Page 49 of Sky Full of Stars

She shrugs. “It’s been so long, it’s become the norm. I can tell you that underneath the persona on stage and the way he is followed around, he’s still the brother I’ve always known. He loves Jake, acts like a goof when he’s around him. We try not to let him go too mad with his money but he likes to look after us, he’s selfless like that.”

“I guess I’m nervous about being seen out with him. I’ve seen photos in the press of all the women he’s been with.”

“They don’t mean anything,” she waves a hand. “I know it’s weird to say it but when we see photos like that, we know it’s not real, it’s not our Adam. It’s just really hard for people who don’t know him to differentiate.”

“He tried to explain that last night.”

“Bet he did a shitty job of it,” she laughs. “Don’t tell him I told you this, but he’s more insecure than he lets on.”

I raise my eyebrows. He is the most confident man I’ve ever met.

“I really hope you give him a chance,” she says. “He’s never brought anyone home with him and I’m glad it was you when he did.”

She goes back to making pancakes for her brother, the picture of normal. I felt a little weird last night going to sleep in his childhood bedroom, even though he told me Keira had changed a lot of it. He showed me around, talked about some of the trophies and showed me the picture of his friend who died. He held that picture and stared at it quietly for a while and I got another glimpse into who Adam was. I could smell his cologne on the pillow when I went to bed, he’d slept here a couple of nights earlier. I tried not to let my imagination run away with me.

I know when he comes back into the kitchen without having to turn, it’s like the air shifts. He stands behind me and reaches for the plate of pancakes Keira made him. He did it deliberately, so he could brush my arm. I look at him, give him a smirk to let him know I know what he’s doing, he just grins as he eats.

“So will you be going to the gym?” he asks me.

“I have an early meeting so I’ll try to get there later.” I decide not to mention the meeting is with Elle and Kevin. Although it would be quite amusing to see how he reacts.

“We better get going, thanks for breakfast, sis.”

“Yes, thank you for letting me stay,” I tell her.

“You’re welcome any time, Jenna,” she smiles.

After clearing away our dishes, saying goodbye to Jake and promising him I’ll get him some Pete the Cat merchandise, we head out to the car.

“Any music preference today?” he asks.

“Whatever you want is fine,” I tell him, putting on my seatbelt as he pulls away, we wave at Keira and Jake again. “Keira is lovely, and Jake is so sweet.”

“Just like his uncle.”

“You’re anything but sweet, Adam.”

“Oh yeah,” he wiggles his eyebrows at me.

I shake my head. His cell phone rings interrupting the music as he gets on the road. He answers and it’s a woman. “Aidan where are you?” I look at him briefly then glance away.

“In my car, with a friend on speakerphone, Bianca.”

“Oh, right, well I just wanted to talk to you about this idea you have to work from New York after the tour. Archer told me last night.”

“Yeah, I think it’ll be good for us to get out of LA,” he says.

“But the studio at LA is already pre-booked, Aidan. It’s a given you will work there.”

“We haven’t even written the songs yet, Bianca.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does. We can’t make an album without songs.”

I keep my eyes on the passing scenery. It’s just work to him, I tell myself. Like me talking to Izzy about the hundreds of things we do on a daily basis. It is weird listening to her call him Aidan and they’re talking about whether or not he will be in New York. He hasn’t said anything, but I am wondering if one of the reasons he wants to do it, is me.

“Do we have a contract with them?”

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