Ultimate Game Changer

  With it being our last day off together, we decide to play tourists for the time being and drop by both The Museum of Pop Culture and the Aquarium. Cade and I have not forgotten about the prank to end all pranks, but we’ve put it on hold because today is a day to celebrate. It’s not just A Deafening Silence today; it’s all the bands and everyone who has helped on the tour. We’re a huge, rowdy group, but I’m excited to spend time with everyone one last time.

  While I know she isn’t happy with me, Emerson continues to attempt to get my attention throughout the day. It’s difficult because I want to talk to her, but I don’t want to have to be looking over my shoulder every few seconds for Cade or anyone else who will go running to him. It’s not like talking is a crime or that Emerson and I are not allowed to converse, I am just trying to keep eyes and ears off us.

  Emerson finally catches me alone in the Star Wars room. I’ve been to this museum once before, so I don’t spend as much time admiring each and every piece or room that I’ve created a little bit of a head start between the rest of the gang and myself. Our group is so huge, it’s not more than a few minutes before someone from one of the bands strolls in after me.

  “Yo!” she calls after me.

  I spin around. “Hi,” I greet her simply.

  “Hi?” she replies, seemingly offended. “That’s all you have to say to me?” A few people walk into the room that are not with us, so I motion for her to lower her voice so we don’t bring unnecessary attention to ourselves.

  “Look, Cade dropped by my room last night, and it just didn’t feel right. I’m not backing out, I promise. It just needs to be the right time.”

  We mosey our way into the next room of the museum which houses a huge mural of instruments, mainly electric guitars and basses, molded to the base and climbing all the way to the ceiling. It’s my favorite structure in the entire place. “Listen,” I lower my voice so the conversation is private between us. “I want nothing more than to back you up against that wall right there and rip all of your clothes off.”

  Emerson pulls her face away, looking me dead in the eyes. “So do it.”

  I swear my dick jumps like a fish out of water when she says it, she’s turning me on. “Stop it,” I say, feeling the heat rushing to the tip.

  “I’m serious,” she pushes, invading my personal space. “It’s not like he won’t find out after we all return home.”

  “Yeah,” I gasp, “but at least I’ll have time to prepare.”

  I see someone enter the large room out of the corner of my eye, and I back away from Emerson until we don’t look suspicious anymore.

  “I’m going to be a virgin forever,” Emerson mutters under her breath defeated.

  “Over my dead body,” I shoot back.

  She glances at me surprised.

  “Just be patient, I promise you it will be worth the wait.”

  Chapter Twenty-One:

  Emerson

  Today has been such a good day. We got to go to the Museum of Pop Culture, the Aquarium, and I was even able to get a little clarification from Braxton on his feelings.

  We’ve made our way back to the general vicinity of our motel and are now out at a bar, enjoying some beer. It’s a karaoke bar, and we are having too much fun requesting the odd-ball songs and getting up there to perform them. Personally, I hate karaoke, but I’m enjoying the time I am spending with the guys. Everyone is in a good mood, no one is being a jackass, and we are just having fun.

  The guys make fast friends with this hammered couple, and before we know it, the lot of us are two sheets to the wind. Braxton is especially inebriated, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet. It could be all the Fireball shots they kept buying him. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him like this.

  “Hey, are you okay?” I ask him, placing my hand gently on his chest.

  Braxton smiles lazily, looking between my hand and face. “Is the room spinning, or is that just me?”

  “Oh, geez!” I gasp as I feel his body go limp. I barely catch his tall frame as we both go barreling to the ground.

  Braxton is laughing hysterically as I am groaning from the bruises I feel forming all over my body. “Glad someone is having fun,” I mutter under my breath as I feel hands under my armpit pull me up from the dirty ground.

  I spin around and see that it’s Geo. “Thanks,” I say with a sigh.

  He cracks a hesitant grin. “No worries. You want help getting him back to the motel?”

  Relieved, I nod. I don’t even want to imagine having to cart around his two hundred pound frame.

  When we make it back to the motel room, it’s late and Braxton is completely passed out. Geo threw him over his shoulder to carry him up the motel stairs, and I can only imagine the pain his shoulders are in.

  “Well, I guess it’s a good thing you guys are roommates for the night,” I say lightheartedly. I’ve basically given up hope that Braxton and I will ever have alone time together in which it will escalate past kissing and minor groping. I’m just relieved someone will be here to take care of my handsome mess.

  Geo throws Braxton onto one of the beds and shrugs. “Yeah, whatever.” He proceeds to rip Braxton’s shoes off and toss them to the floor. “You don’t have to stay,” he says with a small glance my way.

  “I know,” I respond. The right thing to do would be to go back to my own room so as to not draw any more attention to whatever we’ve been doing. I am genuinely concerned about him, though; Braxton drinks like a fish. I’ve never seen him this wasted before.

  Geo turns his attention back to the task at hand of getting Braxton undressed and put to bed, and my feet feel frozen in place. “Do you mind if I stay for a little while longer? I’m not tired yet, and it’s going to be boring back in my room.”

  Geo stares at me once more, his expression softening. “Sure. Let me get him taken care of, and then we can finish off the rum he has stashed in his suitcase.”

  My eyebrows rise animatedly. “Even better.”

  I end up staying another hour with Geo just drinking our stolen liquor and talking about everything under the sun. I forgot how much I enjoy hanging out with Geo. He is such an incredibly smart person; it’s fascinating to see the world through his eyes and experiences.

  “So are you going to tell Cade?” he asks just as I am getting up to leave.

  My heart is in my throat. “Tell Cade what?”

  Geo cocks his head to the side giving me a look like he can smell bullshit. “Really?”

  The temperature in the room is growing hotter by the second. “What do you know?” My voice sounds small and unsteady.

  Geo’s brown eyes bore into mine. “I know that there wasn’t one day our last tour that Braxton didn’t get laid. I know that in the last few weeks Braxton has been acting strangely. He isn’t the usual pussy magnet that all of us worship.”

  I roll my eyes. “And that has to do with me, how?”

  “I see the way he looks at you, Em,” Geo says. “Like you are his end-game. I know the look well.”

  My heart is pounding in my throat. “Are you going to tell Cade?”

  Geo’s face crinkles in a frown. “What? Why would I do that?”

  “I don’t know, because that’s what all of Cade’s loyal soldiers do? Report back?” I’m being snappy, but it feels justified.

  Geo shakes his head. “I’m my own person. I make my own decisions. Cade’s my buddy, but I’m not a snitch.”

  I am surprised but appreciative of his words. “What do you think about all of this?”

  “You and Braxton?” Geo clarifies, taking a seat on the other bed.

  I nod, suddenly overly self-conscious.

  Geo shrugs. “To each his own. If you guys make each other happy, then go for it. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

  Such simple words, but they pack a powerful punch. “Thanks, Geo.”

  I thank him again for keeping quiet, even though I still don’t know what to classify Braxton and me as. We only ha
ve one more day to get through and then we can explore the possibility of us. I’m trembling with excitement and nerves.

  Chapter Twenty-Two:

  Braxton

  I have no idea how I made it to my bed last night as I have a very hazy recollection of anything past the first couple of drinks. When I open my eyes, I feel refreshed. My body feels rested and my mind is sharp. I sit up in bed, stretching my arms behind my head. Today is going to be a good day.

  Reaching for my phone, I swipe the lock screen away and my heart falls into my stomach. There are seven missed calls, four from my bandmates, two from Emerson, and one from Teller. The beating accelerates in my heart as my eyes shift to the small clock at the bottom of the screen. 4:30.

  “Shit!” I shout, jumping up with my phone in hand. It can’t be, that can’t be the right time. Immediately I press call on the first number from my log.

  It’s Spencer’s phone, but he doesn’t pick up. I hang up angrily and dial Emerson. “Good morning, sleepy head,” she greets me in a sing-song voice.

  I grip the phone tighter in my hand. “Where is everyone? Why didn’t you guys wake me up?”

  She giggles. “We tried, you moron. All of us, but you were out cold. It might have helped if you didn’t get completely obliterated last night.”

  “What?” I rub my hand across my face. “I can’t remember anything past the first few drinks. What happened?” I drink regularly but can hold my liquor. It’s rare for me to get completely shit-faced.

  “You don’t remember? You met that newlywed couple and didn’t leave their side all night. I’m sure you racked up a pretty nice bill with all your Fireball shots.”

  My memory of the night is still hazy, but I do love Fireball.

  She sighs on the other end. “Where are you? You better get your ass here. You already missed sound check, and the guys are not happy about it.”

  “Who is that? Are you talking to Brax?” I hear Cade’s voice in the background, and then a scuffle follows.

  “Brax?” It’s Cade who is speaking to me now.

  “Hey, man.”

  “What the hell happened to you? Are you okay?” Even though I know he could ring my neck right now, he still cares.

  “Yeah, I just… I guess I must have gone hard last night,” I reply, my mind running back through what I can remember of the night’s events.

  Cade chuckles. “That’s one way to put it…”

  I swallow. “Yeah, we can talk about it later. I’m going to get my stuff and head over. See you soon.”

  “I’ll have Emerson text you the address for the Uber driver,” Cade says.

  “Thanks, man.” I hang up without saying goodbye and then shake my head. I was asleep for over thirteen hours. I’ve slept enough of the day away; I just want to meet up with the group and find out more about what took place last night.

  Hurrying up, I race around the room to gather my belongings and get over to the guys.

  ***

  “Where are we going?” Emerson whispers as I pull her further away from the rest of the band.

  “We are taking a time out,” I reply.

  Her mouth is pulled up into a smile, and I can tell she is enjoying that I am taking charge. A few minutes ago, I texted her to meet me at the front. It’s not my night to run the merch table, and Cade was busy flirting, so we were stealth.

  After finding the staircase my buddy told me about, I lead Emerson up it and out onto the roof. It’s nice out tonight and fairly warm for Washington. She stares back at me. “What are we doing up here?”

  Pulling her into me, I tuck her hair behind her ear and then bring my lips close. “I thought we could use some privacy.”

  Her lips curl up into a smile before she leans in, pressing her lips to mine. Her kiss is soft and deep, and I want more when she pulls away. She looks like she has a lot on her mind.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, rubbing her chin with my finger.

  She pulls away from me and sighs. “What do you think is going to happen when we go home? I don’t want to keep sneaking around.”

  I shake my head. “I know.”

  “Well… what are we?” she asks, appearing much too vulnerable.

  “Em,” I say softly. I thought by bringing her up here we could spend a little more alone time together. I’m not in the mood to define the relationship right now. That’s a lot of pressure to put on me.

  “Are we dating, Braxton? Are you my boyfriend? Or are you just my brother’s friend who is too scared to make a move?” She can be feisty when she wants to be.

  I stalk toward her until her back is pressed up against the door. “Stop making this complicated.” Taking her lips in mine, I kiss her passionately, hoping to change her focus. Pulling her into me, I run one of my hands through her long, straight hair and then slowly begin to kiss her jaw line to her ear. My plan of shutting her up is definitely working.

  “Brax,” she moans as I continue roaming her neck with my lips.

  “Mmm?”

  One of my hands begins raking up her leg to her side, and then I lift her up into the air as she wraps her legs around my waist. I keep her pressed up against the door, and my kisses are growing more aggressive as she grinds against me.

  “Do you think anyone has noticed we are missing?” she asks, breaking the kiss.

  I groan, nuzzling my head into her neck. “You ruined it, that’s it.” Her legs release from around my waist as she hops onto her own feet.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologizes, running her hand through her hair flustered. “I guess I’m just anxious about Cade is all.”

  I take a deep breath and then kiss her gently on the top of her head. “It’s all going to turn out okay.”

  She glances up at me. “I hope you’re right.” I’m not sure of anything, but I want to appear somewhat in control. There is a lot of pressure on me, not only from her but also in the thought that Cade will find out sooner or later. I just want to take things as they come, one day at a time.

  Chapter Twenty-Three:

  Emerson

  It’s the last day of the tour, and it’s bittersweet yet exciting. This whole experience turned out a lot different than I ever imagined. I was such a Debbie-Downer to begin with because I felt as though my hand was forced in the issue of going. I wanted time to myself —and honestly, away from Cade— so I could maybe go on a couple of dates in peace without him butting in. I’ve kissed a frog or two in the last couple of months, but the biggest surprise was what has transpired between Braxton and me just over the last few weeks. I’m still anxious about going home and whatever we have crumbling under the real-life stressors, but I’m intrigued to see if I will be wrong about this.

  Mischa decided to fly out for this show as she didn’t get a chance to catch the one nearest to our house. My stomach is in knots when I think about telling her what happened between Braxton and me. I’ve been confiding in Breigh every night, but it’s not the same. Mischa knows Braxton; he’s been at our house every day since the fourth grade. He practically lives with us. It doesn’t help that he lives in the house directly next door to us, so even if I wanted to escape, I don’t have far to go. Luckily we haven’t had too many rifts in our friendship over the years, and neither have Cade and Braxton.

  I’m super stoked to pick Mischa up from the airport, so I’m quickly getting ready by showering and picking out my clothes. After a quick shower, I hop out, dry off, and take a blow dryer to my hair. Most days I don’t worry about my appearance, allowing my hair to air dry. Cade and I have always been privileged that our hair doesn’t frizz uncontrollably like others. However, today I’m in a little bit of a rush as I turn the hot air on my damp hair. I’m humming one of A Night to Remember’s new songs they debuted a week ago when I see something black out of the corner of my eye. My gaze shifts to the ground, and I think my eyes are deceiving me at first.

  “Ahhh!” I scream, stumbling over my feet and scrambling to jump into the bathtub. There on the ground, inching
underneath the crack in the door and carpet is the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it has dripping fangs and is looking straight at me. My heart is beating out of my chest from the fear, and every few minutes I let out another high-pitched squeal. The hairy tarantula is making its way quickly across the floor, and the movement alone sends chills down my spine.

  I’m still gripping the blow dryer with a death-grip, so I instead turn it on the hairy, black arachnid. Instead of a small spider or bug, the massive one does not blow away. In fact, it walks toward the heat, freaking me out even more; I turn off the dryer and toss it onto the rug in front of the spider hoping to startle it. It jumps about a foot in the air, making me almost pee right then and there.