Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“And Dave?”
“Dave can hang out with Brock. Or you can hang out with Dave, and I can hang out with Brock. You and I will definitely have some girl time. I swear it, okay?”
She pulls me into a brief hug. “I’d really like that, Bree. This has been an amazing trip so far, and honestly, I’m really glad Jesse broke up that thing with Zane.”
“I am too,” I say, “especially after what happened with Dragon.”
“Do you think Zane would have given us drugs?”
“No. I have no reason to believe he even does drugs. But it just wasn’t a good idea. We both thought it was for our own reasons.”
“Why did you want it?” she asks.
“Because your brother had basically told me whatever had been between us was over. That he had to keep his mind on the tour. He was right, of course. So I just decided, why not have a little fun? Zane is attractive and seemed like a decent guy. If a decent guy takes two consenting women back to his room, that’s his business. It’s what rockers do. Jett probably did it before he met Heather.”
“I suppose you want to know why I wanted it as well.”
“I just assumed it was for the same reason, Mads. You wanted to have a little fun. And Zane Michaels is hot. And he’s famous. A huge rock star.”
She bites her lower lip. “That’s part of it, for sure. But there’s more of a reason.”
“You want to tell me?”
“It made me feel…beautiful.”
I cock my head. “Maddie, you are beautiful. My God. How can you not see that?”
“I see it. But I’ve watched both my sisters snag Steels. And I’ve seen how men hang all over you guys—you, Sage, Angie, and Gina—at school and even at home. At Murphy’s.”
“You’ve always gotten your fair share of attention from men,” I say.
“Have I, though?”
“Yeah, Maddie. You have. Are you truly the only one who doesn’t see it?”
She sighs. “I’ve been thinking about talking to your aunt.”
“Melanie?”
“Yeah. Do you think she would talk to me?”
“I know she would, but I don’t think you need therapy, Maddie. You just need to look at yourself in the mirror and stop comparing yourself to your sisters—and to my cousins and me.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“That’s because it is simple. But if you think talking to someone would help, absolutely, talk to Melanie. She’s amazing. I could arrange for her to see you virtually while we’re here.”
“Ugh. No. I hate that idea. I’d rather see someone in person.”
“Then the only problem is that we’re about to go to Glasgow, and then we’re going to be on the European continent for the next couple of months. And you probably want an English-speaking therapist.”
That gets a laugh out of her. “Yeah, I guess that would be good.”
I grab a pillow and throw it at her. “I promise to talk to Melanie for you when we get home, or you can certainly find someone else.”
“In Snow Creek?”
“You’ll have to go to Grand Junction. Or you can do it online. But Aunt Melanie will be able to refer you to someone perfect for whatever you need.”
“What will I do until then?”
I bop her with the pillow again. “You start believing in yourself, Maddie. You start looking in the mirror and seeing yourself as other people see you. Beautiful and brilliant and a sweet, good friend. A person who has empathy, who feels things. And if my cousins and I have failed to realize that, then that’s on us, not you.”
“I’m probably not being fair. You’ve always tried to include me.”
“Of course we have. But as I’ve said before, we just may not think about it as much as we should because we’re all family, and we’re always together. Our family is very close-knit.”
She rolls her eyes. “You think?” This time she pops me with a pillow.
I grab another and pop her back. She grabs it from me and chases me around the hotel room until I pounce on my bed, grab my original pillow, and bean her over the head.
We both collapse onto our beds, laughing.
And I sleep soundly through the night.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jesse
The train trip to Glasgow is short and uneventful, and once we get to our hotel—this one isn’t as fancy as the ones in London and Edinburgh—we check in quickly, and then the band and I head straight to the venue for rehearsal and soundcheck.
After that, we catch a light dinner together.
I don’t see Brianna at all after checking in to the hotel. I don’t know if she’s going sightseeing today, but I’ll go out with her tomorrow morning before we head back to London for the encore concert.
“Your jaw’s clenched, Jesse,” Rory says.
“How can it be clenched?” I tear a piece of roll with my teeth. “I’m eating.”
“Let it go. I know you’re bothered about Dave being here.”