastian.
As they chatted by the door, I sidestepped out of their view and wiped my eyes. Damn hormones.
“Violet, where did you go?” He popped his head past the wall, his eyes narrowing. “Are you okay?”
I managed a watery smile. “Emotions running amok. Sorry.”
“You should come with us to get her stuff. Hang out for a while, have dinner later. Then I’ll drive you home.”
I scraped the toe of my sneakers on a speck on the floor. “I should get ahead of my work. Otherwise, I’ll be panicked to keep up with everything. Besides, you two need some time together.”
“We have the rest of our lives for that.” India tugged on my hand. “You’re coming with us.”
Since I probably wouldn’t have much time with him the next few weeks, how could I say no? Sebastian reached for me, his thumb brushing the fleshy part of my hand. He smiled and that was all I needed. My chest expanded, filled, and at that moment, I would’ve gone anywhere with him. “Sure.”
India’s friend lived in Hemet. Fatigue from an already long day snuck into my feet and up my legs, making me drag a little. Instead of enjoying the drive, I nodded off. “You guys go in without me,” I said once the car stopped. “I’m still waking up.”
Before he killed the engine, he cracked the window. “I’ll help her pack and get back faster.”
She peered over at her brother. “I packed before I left, just in case.”
He grinned before walking her down the pathway to the front door. Instead of India going right in, she held up her hand for him to wait, then she knocked on the door. My guess was that she wanted to surprise the resident Full Throttle fan. An instant later, a cute black girl poked her head out the door. Recognizing India, she stepped outside onto the porch. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I could see the girl’s eyes widen when she looked at Sebastian. She covered her mouth as she squealed and began to jump up and down. I definitely heard the screaming, even from the distance.
India darted inside, leaving her friend on the porch with Sebastian. I only saw the back of his head and she didn’t open her mouth much. He was probably doing most of the talking. She stared at him wide eyed, nodding occasionally. Several minutes later, India emerged with two suitcases. The girl handed India a cell phone and Sebastian pulled the girl into a hug while India aimed the phone at them.
No one was forcing him to be so nice to his fans. He could have smiled, given the minimal time that would make him appear the least rude and be on his way. Instead, he gave them what they wanted, just a few extra moments that made their day. And after that display of sweetness, I was officially on the edge, this-close to totally and completely falling for Sebastian.
But I couldn’t let my unchecked emotions cloud my judgment. The baby would grow quickly and in just a few months, I’d be huge. Sebastian wasn’t in love with me and I seriously doubted he could get past the extra weight from a baby he believed belonged to someone else.
Even if he cared more for me than I believed, emotions had zero impact on long-term survival. We were too different in all the important ways. Sebastian may have been sweet, over-the-top sexy and incredibly talented, but he had barely made it through high school and he couldn’t compete with me cerebrally any more than I could compete with him in music.
I needed a guy who could keep up in the ways that mattered to me and I absolutely, without a doubt, had no intention of taking up with a celebrity.
Today would be our last day associating in a nonprofessional way. I’d hang out with him and his sister for a little while, then he’d take me home. He’d make up for the three years without India and catch up with her. I’d return to my own life, comfortable with the fact that our child had two loving parents. A few weeks up the road when our new and business-only relationship falls into an easy routine, I’ll tell him about the baby. In the meantime, I had today and I intended to enjoy it.
He wrapped his arms around the girl again, dropped a kiss on her forehead, then wrestled both suitcases from India and headed toward me. That was above and beyond. And I didn’t think he was being extra nice to the girl to impress his sister. Sebastian really was that caring.
I took a deep breath and muscled through the desire to ignore my head and do whatever the hell I wanted. I couldn’t let myself go, though. It wouldn’t be fair to Sebastian to allow our relationship, whatever it was, to continue on this course when I had no intention of making it any kin
d of permanent.
Sebastian opened the back and they loaded her luggage, then they climbed into the car. India’s face appeared between my seat in front and Sebastian’s, her grin spreading wider. “Did you see her face? That was crazy!”
I laughed. I’d known India only a few hours and already adored her. My fingers touched my stomach, and gratitude filled me that my child would be able to call this wonderful girl Auntie.
**
I had a nice time at Sebastian’s house with him and India, but much of their conversation revolved around their past, people they knew and a few funny stories. The anecdotes never involved their parents. India and Sebastian never said one positive word about them.
Though my mother had passed away, I’d always had a strong bond with her and when I’d moved in with my dad, we’d struggled over some pretty big rocks in the road. But he’d never been cruel and through it all, I knew he cared. Sebastian and India had never had that safety net, knowing their parents would always be there for them. My best guess was that the only way they’d survived with any kind of sanity intact was because they’d had each other.
They didn’t need me to be a part of their reunion, especially since I wasn’t their family—and never would be. I needed to go. If Sebastian took me home now, I’d have enough time to do a few chores and make myself some dinner before diving into work. I didn’t have royalties to live on and publicists didn’t usually make seven-figure incomes. I had to get my head back in the game.
From my seat on the sofa, I watched a few more seconds as they interacted. Then I leaned forward to get their attention. “I should probably get going. I wasn’t planning on taking an entire day off.”
Sebastian checked the time on his cell. “I was going to get started on dinner in a few minutes. I can take you home after.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Or you could take me home now. I still have work I really need to get done today.”
He swiveled back to India. “I’ll be back in a half hour or so. You’ll be fine while I’m gone?”
India gave him a boys-are-so-stupid smile and patted his cheek. “I’ve been on my own for three years.”
The Baby and the Rock Star (Rock Star Kisses Book 2) Page 11
