“You too, Mira.” I chuckle because even though I’m the baby of the family, the top of her head doesn’t even reach mychin.
She pulls back and gives Mom a quick hug before narrowing her gaze. “How long youstaying?”
I shrug and slide my hands into my pockets. “Not sure yet. We leave for our summer tour . . . next Wednesday,actually.”
One eyebrow lifts and I just know she’s not gonna let that go. “What? And Bedo let you have a break? He feeling okay thesedays?”
“I . . . um.” My gaze bounces between Mira and my mom, who now won’t stop staring. “Actually, I was the one who gave myself thebreak.”
“You aren’t quitting the band?” My mom’s eyes bug out and her hand goes to herheart.
“No. No.”That’d make Coy way too happy. No, if I have to put up with his shit for the next three months, he’s gonna have to suffer, too.“I just needed to clear myhead.”
“Oh, no.” My sister rolls her eyes, grabs my hand, and tugs me along as she scoops her bag on the way out. “Come on, let’sgo.”
“Where are you off to? You just got here!” Mom shouts, but Mira’s already got the front dooropen.
“Don’t worry, Mom! I’ll bring him back!” she yells before closing the door. She narrows her gaze, digs her keys from her bag, and points at her car. “Getin.”
She’s not usually so bossy, but my curiosity piques at where she’s taking me so I go along withit.
“Kidnapping’s a new low, Sis.” I chuckle as she zooms out of theneighborhood.
Her lips turn up with a smirk but she keeps her eyes on the road. “You’re not a kid, and we both know you won’t talk to me with those fuckers hangingaround.”
“Our parents?” I raise my brows andchuckle.
She pulls into the shopping center before the light and shrugs me off. “Yeah, those fuckers. Love them, I do, but we both know they’ll act as though it’s no big deal their almost thirty-year-old rock star of a son just showed up on their doorstep for a littlevacation.”
“It’s not a big deal, and I’m twenty-eight, thank you verymuch.”
“So, now you’re living in denial too?” She swings the car into an open space in front of a furniture store and a restaurant named Clyde’s. I’m not sure if we’re shopping or eating because neither makessense.
“Mira, what are wedoing?”
She cuts the engine, releases her seat belt, and gets out of the car. Doesn’t answer my question either, but she knows I’ll follow, which I do. She turns toward Clyde’s and I step ahead to get thedoor.
“We’re having drinks, that’s what we’re doing.” She winks as she crosses the threshold and struts toward thebar.
“And we couldn’t do that at home?” I tilt my head and let loose alaugh.
She nods at the bartender and slides into the seat at my left. “We could, except for the reason I stated before. Besides, you’re famous now; I think we can afford the tab.” Her words elicit a memory from our youth—the time she and her friends decided to get drunk in the backyard off a six pack of Pabst, except I told myparents.
She turns her attention to the bartender. “Hey, Connor, two pale ales,please.”
“You got it,Mira.”
“Wait. Is this a setup? To get me back for all the times I snitched on you and yourfriends?”
Mira’s jaw drops and her familiar laughter tumbles out. “Oh, God! Remember thePabst!”
I raise my brow. “I was just thinking of it. You were grounded for like amonth!”
She narrows her gaze but her lips turn up with humor. “I was so mad atyou.”
“Yeah, well, I probably deservedit.”
“No wonder you’re nervous. Payback’s a realbitch.”
