Page 81 of Out of the Blue

Visions of Caesar with a knife in his back appear. I can sympathize.“Yeah. Well, it was blue, and I’d wanted it for a while. Of course, I didn’t know how to ride it, so I learned in our driveway. Mom held on to my back and helped me keep upright.” I smile, remembering the wind on my cheeks. “I was riding with her help, too afraid to break away from her steadying hand. I remember tossing my head back to ask her something when I realized she wasn’t there. She was off to the side, watching me. I was pedaling without a backup and I felt, well, free. That was it. From then on, I rode all over the neighborhood.”

Braxton chuckles. “I bet she was sorry.”

My grin grows wider. “I like to think of her as proud I was a quick learner.”

“Such a milestone. Thanks for sharing it with me, so-Trent.”

My eyes drop to the blanket. “You’re welcome.”

An awkward silence descends, which is broken when someone raps on the door and calls in, “Knock, knock.”

I turn and see three people enter the room, only one of which I recognize. Sara. A man and a woman flank her, both of whom are blonds. And they both resemble the lead singer.

Addressing her husband, Sara says, “Thought you might be here.”

He rocks back and forth in his wheelchair and motions for the trio to come in. Tomyhospital room. Hmmm.

He responds, “I needed to get out of my room.” The trio approaches him and gives him kisses. Then he turns toward me. “Trent, may I introduce you to my son, King, and my daughter, Melody. You already know Sara. Guys, this is—” He breaks off, and I can see the possibilities flit across his face. I hold my breath while he decides. “Trent Washington, the lead singer of The Light Rail, and the proud new owner of my old kidney.” He tugs on his ear. “And your brother.”

I gulp. My brother and sister. I’ve known about them peripherally, like everyone knows about the Hunte family, but never bothered to Google them. This is all so surreal.

Sara steps into the breach. “We’ve already told them about your, ah, relation to us. And how proud we are to have you in the family.”

Family? Proud?

Melody comes toward me, her hand extended. “I’m happy to get to meet you, Trent. Daddy won’t stop talking about you.”

The dude follows suit. “I’m King. It’s good you both seem to be recovering from the transplant so well.”

“Thanks. I’m doing alright.”

Braxton chuckles. “Trent’s modest. He’s doing better than I am. Must be his youth.”

I go to punch his arm, but barely tap it. “You’re not doing too badly, old man.” I inhale when I realize what I called him. Fuck.

Braxton’s eyes go round like saucers, then a tiny smile crosses his features. “I have to work out to keep up with you young guns on tour.”

We all let my stupid word choice pass. Sara interjects. “King is a real estate agent out in the Hamptons. He and his fiancée have a reality television show onLet’s Do It!called ‘Battle of the Real Estate Matchmakers.’”

My eyebrows flick upward at my good-looking brother. “Sounds fun.”

King glides his index finger against his stubble. “The show can be kinda intrusive, if you ask me. But I fell in love with real estate. And Angie.” His amber eyes light up as he mentions his real-life co-star’s name.

“I’ve only been to the beaches out there a couple of times. I liked them.”

Braxton interjects. “We have a stop at Jones Beach on the tour. Once we get back to it, we can hang out and King can show us around.”

“Angie and I would love that. We’ll take you to our new house, too.”

Buzzing fills my ears. Sounds so—family-oriented. Instead of responding, I turn to Melody. She’s beautiful. I wonder if she’s a model or something. “So King’s on television. What does his younger sister do to show him up?” My sister, too…

She laughs. “I dress him.”

I tilt my head. “Come again?”

“I’m the lead costume designer for HBO’s ‘Ladies of the Abbey.’”

“I’ve heard of the show.” Who hasn’t? “Although, I have to confess I’ve never watched it. I’m always too busy with the band.”

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