My heart swells andnearly explodes when I realize that’s not what he’s doing. He gripsthe back of Jake’s neck, pulling him so their foreheads touch. “Take care of her, please.”
“You know I will,” Jake tells him with a tight voice.
My eyes burn with emotion.Emotions I can’t put into words. It’s happiness that my older brotherhas just let goof me. He’s letting another man, his best friend no less,protect me in his place. It’s sadnessfor the exact same reason.
When he releases Jake,he turns to me. He pulls me tight into his chest, burying his face in my hair. “Ihave never regretted the day I brought you home for me. I will always be your big brother. I will always be here when you need me. But you need to let him love you.He’s a good man, Cara. You know I wouldn’t say all of this if I didn’t see how much he loved you. Love him back. Don’t break his heart, and he won’t break yours.” He says all of this in a whisper just for me.His words make the tears spillover my lashes. The emotion forces a sob from my chest.
He releases me from his tight grip. My face is still wet with tears.
“Call your therapist,” he tells me as he walks away. “Or we’re sending you home.”
And just like that, it’s like the last five minutes never happened.
“Oh my God,”Josephine laughs so hard, the manicurist gives her a dirty look. “I always miss the good stuff.”
“Oh, it was priceless,” Cami cackles.“I wish I could’ve seen his face when he realized what he walked in on.”
I sit in the seat next to them with a scowl while Cami replays the humiliation from the day before.I just sit between the two of them, shaking my headwith a small smile on my face.It was embarrassing at the time, but I understand why everyone else thinks it’s so funny. Especially considering Dane’s and my aversionto being subjected to the other’s sex life.
On a side note, after Jake and I went back to our room,he told me about his conversation with Daniel. I wanted to be angry with him. He was out of line. But so was Daniel.
Not to mention I felt a little guilty. I hadn’t toldDaniel about Jake or Jake about Daniel.I hadn’t told Jake because I’ve noticed he has a slight – astronomical – jealous streak.
I hadn’t told Daniel about Jake because it never came up. We just talked like we always do. Until he started talking about us in terms of a relationship. I told himI didn’t want that. Even without Jake, I wouldn’t have wanted, so I didn’t want to make Daniel think he stood a chance if there wasn’t another guy in his way.
I should’ve told them both.
When that conversation was over, Jake made me call my therapist.Hedidn’t give me much choice when he said he wouldn’t go to the show if I didn’t.Fifteen thousand screaming fanswould’ve been let down. I didn’t want to be responsible for that.
He started to leave togive me some privacy for the call. I stopped him. I turned on the video chatand had him sit through the entire thing. I hate admitting when I’m wrong, but I was.I needed that talk. I need therapy. Having Jake there, for some reason, made me open up more. Maybe it’s because I pretended to talk to him instead.
“Okay, so I’ve been dying to ask,” Cami looks at me with a grin. I hold back a groan at the question I know she’s about to ask because the girl has no boundaries. “How is it with Jake?”
“Amazing,” I sigh.
“Come on. We need more than that,” she whines.“Is he soft and sweet, or does he like to be in control?”
“Yes,” I answer because he’s all of those things at once. It makes absolutely no sense to mehow he can fuck me senseless and still make it feel like we’re making love.
“Cara, we need details,” Josephine giggles.
“Whatelse can I say?” I shrug, biting my lip. “Heknows how to play my body. Like really,reallyknows.”
“Musicians are really good with their hands,” Cami says. I repress the urge to gag.
“That’s not all they’re good with,” Josephine clucks her tongue.
We laugh some more as we all agree.
Half an hour later, we are perusing the shops of Paris. It’s not something I ever thought I’d be doing. I’m not sure why since I’ve alwaysshopped on Fifth Avenue in New York. My big brother did a good job of spoiling me.There was more than one reason they all called me Brat.
After Chicago, my once impeccable wardrobe changed from designer labels to plainhoodies, sweats, and jeans. I tried to be invisible.I tried to detract from my looks.
I’ve missed mypretty clothes and pretty hair. I’ve missed getting up every morning, deciding what to wear. I’ve missed me.
We spend the afternoon browsing through several shops. Each of us buys a few outfits. Nothing too outrageousexcept for Josephine when she finds a pair of Valentino cage heels and a Fendi baby set.
“How far are you?” I ask her as she admires thebeige outfit.
