by Brooks, Tori
Oskar worked around Dev’s erratic schedule, and didn’t take for granted the free marketing he was getting every time he handed Dev a new suit to wear. Dev’s wardrobe was extensive and largely comped, but he was also a walking billboard. The thing he tried to explain to Lindsay repeatedly, and failed, was that he didn’t mind. And he sometimes relied on Oskar’s opinion in lieu of having any other adult men around. Less and less as time went on, but the relationship was there.
Dev took a deep breath and prepared himself to try again.
“Oh stop,” Lindsay cut him off before he even started. “You’ve got this pseudo-father thing going on with Oskar. Fine. I’ll drop it. I’ll get Kenny to drop it.” She waved her hand dismissively and looked away.
“No, that’s not it. It’s – wait, did Kenny say something?” Dev asked.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it,” Lindsay slid off his desk and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips to his and slowly backed him against his dresser.
Dev cooperated with the kiss, sliding his hands around her waist and leaning into it. He didn’t like this situation, but he’d let Lindsay handle it if she wanted to. Kenny knew better than to come between him and Oskar, they already had that conversation. Dev let his hands move up Lindsay’s back, feeling her warm, smooth skin. Kenny and Lindsay never got along, so maybe letting them work this out for him would give them some sort of common ground. Or at least a starting place. A reason to call a truce anyway. It should have been done long ago.
Speaking of things that should have been done long ago, Dev pushed the garment bag aside and laid Lindsay on the bottom bunk bed. He never got around to redecorating his room and he regretted it now as he tried to simultaneously ignore the race car bedspread and unbutton Lindsay’s blouse while kissing her.
“It’s overdue that we broke this room in,” Dev said and kissed her cheek and moved down to her jaw.
“Agreed.” Lindsay’s fingers were already at work on his belt. She kissed him back then let him work his way down to her neck as he exposed her chest.
Sliding slowly down her body, Dev knew he was driving her crazy, but in a good way. He kissed the valley where her breasts just started to come together, loving the feel of their tender warmth pressing against his chin. Moving lower while leaving her bra still fastened was tricky, but he had the hang of it now. He let his hands rest on her sides – just where her delicate form tapered to her narrow waist – as he nuzzled her still partially covered breasts.
“Lower,” Lindsay moaned. Dev grinned. She wrapped her legs around him, hiking her skirt up in the process. The position made it awkward for him to leave his hands where they were simply because there wasn’t room for his arms anymore.
A scuffle outside his bedroom door made Dev pause, but only for a moment. He locked the door when he closed it. It was automatic now whenever he and Lindsay were alone, even though they’d never done anything to make it necessary. Well, almost never.
“Simon says?” Lindsay said hopefully.
Dev chuckled and skipped to just below her bra, kissing her abdomen. His elbows banged annoyingly against Lindsay’s knees, but he could continue playing her game and handle her obstacles without sacrificing his agenda.
Letting one hand slide up her body to cradle Lindsay’s face, Dev let the other move down between her legs and pull at the thin lacy thong. She was ready for him, but not ready enough. Dev wanted more foreplay and Lindsay was always so ready to go he rarely got it.
Pushing her thong aside, Dev let a finger slide along the warm moist channel now exposed. Lindsay pushed against him, her body clearly pleading for more. Dev took the front clasp of her bra in his teeth and unfastened it in a deft move. He kissed the cleavage now available and ran a finger along Lindsay’s slit again. She shuddered with pleasure.
A low moan escaped her barely parted lips, but it turned into an even lower growl when a knock at the bedroom door reverberated through the room.
“Just tell whoever it is to go away,” Lindsay hissed quietly.
Dev opened his mouth to do just that, but didn’t get the chance.
“Dev?” Sophie’s voice called. He let his face fall back to Lindsay’s stomach.
“A minute, Soph,” Dev answered and started to disentangle himself.
“You’re kidding!” Lindsay whispered.
“That erection you felt against your thigh would have survived a through-the-door yelling match with the guys, but it’s gone now. Sorry.” He kissed her and sat up. “I will try to get this done as quick as possible, then I’ll come back and finish what I started.”
Lindsay propped herself up on her elbows to look at him. Her bra and blouse hanging open, skirt bunched around her waist, Dev debated whether he really wanted to go talk to his little sister. He didn’t. Even though his girlfriend was glaring at him, he would rather be here and started to feel the stirrings of desire again. Maybe ...
No. It was too late now. Sophie was waiting and she’d just be back if he took too long.
“Dev, honey, just to be clear,” Lindsay said, her patience obviously strained. He wondered if an ultimatum would follow. She didn’t do things like that to him, but there was always a first time. “When we have kids, you’re not hopping up and interrupting our private time every time they fuss.”
He leaned forward and kissed her.
“Of course not,” Dev said, tucking his shirt back in. “I happen to know their mother is going to raise them better that that.”
Lindsay glanced at the door as Dev stood. “Clearly I need more practice on you.”
“You’re doing a hell of a job. You just didn’t get to Sophie in time. I’ll be back.”
○ ○ ○
“What do you think you’re doing?” Sophie hissed as soon as Dev closed his door.
Dev whirled to face her at the end of the hall, framed in the doorway to the family room with the light behind her. Sophie’s face was in shadow, but her posture screamed her displeasure even if he’d missed her hissing at him like his pet snake.
“Coming to talk to you. If you’ll recall, you knocked on my door,” Dev reminded her. From the fragile way she called his name, so familiar from when his mom – their mom – first brought her home, Dev assumed Sophie needed his help or guidance. He didn’t expect to be lured into a fight.
“With Lindsay?” Sophie crossed her arms in front of her chest. Dev pushed past her into the family room and looked around. Thankfully, it was empty.
He rubbed his forehead as he considered his options. Dev doubted she was asking about the sex-talk. She was old enough that someone would have covered that with her by now. If Sophie overheard enough of something to ask, she knew very well what he was doing with Lindsay. Or trying to. Which meant that was the problem itself.
Great. Now what to do about it. He wished he could call Lindsay. Or Cassie and Tiff, or Bryan and Brenda, or even Jess or Kenny for advice. Of course he could just go with honesty. Dev sighed.
“You know very well what I was doing, trying to do, and it isn’t your concern. We’re both adults. Besides, you like Lindsay.”
“I have to live here too!”
“Fine. I’m sorry if we disturbed you. We’ll keep it down.”
“You weren’t loud. Yet.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Dev leaned against Kenny’s tiny desk in the corner to wait her out. A shadow moving down the stairs caught his attention. Flynn was coming, just great.
“There isn’t a problem, Dev,” Flynn said, joining the conversation. “Sophie, leave your brother alone.”
“But –” Sophie turned to her father in protest.
“He and Lindsay are adults. They’re in a relationship. It’s not like they’re on the sofa while you’re having a sleepover. They’re being responsible. He lives here too. Let it go.”
Sophie glared at her father, then her brother, then stomped off to her room – a whopping three feet away and across the hall from Dev’s.
&n
bsp; Dev sympathized. He wasn’t any happier for Flynn’s interruption.
“I was handling this,” Dev said.
“I know,” Flynn nodded. “But I heard it upstairs, so Lindsay may have been able to hear it in your room. Besides, you’re only home a couple of days and she’s thirteen. Why make you waste time dealing with either arguing with her, or her being huffy with you? This way you reach the same conclusion faster and she can be huffy with me instead. You’re off the hook.”
“It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
Flynn smiled. “You were eleven when Cassie was thirteen. Your priorities might have changed in the last nine years.” He walked over to the sofa and leaned against the back. “Did you want me to take her side? Tell you no so you’d have a reason to leave?”
Dev didn’t see that coming and didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t like Flynn, but that felt like a low blow even for him.
“I know at some point you’re going to strike out on your own. All of you will. Cassie and Tiff are in grad school now. They come home when they can, but they spend as many breaks in California and New York with each other as coming home to visit family.
“Jess technically still lives here, but he has an apartment of his own too. Right now it’s for dating, but it’s just a matter of time before he starts sleeping there, then living there. Kenny’s bound to get a girlfriend again someday. Every time you guys go to a studio or on tour and he comes home single, I’m astonished all over again.
“You have Lindsay, but you’re devoted to school. Your life seems to be on track from what I’ve heard. If that’s not the case and you want to talk about it, I’m here for you. I want you to know that.
“I still have hope that someday we’ll be able to patch up our relationship. More importantly for now, your little sister and brother need you.”
Dev scoffed. “Sophie can reach me anytime she wants and Gunter doesn’t know me.”
“They may not know how much they need you.” Flynn paused and looked down the hall toward Sophie’s closed door before turning his attention back to Dev again. “You’re rarely home so you don’t see it, but Sophie encourages everyone to talk about Teri. You’re the opposite. You tend to keep your memories close and don’t talk about her much.
“Gunter will never know his mother like you did. Even Sophie got some time with her, some memories of her own. What’s worse, as you were so kind as to point out, I don’t make the best husband. Teri was very understanding and tolerant. She was wonderful and I can honestly say I’ll always see her as the love of my life. I wasn’t planning on getting married again, but I’m grateful I did marry her. I won’t find another woman like her. Quite honestly, I’m tired, Dev. I’m not getting married again.
“Good,” Dev said. He heard the bitterness in his own voice and regretted it.
“Maybe. It means Gunter is going to grow up not only without his mother, but without any mother. All the memories you have of your mother’s love and caring when you were younger, he’s going to miss.”
Dev felt guilt wash over him, but Flynn continued before he could respond.
“It happens, kids grow up in broken homes and in worse situations, but it’s something I want you to consider.”
Dev nodded, feeling wretched. He kept his eyes on the floor. “I guess it’s a good thing he has so many sisters,” he said finally, as much to fill the awkward silence as anything.
“It won’t be the same, but it’ll help. He won’t have the memories but at least he’ll have pictures and stories. He won’t have her influence.
“There’s something else for you to think about. You’ve always been open about your opinion of me.”
Dev felt the weight of Flynn’s gaze on him and his face warmed in response, the heat spread down his neck as Flynn continued.
“But you’ve never been inclined to offer any support or suggestions. You have limited experience with life, love, and women, Dev. It’s fine, but take your profoundly low opinion of me and consider that I’m the one raising your little brother. If you choose to leave and turn your back on him, I’ll be his role model. Kenny and Jess will be gone soon, I’ll be Gunter’s only role model.
“You’re right. Gunter doesn’t know you. You’re hardly around. He’s one and a half. Someday you’ll graduate. Hopefully get married, settle down. He’ll be a little older. I think it might be nice for him to know you a little better by then.”
○ ○ ○
Lindsay was dressed again and sitting at his desk when Dev returned. She was on his computer, playing a game.
“Sorry I took so long. First Sophie, then Flynn.”
“Sounded like Flynn took your side,” Lindsay said, not looking up from her game.
“It was a convenient opening salvo for a heart to heart.”
“You let him monologue you? Novice.” Lindsay turned to him and smiled. “Listen, I have to go. I know you want to spend some time with the guys, but you should really spend your time with Sophie. The guys will be with you in Chicago.”
“Us,” Dev corrected her. Lindsay flashed him a dazzling smile.
“Us. They’re going to love that.” She nodded.
“They’re going to have to cope.” Dev smiled. “Listen, why don’t you go ahead and take the car tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lindsay hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“I don’t plan on going out, and I’m pretty sure you’re running off to a therapy group, aren’t you?”
She blushed.
“Thought so.” Dev leaned in closer and kissed her softly. “I’m really sorry we didn’t get a chance to break in the bunk beds. It’ll give me a chance to think about redecorating.”
“Are you saying your race car bedspread is going to go? Because I’ve always found that to be a keen insight into your character.”
“Yeah. It says I don’t get rid of things I should. Bunk beds too.”
“All right. Don’t get rid of everything quite yet. I want a shot at defiling those cars.” Lindsay stood and picked up her purse.
“It’ll take a couple of days of shopping and to arrange delivery. I think we can squeeze something in,” Dev assured her. He walked her upstairs and saw her to the car. Then turned around, wondering whether to finish packing, spend some time with Sophie, or Kenny and Jess. Dev wasn’t ready to take on his sister again, Sophie would have to wait. He walked around to the back of the house, and noticed Jess’s car was missing. So Kenny or packing?
Kenny and Jess didn’t know Lindsay was in therapy, or for what, so her absence would be noticed. Packing then. He didn’t feel like making excuses for why Lindsay had to leave him alone this particular evening. Besides, Lindsay was right, he’d spend plenty of time with the guys in Chicago.
Dev finished packing, thinking of Lindsay. He could take her to Chicago, but not to Europe. The tour was short: five weeks of show after show with meet-and-greets before most, interviews, TV, and radio spots. Kenny and Alec promised him it would be worth it. And it’d better be with that horrendous schedule.
They’d get back from Europe just in time to kiss Lindsay good-bye before heading back to school. That wasn’t going to make her happy. He was going to have to find some time while he was touring Europe to find her some great souvenirs.
But first, Chicago. The idea of Lindsay going with him, actually with him – as his girlfriend, brought forth mixed feelings in Dev. The worst part was that he didn’t know why. People in Seattle saw them together before. They were a couple, there were even a few pictures of them floating around on the Internet. That was different, he lived in Seattle and so did she. Well, he did officially. A Thousand Words was a Seattle band. This, taking her with him just because he wanted to be with her, it was different. It said something about their relationship that Dev wasn’t entirely sure he wanted the rest of the world knowing.
It was fine. They were adults, they’d been together for years, it was reasonable. Normal. It wasn’t going against anything he stood for. Th
en why did it feel weird?
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Kenny walked in, closing it again after himself.
“Almost done packing? Wow, you’re good. We don’t leave for a couple of days,” Kenny said, looking over Dev’s garment bags.
“I know. I need to go shopping tomorrow.” Dev stopped. No he didn’t, he could order everything online. He just had to warn Flynn.
“You’re staring at your laptop like you’ve never seen a computer before, and I, for one, know that’s not true,” Kenny said.
“Just thinking maybe I should shop online. It’s time for my room to grow up. The bunk beds are going, and the car theme definitely needs to go.”
“Upgrading to outer space? Robots?” Kenny asked with a grin.
Dev smiled. “Haven’t thought about what’s replacing it yet.”
“Well, it’s time, I won’t argue that. Just don’t decorate in reptiles. That bit about you buying that snake breeder and keeping rattlesnakes – I’m still trying to forget you did that. And I’m definitely not going to dwell on what your fans would say.”
“Our fans. I don’t want any of my own. I’ll share.”
“That’s very kind of you. But on this redecorating kick, what prompted it? You’re so fussy about clothes and image, I suppose it’s kind of weird that your room didn’t grow up with your wardrobe.”
Dev shrugged. “Lindsay was here earlier. It just struck me as out of place.”
“I see.” Kenny looked around again.
“I’m taking her to Chicago with me,” Dev said. He zipped the garment bag closed and set his luggage at the end of the bed. For some reason, he didn’t really want to see Kenny’s face when he said that. It made him mad that Kenny and Jess both had to consider their responses carefully when discussing Lindsay. Why couldn’t they just accept her? Jess still accepted Brenda, Bryan’s wife, and she kneed him in the groin. Lindsay hadn’t done anything to either of them, but they treated her like she was leprous.
