Page 79 of Starstruck
“Wait…what?” Dylan asks, his brows furrowed. “You andBaxter James?”
“Nora, Isaac, time to wash up for dinner!” Emma interrupts, clearly wanting to get my niece and nephew away from where she knows the conversation is going. She dries them off quickly before ushering them inside.
Trevor excuses himself as well, understanding this conversation should be between the three of us.
Once they’re gone, Dylan turns back to me with anger written clear on his face and whisper-yells, “What thefuck, Lennon?”
I flinch slightly. My brother rarely swears.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say something to bring it up again.” Paige crosses one leg over the other. “So, are you finally going to tell us the truth?”
I roll my eyes. “You guys don’t need to know everything about me.”
Paige’s brows pull together. “We’re your siblings, Lennon. We just want what’s best for you.”
“Yeah, and Baxter’s not it, right?”
“He’s not a good guy, Lens. We’ve all seen the news. He’s the world’s most notorious rock star for a reason.”
My jaw falls open, anger coursing through my bloodstream. “You don’t even know him.”
“How long has this been going on?” Dylan asks, a bite in his tone.
I shrug. “A while.”
“What’sa while?” Paige returns.
I roll my lips together. They’ve already figured it out, so there’s really no point in lying anymore. “The first time was the day of the trial. Back in January.”
Paige’s jaw falls open while Dylan’s tenses.
“Nearly seven months? And we’re just finding this outnow?!”
I shake my head. “Thefirsttime was in January. I didn’t see him again until March, and then after SON!C bailed, he was the only suitable person available at the label to headline the concert. We’ve grown…closer…since he agreed to that.”
Dylan scoffs. “So, you’ve been fucking Baxter James since April, and we had no idea.”
I nod slightly. “You could say that.”
“God, Lennon.” Paige shakes her head. “I hope you’ve been to the doctor.”
My brows pull together. “He’s clean, and we use condoms. Besides, we’re exclusive.”
My brother barks a laugh. “Baxter James exclusive? I find that hard to believe. I swear to God, I’ll kill him.”
With a head shake, Paige adds, “What would Mom and Dad say?”
That question boils my blood. “First thing’s first—all Mom and Dad haveeverwanted foranyof us is happiness. Right now, Iamhappy, which is something I wasn’t sure I’d ever be again after they died. And that’s the second thing—it doesn’t really matter what they’d say becausetheyaren’t here. Which really fucking sucks, and I’ll never fully move on from that. But they don’t get an opinion on my life anymore, and frankly, neither do either of you. We’re just having fun, and he’s actually been really good for me.”
Their jaws drop.
“How could an infamous asshole begoodfor you? And why the hell haven’t you told us about him before now if he is?” Paige shouts.
“Because I knew you’d react likethis!” I wave my arms out in front of me. “I love you both, but I knew you wouldn’t approve.You’ve already been worried about me for months, and I knew if I told you I was friends with benefits with Baxter James, you’d only worry more. You’d think I was spiralling. And I’m tired of feeling like I can’t live my own life. I’m tired of feeling suffocated and judged for everything I do.”
Their faces fall, but I continue. “Baxterhasbeen good for me. He broke down my walls and forced me to let someone in. He’s let me in, too. I know more about him than the majority of the world, including the two of you. He’s made me realize I’m not alone in all that I’ve been feeling. He’s been incredibly helpful and supportive with the concert. And he helped me fall in love with music again.”
I sigh, preparing to tell them theothersecret I’ve been keeping from them for months. “Up until a month ago, I hadn’t written since the accident. I hadn’t even touched an instrument. Bax helped me get it back.”
