Page 36 of Stick Work

Jesus, she’s got me in more ways than one and I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do about that.

11

Taylor

It’s been one week since we left California, and while Elias and I were supposed to end things—hey, we no longer need to pretend—we haven’t quite been able to cut things off. Meaning, I’ve been sneaking into his room at night and vice versa. We are, of course, careful around my brother, but I think I’m sort of addicted to sex. Or maybe I’m just addicted to Elias, and that of course isn’t great.

Speaking of my brother.

Here I am on stage at the local community theater, where we just finished performing Love Unbound, and he’s in the audience ready to win Sahara back after their Thanksgiving fiasco.

“Stand right here,” I order Sahara, after the show, and with the curtain drawn. I’m pretending I need to run lines, but she’s in for a big surprise. As she helps me, the curtain opens and she gasps when she sees her family and friends in the audience. I move off stage as my brother takes my place and spills his heart out to Sahara.

A movement behind me catches my attention and I turn to find Elias. God, what is it about his presence that just fills me up with warmth and happiness? “Hey,” he whispers into my ear. I turn to him, and put my hand on his chest, just needing the intimate contact. “You did good, T.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your help,” I tell him. He was the one who helped get hotels for Sahara’s family, my dad and Miles, and he also did a lot of the driving.

He lightly nudges my chin. “What a team.”

I grin. “We do make a good team.”

I glance over my shoulder and with my brother busy pouring his heart out to Sahara, I go up on my toes and sneak a kiss. He growls and puts his arms around me.

“I’m going to miss you when you go away next week,” I tell him.

“Yeah. Same. We can video chat.”

“I think you want to video chat so I can flash you.”

“Ah yeah, did you just meet me?” I laugh at that, and he goes serious. “I know my place isn’t finished yet, but I do have a bed. Why don’t you stay there, make yourself at home. I’m sure Kalen and Sahara will want some alone time.”

“I’d love to, actually.”

“Great. I don’t have a lot of things yet…maybe you could give me some ideas on how I should decorate it.”

“I’d love to,” I tell him, my mind already racing. “Unlimited budget?” I joke.

He pinches my side playfully. “I’ll leave you my credit card, but do use it wisely.”

I press my hand to my chest, mock exasperation. “You’re going to trust me with your credit card?”

He lightly brushes his knuckles against my cheek, a quiet seriousness about him that could pierce my heart if I let it, but I can’t let it. “Yeah, babe, I trust you.”

“There was this new dress I’ve been eyeing, for the Vegas wedding.”

“You get the dress, and whatever else you want.”

“I’m not taking your money, Elias.”

“Get the dress, T. You’re doing me a huge favor, and I don’t expect you to be out of pocket for our ruse.”

“Oh, but I have been putting out for our ruse, and I’ve yet to see my pony.”

That makes him laugh. “You still haven’t told me what you wanted. Name it and I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

“My own star on Hollywood Boulevard,” I joke. I am, after all, pretending I’m going to be a famous actress someday. That’s not what I want, though. I’ve actually never really told anyone what I wanted. Not even when my brother started building a library at his place for Sahara, and is pretending it’s a dance studio for me. It’s the only way he can surprise her and I think everyone thinks that’s what I want—a dance studio where I can spend hours practicing for the real stage. But it’s not and I’m not about to tell anyone my foolish dream because owning and running a studio for children isn’t feasible here in Boston. God, I really hate how much I’m floundering.

He rolls one shoulder like my ask is nothing. “If I have to do it myself, sure.”

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