Page 26 of Accidental Baby For My Brother’s Best Friend

It’s Jackson’s job to make sure the band stays on beat. My job is to market the Spades and make sure people show up, and I’ve managed almost a full house already. The open bar might have a little to do with it, but people are rocking out near the stage with their mojitos and martinis, so I’m happy. As happy as I can be given that I’m still nearly shaking with anger.

I like to get everything out in the open, instead of letting unresolved emotions fester, so this thing with Locke is really bothering me. I don’t know why he dislikes me so much but is also protective of me when it comes to Axel. It’s like he thinks I’m stupid, or still a teenager, and I’m nearly vibrating with all the things left unsaid. As much as I want to confront Locke, I also don’t want to let him know that he affects me. I keep telling myself that it doesn’t matter what Locke Kincaid thinks, but some part of me wants him to understand that I’m a grown woman and whatever I do outside of managing this group is none of his damn business.

Luckily, there’s a swarm of people asking questions about the group and buying records and merchandise (mostly t-shirts and keychains), so I’m distracted from my rage for a couple of hours. When I finally make it to the bar, they’ve run out of mint for mojitos and I sigh dramatically, smiling at the bartender.

“I guess a margarita will have to do. Tequila is a cruel mistress,” I quip.

“She is. We go way back,” someone says right at my ear, and I turn to see Axel standing beside me, already a few shots in, from what I can tell.

I smile at him. Axel and I becoming even closer friends is a big plus of this tour. I’m getting closer to all the guys, except for maybe Locke. The Spades are the only family Jackson and I have. That’s part of the reason Locke acting this way makes me so upset.

I think that Axel confessing his issues to me must make him feel better, because he’s in a jovial mood, flirting with the bartender and sliding me shots left and right. I drink more than I should, but I’m having fun, unlike the other night.

The world goes a little topsy-turvy and I hope I won’t have my second real hangover tomorrow. But this is Las Vegas, party capital of the world. If there’s ever been a time to go wild, it’s now. And since Axel and I are totally platonic at this point, there’s no nerves about what might happen.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?

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