Page 20 of Broken Bridges

But whatever Lewis was looking for in the pantry still hadn’t been located.

I interrupted our line of conversation. “Do you need help finding something?”

“Sugar!” Lewis pointed his tensed hand at the eye-height shelf. “It was here yesterday. In a little blue container.”

“It has to be there.” I stepped into the pantry and skimmed the shelves, unable to see the container. Lewis tensed and shuffled farther along, turned, and resumed looking on the other side. He opened one container that contained pasta, closed it, and placed it back on the shelf. “So what’s the dibs rule?”

“It’s The Flintlocks’ bro code.” I peered inside a tin containing rice, shut it, then placed it back where I’d taken it from. “After Flint and Phil got into a fight over this girl, Shelby, in high school, they made up this rule that they couldn’t hit on each other’s girlfriends, their friends, any exes, or hot interests. It was to avoid causing problems in the band. I fell under the dibs rule as Cole’s sister.”

Lewis rested his hand on the shelf beside his head and turned to me. His silver eyes drilled into mine. He stepped toward me, stopping less than a foot away. The air around us grew heavy. My mouth ran dry. I swallowed hard.

Lowering his voice, he said, “So if Slip’s brothers are hot, I can’t hit on them?”

With his gaze locked onto mine, he reached past me. His arm brushed my hair as he grabbed a jar. I lost the ability to breathe. My knees weakened. Visions of slamming him against the shelves, ripping off his clothes, kissing him like a crazed animal, and fucking him like the rock star he was flashed before my eyes. Crap.

I staggered back a step. He was too close. Too hot. Too much. “Sorry, Slip’s brothers are straight. But even if they weren’t, you couldn’t touch them. Not if you want to stay in the band and keep your balls intact.”

“Noted. But I’ve never been one to follow the rules, especially ones made in high school. Nobody, nor some silly dibs rule, will dictate who I can be with.” He waved the jar of sugar in front of my face. “Found it. Different container.” A small smile slid across his lips.

Heat radiated across my skin. Did he know the effect he had on me? Or was I having a mental breakdown?

We made our way out of the pantry.

Thankful for the cool air and space, I hobbled around the kitchen counter and took a seat on one of the stools. “I’m with you on the dibs rule. It’s stupid and has caused more problems than they realize.” And no doubt would cause more. Every member of the band had broken it. I knew that for a fact. Me included.

Lewis chuckled, low and soft, as he scooped one spoon of sugar into his coffee. “So, which of the guys did you fuck?”

Damn. Was it that obvious? I slumped and slid my arms onto the counter. “Phil.” My voice came out in a pained whisper. “We were best friends. We went to different schools and were together in junior and senior year. Part of the thrill was sneaking around. But he ended it just after the guys got signed. Music was more important. He loved the band and wanted to honor the dibs rule.” He loved them more than me.

I drew myself upright and pushed the memories into the recesses of my mind. “Unfortunately, as they guys grew more popular, Phil got swept up in the lifestyle, the drugs, the alcohol, and God only knows what else. I hated seeing him with other women. So I left town and got a new life.”

“Now I’ve done that several times.” Lewis sipped on his coffee. “Nothing wrong with a fresh start.”

“No. It was what I needed to do. Meeting someone new helped. But that didn’t last either.” Chicago had turned into a shit show as well. “But the guys don’t know Phil and I were together. If you don’t mind, I’d like it to stay that way. Losing him has been hard enough without unpacking more painful memories.” A bit too late for that.

He raised his cup toward me. “We all have past relationships we’d like to bury.”

“Mine literally is.” I quirked my lips into a small smile.

“Shit.” He winced. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I straightened. “Despite their crazy rules, these guys are awesome. They’re my family. We love each other more than anything, and we’d do anything for each other.”

“I like that. You seem to get along well.” He came around the counter and sat on the stool beside me. “My family and I aren’t close. I only keep in touch with three out of my six siblings. I don’t talk to my parents. My pop and my band were my family, but now they’re gone.”

I clutched his forearm and gave it a quick squeeze but removed my hand just as fast. “Well, hopefully you’ve found a new one.”

“I hope so too.” He picked up his cup and blew into it. “I know Phil meant the world to you and these guys. That will never be forgotten, but I hope to be part of their future and build a new legacy.”

“Yeah. Are you ready for that ride?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You’d better be certain about that if you become a Flintlock. The guys have a wild reputation. Once promo starts, the media will dig up dirt on you. So you’d better be honest with them and April, their personal assistant and publicist, so they can be prepared.”

He stared toward the far kitchen wall, took a steady breath, then lowered his chin. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

Oh, he had secrets. We all did. “No mystery children? No criminal background? No scandalous love affairs?” I could give him some pointers on the last one.

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