Page 9 of Tell Me When It's Over

We’re on our way out, Kyler and Alice in front of me, when she rests a palm on his bicep and bats her lashes. “I just have to say that I’m a big fan.”

Here we go. Biting the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling when Kyler’s face flushes, I examine the shrubbery again, feigning interest in them, so I don’t have to witness whatever is bound to happen. I’ve had to watch Ky get hit on all the time and it hasn’t gotten any less awkward. Alice giggles, says her cell number is written on the back of her card, and asks for a picture.

Dang. I’d be five dollars richer. $121.05. Missed my opportunity.

Once we’re in our separate cars, Alice honking as she leaves the driveway first, Kyler loosens a sigh. “Don’t say it,” he grumbles, making me grin.

Taking my thumbnail out of my mouth, I stifle a laugh. “But she’s such a huge fan.” I bat my lashes at him in mockery, which makes him roll his eyes in return.

“Don’t do that. You’re better than them,” he chastises. Then, “And don’t pretend you aren’t like that with people you admire.” He eyes me before turning onto the road. “I haven’t forgotten about your encounter with the guys from Violet Wonders.” He spits out their name like it’s bitter in his mouth, making me crack up.

“Why do you still hate them so much?” He’s the one who got me backstage passes to meet them, which is still a favorite memory of mine, despite his old rivalry with the opposing band. I own all their music, even their comeback albums since they got back together a year ago and have the picture of me with the five group members in a frame tucked away for safekeeping.

“They’re assholes.”

“You say that about everyone,” I point out, looking out the window. “And aren’t you sort of friends with a couple of them? You used to text with Zayne and Manning.” He just sort of grunts an incoherent reply that makes me shake my head. “They were perfectly nice to me. Plus, Garrick even let me have a beer when we all hung out in their dressing room!”

Kyler shoots me a daggered glare. “He did what?” I see the spit flying from his mouth and make a face.

“Gross. Calm down. It was just one beer.” It was technically half a beer, maybe less, because it tasted disgusting. The guys even laughed at the apparent dislike on my face when I passed it back to Garrick who finished it off in a few chugs.

“You were fifteen when you met them!”

He has a fair point, but I don’t back down because I know he’s done far more at much younger ages. “It isn’t like he invited me in to have an orgy with them.”

The groan he responds with is loud and burdened as his cheeks tint pink. “Never again. I never, in my entire life, want to hear you say that word again. Especially in relation to those dickwads.”

“What? Orgy?” I make sure to say the word slowly so I can be sure it’s the one he’s referring to.

His glare intensifies. “I swear to God, Leighton, if—”

My phone rings, and I hold up a hand at his useless rant when I see his sister’s name pop up on the cracked screen. “Hey, Mia.”

“Lenny Lou,” she greets cheerfully. I can’t help but smile at the old nickname, given to me once she found out my middle name is Louise. “How is house hunting with the little bro going? Any potential?”

Nibbling my lip, I give a quick glance at Kyler, who’s back to focusing on the road. “We need to talk about some things before we make any decisions.”

From the profile of his face, I see a brow arch before he gives a quick look as if to argue with me. I ignore him. “Can you believe your brother doesn’t want me saying the word ‘orgy’?”

Mia’s laugh is abrupt and loud, making me giggle at the string of curses Ky makes. “That is both random and not surprising whatsoever. Do I even want to know how that came up?”

“Violet W

onders,” is all I say.

She snorts. “He still has his panties in a twist over them, huh? Ridiculous. Kyler always hated how much you loved them. Said you were wasting passion on ‘tragically untalented people’ when he realized you were a fan, but I think he’s just jealous you never liked Single Division as much.” Considering the shirt I wore the day we met, it sounds like he’s been irritated over it for the past six years. I’m not even a little sorry though. His band was good, but they weren’t my favorite. Plus, he’s way better as a solo artist.

One of my brows quirks as I study Kyler inquisitively. “Did he say that now?” That captures his attention, his eyes questioning what his sister is telling me. He wiggles his fingers at me like he wants the phone, but I shake my head and point to the road, silently reminding him that he’s driving. “I guess that makes sense. He found out Garrick gave me alcohol when I met the group that one time.”

“Wait,” Ky blurts out. “Did my sister know about that?”

Mia must hear him because she says, “Put me on speaker, would you, Len?” I do as she says, holding the phone in my palm. “Of course, I knew. I gave her a high five. Who better to share your first drinking experience with?”

Kyler spits and sputters, curse words flying out, rants that don’t make any sense, all while his sister and I laugh at his outburst. He’s always like this. Overprotective to a fault. It’s kind of nice though, like no time has passed at all. It gives me the sense of belonging that I never felt with Mom, because she also would have high fived me if she knew I drank with someone like Garrick.

“Anyway,” Mia pushes on, “I don’t see what you two have to talk about. If you found a house you like, take it. Properties don’t last long on the market here. There’s always someone rich ready to fork over a shit ton of cash the first chance they get. Don’t miss out on something nice by overthinking.”

Kyler just shakes his head, though he’s probably thinking about how Mia’s right. Again. Instead, he says, “The last house we saw would be perfect. There aren’t any neighbors directly nearby and the garage is behind the house which means people can’t see us getting in and out when they figure out where we moved.”

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