Page 18 of Just Between Us

I drop into the chair beside him and scoot until I’m close enough to lay my head on his shoulder.

“Austin, you had to know something like this would happen sooner or later. You’retheAustin James. Country superstar. Even a town this quiet couldn’t keep that secret forever.”

Austin lets out a harsh breath. “I know. I guess I hoped I’d get to do it on my own terms, ya know? Let the world hear about Penny and me from us, when we’re damn well ready. And the thing is, I’m used to this shit, but not Penny. She deserves better than strangers who will never know how wonderful she is, picking her apart. And all I keep thinking is I should have done more to protect her from this.”

“Hey.” I lift my head, wrapping my hand around his arm. “This isn’t on you. You and Penny are both intelligent adults who knew what you were signing up for. The only person at fault is whoever crossed the line with their camera.”

Before the words have fully left my mouth, Austin is already shaking his head. “It feels like it’s on me, Cass. Everything I touch becomes a mess eventually. Every success comes with fallout.” He pauses and swallows hard, finally meeting my eyes. “All I keep thinking is, what if one day she wakes up and decides it’s all too much? Being with me is too heavy a burden.”

His words are a lash to my heart. “Austin…” But I trail off as one tear leaks from the corner of my brother’s eye and he looks down at his clenched hands.

“Fame is hard. I know how ugly it can get. I’ve been living it, but she hasn’t. I can’t be the mistake she regrets.”

I reach out and cover one of his hands with mine. “Austin, I need you to look at me.”

It takes a couple seconds, but finally he does.

“You’re a good man. A good brother to me, and a great partner to Penny. She’s with you because she knows your heart. You are worth it and Penny sees it. You’ve overcome so much and worked your ass off for every good thing in your life.”

Austin’s eyes glisten and for a second he looks so young. He’s my teenage brother who stayed up half the night with me when a bad storm rolled in or stuck up for me when guys broke my heart.

“I dunno, Cass.” He lets out the most exhausted sigh I think I’ve ever heard. “Listen, I hate to sound like an asshole, but I think I need to be alone and think through this mess.”

We’re interrupted by Austin’s phone vibrating against the wood of the table and the name Tyler flashing on the screen.

“Maybe he’s figured something out. He’s been on the phone with Kate,” Austin says as he’s tapping the answer button.

Of course he will, I think. He’s Tyler. If anyone can fix this, it’s him. And with Austin’s publicist, Kate’s help, I bet it’ll be resolved in no time. I swear she moonlights as a private investigator or something. She’s managed to clear up dozens of PR messes for Austin.

I stand, give his shoulder a squeeze and ruffle my hands through his already messy hair.

Love you, Austin mouths, and I mouth it right back, heading out the door. Before I step outside, I glance over my shoulder one more time. I can see Austin unraveling, stitch by stitch, from this mess he didn’t create.

Leaving him alone feels wrong. I’ve spent years worrying about him, watching him rise and fall under the spotlight,talking him up when the world wore him down. Walking away in a moment like this goes against every instinct I have.

On the short walk from the house to the apartment, the worry follows. Should I turn around and go back? Austin had the steady presence of Tyler on the phone. There’s no one steadier in his life. But still the guilt of leaving him weighs heavy.

Back in the apartment, I see my phone lying where I left it and turn it over to see a missed call and two more texts from Liam. At the sight of his name, my belly dips in anticipation. But immediate guilt circles back around.

I should not be thinking about Liam at a time like this. My brother is falling apart and I have butterflies at the sight of a text. I’m being selfish.

My Favorite Person

You okay?

My Favorite Person

This is a load of shit. I hate it’s happening to your brother.

I’m okay. Just a lot to take in.

His reply comes almost instantly, like he’s been waiting, thumb hovering over his phone screen.

My Favorite Person

Told Sheila I’d give her a hand at the bar tonight. She threw her back out.

A beat passes then another text comes through.