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Cassie stammers. "I-I care about things besides my current song—"
"Oh my god, you are." Damon bursts with a belly laugh. "For who?"
"I signed an NDA," she says.
He shoots her a wicked smile. "So I have to torture it out of you."
Too much information. My nose scrunches in distaste. New subject. "Don't you two have a deadline this weekend?"
"Monday, yeah." My brother notices my discomfort and shrugsthat's love. "We'll have to hole up after the party."
"But we'll still hang out. I promise." Cassie mouths her ownI'm sorryand mimes zipping her lips. It's our gesture. An old one, from after we traded secrets. It feels like old times. It feels like home.
These people are my home. My best friend and my brother. It's weird now that they're together, but that doesn't change the facts. I love them more than I love anyone else on the planet.
Even if they say too much about their sex lives.
Even if they can't shut up about music.
Even if they hate me for moving across the country.
"Come on, Cass. There's only enough coffee for two." I take my best friend's hand and lead her to the kitchen.
Damon takes the hint. He stays in the foyer, waiting for Jackson.
Cass settles at the counter and steals a sip from my lukewarm mug. "Is everything okay?" There's honest concern in her green eyes.
She looks like the Cass I know well. Like the best friend who's been by my side my entire life. Same green eyes, same light brown hair, same sharp nose. Really, she looks a lot like Jackson. The feminine version of him.
Only with a blunt bob, winged eyeliner, an ever-present band shirt, denim shorts, and high-tops. The feminine, rock star poet version of Jackson.
Maybe that explains my attraction. An attempt to stay close to my best friend. It's not because Jackson is handsome and bossy and sexy as fuck. It's some other twisted thing.
"Daph?" Concern drops into Cassie's voice.
"You and Damon are happy," I say.
"Yes." She looks at me funny, like she doesn't know how to respond to the comment.
It's a weird comment. It's a weird thing to consider. My brother is happy. He doesn't need constant monitoring. I have to let go of my concern.
I am moving across the country, after all.
I can't watch him from New York.
"I'm happy about that," I say. "That's it." I have other feelings too.
But she doesn't call me on that. Or she doesn't know. I'm not sure really. "Me too." She brushes a stray hair behind her ear. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"No. I'm lacking in macadamia milk iced lattes," I say.
She smiles.
"And I wanted to remind you about our marathon." We watch sci-fi shows every Sunday night. "Just 'cause we're in Vegas—"
"Way ahead of you. I cleared the time with Damon."
"So you two will be working nonstop between the party and the marathon?"
