Page 50 of Final Serenade

“Just so you know, he’s seventeen.” I needed to mention this fact in case my brother asked for some other dirtier words. “He’s going to have to wait a couple of months before he can wear that T-shirt.” The Hall Affinity catalogue didn’t have a whole lot of explicit vocabulary, but there were a few songs. My brother had enough loose screws to request those lyrics, and I wasn’t about to let him walk around L.A. with a T-shirt that read,stroke me.

I had no idea what the hell Frankie had been thinking when he wrote those lines. Was he high? Did Dante help him?

“You’re a buzz killer, sis.” Groaning, Ashton leaned forward and slammed his forehead against the tabletop to ensure I knew how upset he was.

“Quit it already,” I snarled back.

“All’s fair in the world of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ rollit is then.” Frank laughed softly and scribbled the words on the fabric with the pen.

“Ashton?” I called. My brother looked up at me, unusually happy. “You can’t tell anyone about me and Frank or how you got your T-shirt signed. If anyone asks you, it was my present.”

“Okay. I won’t.”

“I’m not kidding. This is serious. If someone finds out, it’s going to create a lot of problems for you, me, and especially Mom.”

“Why?”

Frank cleared his throat and set the Sharpie on the table. “Because people are assholes, Ashton. They’ll twist things and all the press attention will make your life very unpleasant. Trust me.” His smile was warm and genuine. It melted my heart. “If you promise to keep it to yourself, I promise to get you a backstage pass for our L.A. show.”

“Are you for real?” My brother’s expression lightened.

“I always keep my word.”

“Sick.”

“Can I count on you?” Frank held up his fist.

Ashton bumped it with his. “Yeah. Totally, dude.”

“Then it’s a deal. I’ll tell my manager tomorrow to get you guys all sorted out.”

“When’s the show?”

“Can’t tell you yet. But soon.”

They chatted like old friends. The hum of their banter moving through my apartment was oddly comforting. I couldn’t remember a time my brother had been so normal.

It was almost three when fatigue finally kicked Ashton’s butt. He passed out right in front of us, hugging a pillow.

I walked Frank into the hallway and shut the door.

“I’m really sorry about this. He wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.”

“Don’t worry about it. He’s a nice kid. He was fun to hang out with.”

“He’s evil,” I countered.

“You’re too hard on him.”

“How the hell do you know? You met him two hours ago.” I slapped his chest playfully.

“Maybe instead of him, you can bossmearound.” A wicked smirk curved the corner of his mouth.

“We can certainly discuss it.” My hand slid down his torso, his abs taut beneath the spread of my palm.

Frank leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. Clouds of bliss filled my head. And my stomach. The ache between my legs came back. I was a woman unsatisfied and now I couldn’t even service myself, because my little brother was sleeping on my couch. Life was definitely unfair.

“I’d like that,” he husked. “Looking forward to it.”

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