Zachary was coming to realize it was the simple moments that often meant the most. The moments when next to nothing happened that made the greatest impact.

Who would have thought it could be a comfortable silence that spoke louder than words?

Sitting out in the backyard under the drape of the darkened sky during the deepest hour of the night, Zee knew this was one of those moments.

Relaxed back on a patio chair, Mark took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled it toward the heavens. Smoke curled and twisted above his head. It climbed toward the infinite canvas strewn above them before it dispersed and disappeared, becoming one with the vast nothingness.

“How many of those stars do you think are still holding on to our dreams?” Mark’s voice was quiet and full of contemplation when he finally broke the hushed stillness that bound them.

On a low chuckle, Zee sank deeper into the lounger. He wasn’t surprised when his tone filled with some of that awestruck wonder he’d carried when he was a boy. “Does it count if I was always wishing for the same things?”

Mark smiled and scratched at his throat before he shifted to look over at Zee. “It was always all about that piano, wasn’t it?”

It was almost a tease, all mixed up with the kind of sheer affection that would be impossible for Zee to miss.

Zee almost felt self-conscious when he answered, “Guess it mostly was. Sitting at the throne of those ivory keys started to feel like the most important thing in my world.”

“It is important,” Mark told him.

With a nod, Zee sat up and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Yeah. Doesn’t mean I don’t miss hanging out with you. Hate that I hardly get to see you anymore.”

Mark lifted a shoulder. Not in carelessness. But in encouragement. “Things that are important take dedication and sacrifice, Zee. I get that. My world’s a million miles away from yours. You want to make it happen? Then you need to do what you need to do. Just like what me and the guys have had to do for Sunder. Doesn’t make you and me anything less to each other. You’ll always be the most important person in my life.”

Guilt ate his insides.

“But these last couple of years—”

“Were shit,” Mark cut him off. He shrugged again, his words going quieter. “Yeah, things were bad, man. Fucking brutal. But just because my world stopped moving, didn’t mean I expected yours to stop, too. You’ve been chasing after this for years.” He cracked a smile. “Believe me, I’d knock you on your ass if you gave that up.”

After a show in LA two years ago, Baz and Lyrik had gotten themselves into a ton of trouble. Baz had ended up behind bars for the better part of a year while Lyrik had fought to piece his life back together after he’d lost his family because of the mistakes he’d made that night.

That whole time, Zee knew Mark had struggled. Knew he’d been getting lost to those dark places more and more often. Pumping his veins full to cover up the fear and loss.

It’d seemed impossible for Zee to reach him.

But over the last year since Baz had gotten out, Sunder had regrouped for a comeback.

Their label had honored their contract, the same as their new manager, Anthony di Pietro. They’d laid down a new album and had been out on tour promoting it. Their popularity had seemed to gain speed with each day that passed.

Between those two things and Zee’s own crazy schedule, he felt like he hardly had the time to connect with Mark.

But Mark was right.

Nothing could lessen their bond, because there they were, sitting under the stars. Same as they’d done when they were kids.

It was like a day hadn’t passed.

But that didn’t mean things hadn’t changed.

Zee hesitated before he muttered what he knew sounded close to a confession. “Met someone.”

Mark’s attention jerked his direction, eyes wide. “No shit.”

Zee rubbed a knuckle across his upper lip as he was hit with another rush of affection. But this was an entirely different kind. This was something that flooded his stomach and pulsed in his chest.

“No shit,” he said.

“Is it serious?” Mark asked.

Zee lifted his head to meet his brother’s stare head on. “I love her, man. Like crazy.”

Mark laughed under his breath, grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “So my baby brother went and took the tumble, huh?”

A short laugh rippled free, and Zee shook his head. “Guess I did.”

Truth was, he’d tumbled hard.

Mark’s brows narrowed in speculation, the words on his tongue full of the same kind of ribbing he’d given Zee for years. “And you’re just gonna give up on the girls that flock to you every time you walk through my door? All that easy lovin’? It’s like you’re the rock star with the way they go all starry eyed every time you decide to show. Tell me you aren’t gonna miss it.”

“Don’t miss it,” he said. Honestly. “Being with Julie is…easy.”

The best thing he’d ever done.

Mark chuckled and sank deeper into his chair. “Falling in love is the easy part.”

He took another drag of his cigarette and turned back to the sky. “It’s picking up all the pieces in the aftermath that’s the hard part.”