Page 15 of Accidental Baby For My Brother’s Best Friend

Locke

Jackson seems too tired and hungover to pay attention to what Axel is saying to Gemma, or to how she reaches across the elevator to wrap her fingers around his forearm, butI’mwatching in his stead. Jackson clearly has a new girl that he’s interested in, because that’s the only time he gets like this—quiet, focused on something that isn’t his sister, having fun or music.

It’s bad timing, for sure, given the tour, but we’ve got some down time and clearly another night in Albuquerque pleases Jackson, because he’s humming as he goes into his room, telling us that he’ll meet us at the hotel bar at eight.

I’m not sure that he will, given that Jackson tends to get wrapped up in relationships, even when they’re brand new—especiallywhen they’re brand new. Between Jackson and the strange way Axel acted the other night, I find myself worried about the rest of the tour, especially Vegas.

What I refuse to worry about is how it feels to see Gemma’s manicured nails digging into Axel’s tattoo, the way he raises his eyebrow at her. I’m gonna pass off whatever weird territorial thing I have going on with Gemma as worry for Jackson and what he will think of Axel getting his paws on her.

Samuel and I are on the same floor, so we come down to the bar together, and for a moment, I think that we’re early. I look down at my phone and it’s fifteen past the hour, fashionably late, of course, as rockers should be, but then I see Gemma’s long, auburn curls bouncing as she throws her hair over her shoulder and I try not to glare at how Axel leans closer to her on his bar stool.

Why is she dressed like that?I think, and then, like an idiot that has no filter, I hear myself saying it out loud as Samuel and I approach the bar.

Gemma turns to look at me, her smile fading, and she looks me up and down.

“Why areyoudressed like that?”

I look down at myself, wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a black t-shirt and my old black boots.

“I’m always dressed like this,” I complain, and Axel bursts out laughing. I wonder how much they’ve already had to drink because Gemma is smirking, too, her pale green eyes seeming brighter than usual.

“You guys were early,” Samuel accuses, but it’s lighthearted—a lot more lighthearted than my tone, anyway.

“Just a little,” Axel promises.

Gemma nods and signals the bartender for shots. I wrinkle my nose but Samuel shrugs and thanks her.

I refuse mine and Axel takes it instead, tipping it toward Gemma with a wink.

I want to push him off the bar stool.

Instead, I sit down next to Samuel, who’s taken the spot next to Gemma. Jackson is, predictably, nowhere to be found.

“So, what do you say, Gem? You’re dressed for it, yeah?” Axel asks, and I make it apointto glare at him this time, placing my palms down on the bar.

What I really don’t like is how it seems like they had a conversation previously to this meeting.

Gemma proves that theory by what she says next, and something like rage makes my skin feel hot.

“I told you I was down, I just don’t want to go to a strip club.”

“Strip clubs arefun, Gem.”

“So then, can we go to a male one?” Gemma teases, and Axel raises an eyebrow, choking on his Patron and pineapple.

Samuel breaks out into laughter, too, and I open my mouth to say something about Jackson, but Samuel surprises me.

“I’ll go with you. Keep your brother off your trail,” he offers, and I stare at him, my mouth still open.

Gemma gives him a big, open smile, bigger than she’d ever favored me with, that’s for sure.

“Thank you, Samuel. You can be my chaperone.” She links her arm through his, resting her manicured nails on his bicep, and Samuel blushes deeper than the Bloody Mary I’ve ordered. Vodka seems a lot more palatable than tequila at this point in the trip.

Especially with Gemma batting her eyes at not just our lead guitarist, but the bassist, too.

If Jackson was here,I think, and then I look over at the three of them, thick as thieves. Axel doesn’t seem to mind that Samuel is tagging along, and that bothers me. I think it would have bothered Jackson, too, if he’d bothered to be here.

I knew he was worried about Axel, but Samuel isn’t on his radar as a threat to Gemma, and I believe that Axel feels the same way, which is why he’s unconcerned.

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