Page 171 of Movers and Shakers

“You’re going to let it go that easily?”

“Fame sucks, Barry. I get it. And besides, I have another thing to bitch at you about. Why did the offer of tickets for her opening night for all of us come from her and not you?”

“Tickets to opening night?” Tom repeated, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“Would you believe me if I said it was because I felt bad for lying?”

Ruth crossed her arms. “If you said it sincerely, yes.”

“Okay. It did feel bad to lie. I hated it, and I know Rose did too. I’m sure if it wasn’t for the tour and us being separated right now, we would have been able to discuss all of this more, but neither of us is in our best mental state right now. Being across the country from each other isn’t fun.”

“Wow,” Ruth said. “You really like her, don’t you?”

“Iloveher,” I said. “I’ve known it for a long time.”

“Love?”Ruth’s eyes went wide. “All right, then. I mean, I should have seen it coming when you met her. What do I call her?”

“Whoever she is in that moment.”

“Seems simple. Now, we need to figure out how to get to this concert.”

“You’re really gonna accept the double identity that easily?”

“Ihaven’t accepted it yet,” Tom grumbled.

“It is . . . different, but ever since that time that I was caught with Knox, I’ve learned that people can be invasive. Especially when she has a tour about to start that I amdefinitelygoing to.”

“She’d also understand if you’re busy.”

“Are you kidding?” Ruth scoffed. “I’ll cancel a meeting with the president if it means I can go. This album is her best and the whole tour sold out in seconds.”

“And Max would love the opportunity,” Tom added. “I can use his noise-canceling headphones to be sure he doesn’t get overwhelmed, and I’m sure Selena would enjoy getting out of the house. If she doesn’t want to go, she has a friend she’s been visiting in Atlanta. We can make it work.”

“It’s across the country, though,” I reminded them. “It’s a lot for anyone to try to make work, especially since you’re both executives of your companies and one of you has a family.”

“Barry,” Ruth said, leaning forward. “We’ll make it work. I’m sure Lila is proud of her album. Plus,youworked on it. Why would we miss seeing it live?”

“You don’t need to make it some huge deal.”

“Why not?” Tom asked. “You’re our brother.”

An uncomfortable feeling crawled up my neck at his words. “Halfbrother. I have a different dad, remember?”

“Why would that change anything?” Ruth asked, frowning.

“It means I’m the odd one out. You guys don’t have to care as much as you do.”

“We do care,” Tom said. “Even if you think we don’t.”

“But you don’thaveto,” I huffed out. “I’m different than you guys. I always have been. It’s okay if me having someone else as my dad means you feel differently.”

Itwasn’tokay, but I would deal. I couldn’t imagine the jealousy I would have felt if they had an out and I was stuck with Todd for a father.

And if they were jealous, it would fester and break us. And when it did, I would be alone. They didn’tneedme. They had incredible lives I’d never been a part of because I was too busy making my own.

But now, as the words hung in the air and my heart pounded in my chest, I realized that maybe this time, I neededthem.

“Barry,” Ruth began. “We’renevergoing to figure out that we don’t need you. Even if you weren’t related to us at all, we willalwayscare.”

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