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.I flip the phone right side up and mutter a soft curse when I see that it s my brother calling.Slidingmy finger across the screen to accept the call, I tuck the phone between my ear and shoulder. Aboutdamn time. I ve been fucking busy, Ky, sorry I haven t called you back. His voice is so strained that Iimmediately feel for him. Besides, you said you wanted to be left alone while you were gone. Before I left Nashville to go to New Orleans, I told him that I would quit if he so much asbothered me while I was away.I had made a few more threats, but of course he merely brushed themoff. Since when do you give a crap whether or not I want to be left alone? Since I decided I want to be left alone. Well played, big brother. Right, Sienna. I lean close to the mirror to determine whether or not I want to spring for make-up tonight.One look at the dark smudges under my eyes is all the convincing I need. How s thatgoing? She s good. Leave it to Lucas to tiptoe around my question.He knows that I have a soft spot forher.There are few people I want to see at the receiving end of his bullshit, but Sienna s one of thepeople that I would actually step in front of to protect from my brother.I told Lucas as much when hefirst realized that he had a potential second chance with her. She s got everything taken care ofhere. I bet she does. Don t fuck things up with her, I warn him again, and he sucks in a breath. Jesus, Kylie, stop that shit. I roll my eyes. Yeah, I know.Stay out of your personal life I get it. There s a shuffling noiseacross the room, and I look up to see Heidi padding out of the bathroom in a giant robe.As she wrapsa towel around her wet hair, her eyes find mine in the dresser mirror.She shifts one of her eyebrowscuriously.I turn my head around and say, It s my brother. Finally. She grabs her underwear and a bundle of clothes from her bed before returning to therestroom.Focusing my attention back on Lucas, I ask, How was the thing with Mom and Dad today? While I wait for him to respond, I put my phone on speaker and leave it on the dresser so I can finishgetting ready.It s 8:35 now, and Wyatt and Cal s set with the band is supposed to start in twenty-five minutes.If I m going to make it on time, I ll have to rush. It was alright, I guess.I mean, it s a fucking documentary about music, so I don t really knowwhy they wanted to talk to Mom and Dad, but I guess they were happy to see me. Of course our parents were happy to see him.Neither of us returns home to Atlanta enough, so mymother and father roll out the red carpet each time we decide to make an appearance. Remind me why you wanted to let a film crew follow me around again, Lucas complains, and Ican easily imagine the look on his face right now clenched jaw and lips pressed thin. Because it ll be good for your career. This isn t the first time I ve told him that Rock On theRoad, the documentary he was approached to take part in months ago, would do nothing but help him,especially since Your Toxic Sequel is going on tour at the end of this coming summer. My career is fine. I hear the squeak of his guitar followed by his sharp exhale.I tighten my gripon the pair of red skinny jeans that I pluck from my bag, bracing myself for whatever it is he s aboutto say. Mom wants to know what s going on with you. What? I m fine. I sit on the edge of my bed and slide my pants up my legs.They re so tight that Ihave no other choice but to lie back to button them. I m really, really good, in fact. Lucas is always the first to pick up on my bullshit.It s an unnerving ability that he shares withWyatt they re both able to peel away my layers, go past the convincing smile and figure me out. What the fuck ever.She says you ve been rescheduling trips back home since before Christmas. Pushing myself up into a sitting position, I freeze, staring at the phone in horror at the thought ofLucas who s got a shitload of his own problems and our mom having a lengthy conversation aboutme. Did you tell her what I said? About coming to Atlanta for Easter? He makes a disapprovingnoise and tells me that he has. Well, then drop it.I keep my promises. Maybe Lucas can hear the irritation in my voice, or he s just ready to get our conversation movingso he can end the call, but he changes the subject, transitioning easily to my vacation to New Orleans. How was your flight back to Los Angeles? God, do you check your text messages? Doing a set of lunges toward my suitcase in hopes thatmy tight pants will loosen up, I say, My flight was non-existent. I bend over my bag and rummagearound until I find my music-note print makeup case.Lucas groans. Don t make me play guessing games, Ky.What s going on? I toss the makeup onto the dresser and begin to pin my chin-length hair back from my face. Someasshole robbed our room last night and stole my ID and credit cards. Fuck, he growls.Lucas surprises me then.Instead of immediately jumping down my throat in anattempt to make sure that anything affiliated with him is safe, he goes into protective older brothermode. You re not hurt are you? He didn t touch you? My gaze lowers to the phone on the dresser, and I stare at it, rubbing my lips together
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