Page 328 of Rock Me All Night
"It expired." I bite my lip. "It's nothing. I just... I need some time to figure out everything. If you don't want me here, that's fine."
"Of course I want you here." Drew looks me in the eyes. "Promise me you'll be safe on tour with us and I'll let it go."
"I'm only staying a few days."
"Wil, promise or I'm hiring a body guard to watch you twenty four seven."
I can't promise that. But I can't let Drew know Bradley is trying to insert himself back into my life. I look my brother in the eyes. "I'll be fine. But I should really get to showering. I have to get up early if I want to finish the application in time."
I go to push myself up but Drew grabs my arm.
"You need money?" he asks.
"I can't take your money. Not after all the shit Mom pulled."
"I'm not like Mom. I’m not going to attach strings to it."
"Still. I don't want to fight. I need a place to stay for a few days. If that's not okay with you, I'll figure something else out." I take a deep breath. "You can pay for my hotel room if it makes you feel better."
He smiles as he pulls out his credit card and hands it to me. "It does."
"Thank you."
His expression gets overprotective. "Wait. Does your application need sexy pictures?"
Okay. Time for a white lie. "Any portraits will do."
Oh no. He's about to volunteer.
At least this part is true. "No offense, Drew, but you always look pissed off in pictures. I'll find a model. It's no big deal."
"Okay. But you have to promise you'll think about staying the rest of the tour if you don't get that job. It's only another two months. It will be fun. We can catch up."
My stomach twists. Reality sinks in. If I don't get that job, I don't have a better option than staying with Drew. Even so... "Two months is too long to let my photography lapse."
"Consider it," he says. "Kara's flying out of Portland. I can take you to the airport with her or you can leave out of any other city. Hell, Wil, you can come back home with us and crash in the spare room as long as you need. There are lots of photographers who need assistants in Los Angeles."
"I'll think about it." It might be my only option. I push myself out of my seat. "Thanks, Drew. I'll see you in the morning."
"Tom wasn't bugging you, was he?"
"No. He was a gentleman."
Drew cocks a brow. "Sounds suspect."
"He was fine."
"I'll talk to him." Drew's expression gets serious.
I know that look too. It meansif talking doesn't work, I'll hit him until he understands.
"Think about staying." Drew walks me to the door. "I'll feel a lot better not knowing what's going on if I can keep an eye on you."
"I will. Thanks."
He gives me a half-hug and looks back to Kara, waiting on the king bed.
She smiles and joins our awkward goodbye. "Hey, Willow. We're going to a theme park tomorrow. Go-karts, mini-golf, laser tag. You should come. It will be fun."
