Page 71 of Captivating

“Sure, princess.” Then he runs his nose over my ear. “You look beautiful tonight. Any chance the panties match the dress?”

I giggle and press up onto my toes and whisper, “Who says I’m wearing panties?”

He groans, and I think Noah gags.Shithead. It’s not like he heard what I just said. “Is this how it’s going to be now? You two making out whenever you’re together?”

“That’s assuming you’re around to see it,” I snap, and Killian walks away, knowing I need to handle this myself.

Noah nods Killian’s way. “Does that mean you two finally worked your shit out?”

“Yes,” I answer softly because it’s nobody’s business but ours. Actually... “You knew what really happened for years, and you never told me?”

There’s no missing the hurt in my voice or the hurt on Noah’s face at my words.

“It wasn’t my story to tell, Tink. It was his. And he asked us not to say anything. You never asked me what happened, so I never lied to you, and Killer was dealing with his own shit. If that was how he needed to deal with it, we all had to respect that.” It’s pretty amazing how much you can love someone and hate what they did at the same time.

“I never knew you were so good at keeping secrets, big brother.” The words come out more cruel than I intended, and guilt trickles in immediately.

Noah takes a step toward the door, and I reach out to stop him. “Don’t— Don’t go. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Believe it or not, I do know that you were trying to protect me. Misguided as you were. You can’t protect someone with a lie, Noah. Especially when that lie actually put me more at risk.”

He closes his eyes, and I see the tension he’s keeping in his shoulders and the exhaustion lining his eyes that wasn’t there before. “I swear to you, Tink, I thought I was protecting you. I trusted Scottie to know what was best, and I was wrong. I am sorry, and on my fucking life, I’ll never do it again.”

Scottie... Maybe itistime for a team shake-up.

My assistant was selling secrets to the paparazzi.

My publicist is constantly pissed about my choices.

My manager thinks it’s safe to lie to me.

Which leads me to wonder what the hell else she’s been lying about.

And there’s still the issue of the stalker no one has heard from since the tour went on hiatus.

“Do you promise to never do it again?” I ask as I move next to him and brush my hip against his, then lean my head against his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he answers immediately and leans his head on top of mine. “Any chance you haven’t replaced me yet? I hate the idea of you being out there for two months without me... Who’s gonna make sure you survive on more than strawberries and ice cream?”

“There’s a pretty good chance. I never told the label I fired you,” I admit as Noah slides an arm around my shoulders.

“I’m sorry I fucked up.”

I look up at my twin brother and know deep in my soul I don’t want to tour without him.

“I think this is going to be our last tour for a few years. You okay with that?” I murmur, admitting it out loud for the first time.

“Yeah, Tink. That sounds good to me.”

A minute later, Killian walks back in like the cat who ate the damn canary. “Okay, now that we’re all good, can we please leave before my mother gives us shit for being late? You both know how she gets.”

“Damn. I’m outta here. See you guys there.” Noah kisses my cheek and waves at Killian.

“Chicken,” I call out as the door clicks shut behind him. “You ready for this?” I ask Killian as I step into his arms.

“Ready for what? My family already knows about us. Rome has a big mouth. No way he kept it shut. And your family definitely knows because Dillan’s crazy-ass mouth is even bigger than Rome’s, and she might as well move in with us as much as she’s here.”

I giggle because nothing he said is wrong. “I mean, you’re not wrong. But that’s not what I was talking about. You think your life is high-profile. You’re a world champion with a pedigree to back it up and a family legacy on both sides most people would die for a piece of. But trust me when I say none of that has prepared you for what stepping out with me will do to your life.”

“Lilah Belle...” He circles my waist and drags me to him. “I’ve gone through the motions without you for years. There’s not a damn thing you could do or say that’s going to scare me away. Bring on the crazy.”

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