Page 84 of Tell Me When It's Over

I don’t want Leighton to bleed.

“We have to do something about Katherine,” I murmur quietly, not wanting Beth to hear any scheming. She hates it when we butt our heads in business that isn’t ours, but the heavy feeling in my gut since Katherine arrived tells me it’s time to get to the bottom of things.

“I don’t know, Ky…”

Hearing Katherine’s words, her subtle threat to me, I give a long-lasting look to Mia that shows I’m not going to back down from this. “For Leighton.”

She can’t say no now.

I’m going to have a permanent mark on my wrist if Leighton squeezes it any harder. Cringing when her nails dig in as she gapes at the stage is worth it, even if there’s been at least ten people taking pictures of me since arriving backstage to listen to the dreadful concert.

I can picture the headlines now and groan inwardly. The guys are going to give me shit when they see I was watching a goddam Violet Wonders show, but I knew Lenny would have a good time. She may hate people spending money on her for her birthdays, but she sure isn’t complaining right now.

Even I have to admit she looks damn cute as her eyes follow Garrick across the stage while he pours his heart out to the screaming audience. The guy may be an egotistical tool, but he’s good, one of the few who have the raw talent it takes to make it. Not that I’ll ever tell him that.

Lenny has earplugs in to drown out some of the noise since we’re standing so close to the band, but she’s still singing along to every song. It’s getting close to the end of their set, which means the biggest part of her birthday present is about to come.

When I called Gordy asking for two backstage passes to the VW concert held at the Staples Center, it took him five minutes to stop laughing his ass off before finally agreeing he’d hook me up. The bastard knows Leighton’s a huge fan, but he’s hounded me since showing up with the tickets asking if I’ve finally caved.

The answer is no. Hell no.

When Garrick thanks the c

rowd one last time before the guys all take a stand, I brush Len’s arm and gesture toward the curtain that separates the main stage from the back. She follows, her eyes dragging behind her until the stage disappears, before she plucks out her earplugs with a big smile on her face.

I stumble when she barrels into my chest, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She squeezes me so tight I cough out a strangled breath before hugging her back.

A few people smile at the affection, while other stagehands snap pics. I want to glare and tell them to fuck off, but that won’t look good. I pat Len’s back a few times before she peels back, eyes shining. “This is the best birthday ever, Ky!”

I feign hurt, slapping a palm across my heart like she delivered a fatal blow. “Are you trying to tell me that I’ll never be able to top today? Not even if I ask Single Division to visit?”

Her answer is instant, but there’s such an innocence to the answer I can’t be offended of the subtle burn. “SD was good, but Violet Wonders is…Violet Wonders, Kyler.”

The people in earshot all laugh, giving variations of “burn” and “she got you good” while watching us. All I can do is shake my head at her, lips curving upward at the corners.

Her eyes get big. “I didn’t mean—”

Pulling her into my side, I drape an arm around her shoulder and ruffle her hair. “You totally meant it, Lele.”

A few reporters who get backstage privileges call my name, drawing my attention away from the traitor under my arm. “Shit. You okay for a few?”

When she nods, I peck the top of her head and walk over to the group of people holding out their hands and phones. The woman closest to me begins the inquisition. “I’m Emily from Merida’s Top 100. It’s the most viewed vlog on this side of the US. Maybe you’ve heard of it?”

I haven’t, but I smile and nod. “What do you want to know, Emily?”

She beams. “I’m going to record this on my phone. Is that all right?” Another nod. “Great. How does it feel having a little sister who prefers your rival band over yours?”

The guys behind her all snicker and I can’t help but join in with a shake of my head. Should have seen that coming. “It is what it is. We can’t all like the same stuff.”

“How would you describe your relationship with Leighton?”

My eyes go over my shoulder to see the girl in question eyeing the curtain in wait for the guys, a thumbnail between her lips like she’s biting down on it. It makes the smile on my face twitch upward a little more. “She’s my best friend,” I tell the woman honestly.

Lenny must sense we’re talking about her because she meets my eyes and does her usual dorky wave.

“That’s so sweet,” Emily croons.

I lift a shoulder and look at the vlogger again. “It’s no hardship. She’s an easy person to get along with. Easy to love.”

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