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. Just answer the damn question. I m fine.I was doing laundry when he broke in. And banging your best friend in said laundryroom.My brother releases a moan of relief. So what the fuck are you doing to get home? Do I need tosend someone out there to get you? Do you need money to. I m fine. But I still grin like an idiot as I dab concealer beneath my eyes.Lucas has his momentswhere I want to strangle him, but times like this remind me that there s actually a heart beneath hismany layers of vice and all of his growly, impossible orders. I ve already scored a ride.He doesn t respond, and there s nothing but silence between us.Since I hate silence, and becauseI m sure he s imagining me hitchhiking from New Orleans to Los Angeles with bearded men who callme  Little Girl , I immediately tell him that I m with Cal and Wyatt.Apparently, that s no better than random men. You called them to get you? No, I say calmly. They were already planning to drive from New Orleans to L.A. What the fuck for?My teeth sink into my bottom lip, and my brow pulls together.Lucas doesn t know about Wyatt sdeal to perform with Cal s cousin.Suddenly, this entire arrangement just screams shadiness.Eventhough I ve not been told by either Wyatt or Cal to keep my mouth shut about the shows, I skirt aroundthe subject with my brother. They re not entitled to a vacation? To each his own. There s a sound on Lucas s end of the line like he s rubbing his hand over hisface. One, I m going to find that little shit who hurt you and break his fucking legs.And two, I mgoing to call Wyatt.I grip the handle of my mascara, and when I stare at myself in the dresser mirror, I realize that I mholding it like a weapon. I can take care of myself. Oh, I know you can.Still won t stop me from calling him, Lucas says in a rough voice.I hearSienna murmur something to him in the background, and he releases a low noise of frustration. Yoube good, Ky.I m going to get off here.I try not to think about the multiple meaning behind those particular words. Hey, I say quicklybefore he has a chance to hang up.Lucas pauses. Sinjin? How s everything going with him?He s quiet for a long stretch, contemplating exactly what to say next.I drop the tube of mascara ontop of my makeup bag.My hands are already shaky enough as it is.If my brother says somethingthat ll piss me off, the last thing I want is to poke myself in the eye. I think he s going to be alrightthis time. You said that the last time. And we argued about that.In fact, Lucas had been so moody aboutme confronting him for not seeming to care enough that he handled all of his business transactionshimself for a week before finally caving and apologizing to me. Yeah, well, I think this is it.He scared himself. Lucas leaves it at that, but I understand whathe s saying.Even before Wyatt came after me about the cutting eight years ago, I was determined to stop.Iwas afraid of where my mission to cope with all of my shortcomings through little slices of painwould take me.I knew that I was messed up, and more than anything, I wanted to fix myself.But even determination has boundaries, and I m still thankful that Wyatt McCrae had caught mebefore I broke through those.Heidi pokes her head out of the bathroom door. Hey, ask him if he knows Sin s address. Onceagain, she disappears, and the soft roar of the hotel s blow dryer kicks in.Lucas doesn t have the exact address, but he tells me the name of the rehab, which I jot downusing a blue eyeliner pencil, before saying that he needs to go help Sienna arrange an appointment fortomorrow morning.Considering it s close to 10:00 in Atlanta, it s without a doubt the lamest excusethat I ve ever heard. Have fun with that, I say dryly.I start to ask him how things are going with her once again justto see if he ll answer me straight, but then I decide against it.He s anxious to get back to her, and thattells me he s getting his way.I just pray he treats her right.Lucas ends the call on a positive note an  I love you that makes my head reel.I sink down onthe edge of my bed, tapping my fingers together anxiously until Heidi comes out of the bathroom andcalls me out. Kylie? I lift my gaze to her.She s managed to coax her curly hair straight, and she s dressedsimply, in a red silk bustier that my boobs could never pull off and dark jeans.She s also frowning atme. Why are you staring at a blank TV screen? My brother just said he loves me.She shrugs, undaunted.Heidi has four brothers, and I love you is a phrase that s common in herhouse.Don t get me wrong, my mom and dad are quick to tell me, but Lucas? Not so much. That s agood thing, right?Pressing my palms into the mattress, I push myself to my feet and return to my makeup. I thinkhe s falling for Sienna.Heidi slides into the chair on the far side of the dresser and begins rubbing Victoria s Secretlotion on her bare arms. The chick filling in for you? He s known her for, what? Maybe a total ofthree weeks if you count whatever happened between them a few years ago.I brush bronzer across my cheeks and shake my head. Doesn t matter.Lucas doesn t act like this.Ever [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]