Page 41 of Ticket to the Stars: Part Two

I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with anything, not after hearing what Pope had said to Angel a few days ago. And to think he’d told me the same thing, in different words, when we’d met that night at the bar.

Pope wouldn’t try something, would he? Would he, knowing I was with her? At this point, I wasn’t sure anymore. I used to think I knew my brother inside and out, but now that confidence wavered, and I just didn’t know.

Priest returned after a while, and he brought what he thought would make me feel better. When I saw what he brought—or who, rather—my scowl intensified.

He’d brought Angel, led her in here hand in hand, that blasted smirk on his face.

I wasn’t the only confused one, because Angel’s delicate eyebrows had drawn together, and she glanced between Priest and me. “What’s going on? Priest said you were upset—” That part was spoken to me.

Priest let go of her hand, and he wandered over to my door, shutting it… although the only person he really blocked out was Bishop, so I didn’t know why he bothered. “I didn’t say he was upset. I said he was grumpy.”

“Okay,” Angel corrected herself, “grumpy. Why are you so grumpy?” Her big, blue eyes stared at me as she waited for an answer she already knew. I could tell by the way her stare fell to my drum set, how the corners of her mouth twitched.

I hoped she didn’t feel bad about telling me. It was good she’d told me about Pope, really, I just… my brother wasn’t making any of this easy.

“It’s Deacon,” Priest mused, grabbing Angel by the hand once again and pulling her toward my bed. “He’s always grumpy.” He crawled onto my bed and brought Angel with him. Together, they reclined against the headboard, though Angel still appeared confused—not at why I was grumpy, but what she was doing here.

I seconded that. What was Priest thinking?

“Priest,” Angel spoke, “what’s going on? Why’d you bring me in here?”

The smirk Priest gave her was unlike the ones he gave everyone else. Slightly softer, warmer, less of an asshole’s smirk and more of a smirk that read gentle amusement. I’dnever seen him look at a girl that way, and it made me realize that he really did love her. He’d said it, but I guess it never really sunk in until right then, until I saw the expression on his face as he studied her.

“I thought seeing you would make Deacon happy,” Priest said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. His back was against my pillow leaning on the headboard, and Angel was practically draped on his side. “Does she, buddy? Does seeing her make you happy?”

I’d be lying if I said no, but I didn’t want to give Priest the satisfaction of being right, so I didn’t say anything. The only thing I did was take up a slow rhythm on my drums.

Priest couldn’t get the hint. He cocked his head at me. “Really? You’re just going to pretend we’re not here or something? Okay, fine. Play us a show, then.” With the arm he had wrapped around Angel, he ran his fingers up her arm.

Angel must’ve sensed he was playing a game with her, and with me, for that matter, because she whispered, “Priest…” She tried to get up, but he wouldn’t let her.

“No, no. If Deacon wants to play us a show instead of focusing on himself, let him.” Priest shot her a half smile, and whatever resistance she had in her before that faded, just like that. “Don’t worry, love. Soon enough he’ll wish he abandoned that drum set and came to join us on the bed.”

I frowned, but I kept up the beat. In fact, I sped it up. Priest could really be so annoying sometimes. He was one of mybest friends, but fuck, I didn’t know how I’d dealt with him for so long.

Angel must’ve sensed what Priest was trying to do—anyone with eyes and ears would know what that idiot was attempting here—because she whispered, “Is this really a good idea? I don’t think—”

“Exactly,” he told her. “Hush, Angel, and stop thinking. Just let me take the reins right now. Let me drive, and we’ll see about Deacon later.” Talking about me like I wasn’t even here, like they weren’t, you know, in my damn room.

Priest got comfy with her. He shot me a smug, superior look, and then he turned his full attention onto her, murmuring something in her ear and making her blush. I rolled my eyes and turned my head away, mostly so I wouldn’t have to look at them.

Yes, Angel always made me feel better, but I wasn’t in the mood for what Priest was obviously going for. I just… I didn’t know. I needed more time, I—

Okay, what I really needed was for my brother to stop pulling his shit, but he clearly wasn’t going to take the hint and leave us alone, which meant Angel and I would be seeing more of Pope than we wanted.

The worst part was the others had no clue. I didn’t know how to tell them, and as far as I was aware, Angel hadn’t told them, either. Right now, it was our secret.

When I looked back at Priest and Angel, I saw exactly what I knew I’d see: Priest had pulled Angel onto him, so she now laid on top of his body. His hands had woventhrough her white hair, and based on how quiet they both were, they had to be kissing.

What a joke. Did Priest think he could rile me up and get me to jump into the sack with him and Angel? That that would get my mind off of what was making me so, in his eyes, grumpy?

I mean, maybe itwouldmake me feel better, for a little bit, but it wasn’t a heal-all kind of thing.

Priest tilted her face, and just for the quickest of moments, his gray eyes opened to make sure I was watching. If he could smirk while kissing her, I was fairly certain he was doing it right now. I had to roll my eyes at him. Roll my eyes and scowl.

He wouldn’t win. I wouldn’t let him. The smugness, the superiority, the I-told-you-so and I-knew-it exclamations would never end if I played his game. Whatever I did, I could not stop playing the drums, no matter how enticing Priest made being on that bed with Angel look.

Priest’s eyes snapped shut once he saw I was indeed looking, and his hands left the tangle of her hair, roaming down her back. Those hands only stopped when they reached her round ass, and he cupped it hard, drawing out a moan from her, right into the kiss. He practically massaged her ass right there.

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