Chapter Fifteen:
Emerson
My insides are humming, buzzing, and electric. I feel dizzy from the minor lip lock, and it was a mere few seconds. When Cade walks in with Breigh, I can’t take my eyes off Braxton. There’s something different about him, or I’m seeing him differently for the first time. Suddenly, I want nothing more than to feel the sensation of his lips on mine again.
Braxton cocks his head to the side, his expression questioning.
“Hey, guys,” Cade greets us as he plops down on the edge of the bed Braxton is on.
Breigh takes a seat beside me. “Hey,” she says eyeing me. “Do we have time to take a walk?”
I glance at Cade and then Braxton. “You heard her, do we?”
Braxton throws his hands up in the air. “I’m still waiting on my pizza, and there’s no chance in hell I’m leaving here without it.”
I nod in understanding and then check my phone for the time.
“Be back in twenty,” Cade orders and then turns his attention on Braxton as they begin talking through their set list for the night.
Breigh pulls me out the door, and the sun beats down on us. It’s a nice day for the normally chilly San Francisco. I’d guess it’s around the low seventies.
We haven’t gotten more than a few feet from the motel room when I blurt out my own secret. “I kissed Braxton.” I don’t care what anyone says, I trust this girl more than a lot of people. She’s been there for me since the first time we became friends in middle school. I don’t like to keep things from her.
Breigh screeches to a halt. “You what?” Her eyes widen as she digests the information.
I nod, my heartbeat one of the loudest things I can hear. “I don’t know what happened, Breigh. I mean, I do; he was messing with me like he always does when he’s flirty, but this time it was different. I can’t explain it.” I feel like all the words come out wrong as I stumble over them.
Breigh throws her arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. “I thought this day would never come.”
Pulling away, I stare back at her stunned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that the sexual tension between you and Braxton has been off the charts for as long as I’ve known you two.”
I can feel the blush spreading over my cheeks.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Breigh attempts to comfort me.
“You don’t understand,” I say. “Cade will never forgive Braxton for this. He’ll never forgive me. If he ever finds out, it will tear their friendship apart. I can’t do that to him.”
Breigh’s expression changes to concern. “Honestly, I think Cade is going to be a little preoccupied.”
I’m not sure what she means by that, so I stare back at her expectantly, waiting for her to delve deeper.
“Em, I really, really like him,” she says, barely able to look me in the eye.
“Really?” I ask, deadpanned. “After what we walked into last night? You still want him?”
Breigh sighs, crossing and uncrossing her arms, fidgeting. “I know. You probably think I’m desperate… but it’s not as easy to turn your feelings off as I thought.”
“I know.” I sigh. “You’ve always really, really liked him.”
She nods. “Yeah, but we were younger before, and I know you were looking out for me.”
“So what changed?” I ask.
“He’s really good to me, Em; you should see us together. I know you will think that it is silly given what he put me through last night, but I think he is going to try for me.”
I can’t help the surprised scoff that escapes my mouth. “Breigh, Cade couldn’t be faithful to a hot sauce brand, what makes you think he has your best interests at heart?”
She smiles slightly. “At the end of the day, I know you have my best interests at heart, and that is enough for me.”
I shake my head, frustrated. “Breigh, I’m not going to be able to protect your heart; I’m worried that my own brother isn’t going to have the same respect for it as I do.”
She rubs her hands up and down my arms. “You are seriously the best. It makes me feel so special that you look after me like you do.”
“Well, you’d do the same for me,” I state.
She shrugs with a smirk. “Yeah, probably.”
“So does this mean that you’re going to start dating my brother now?” I ask, still unsure if I’m okay with the situation or not.
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to put a label on anything, especially after last night. Simply put, I like him, Em, I do, and I think he likes me too.”
I groan. “Okay, well I guess I don’t have a choice.”
She giggles. “Are you going to tell Cade what happened between you and Braxton?”
“I don’t even know what to call it or if anything else will happen, but I want to keep this to myself for a little bit. You know the minute he finds out all hell will break loose. I’ll have to go into immediate damage control, and I need to prepare for every outcome.” My head is spinning with all the ways this could go wrong.
She nods in understanding. “You know your secret is safe with me.” She lifts her head as she notices a car pulling into the motel. Following her line of vision, I see it’s the pizza delivery driver.
“Hell yes!” I say triumphantly. I am so hungry; my stomach has been rumbling for the past hour. “Let’s go.”
***
The show sold out, and for the first time in a long time, it felt all brand new. People are variables, so there’s always a chance for something unique to happen every single time they play, but tonight is different in so many ways. There was something special about the secret glances Cade and Breigh were sharing; there was something distinct happening when Braxton locked eyes with me. It’s as if I could feel the want and lust from his eyes. My mind has been replaying Breigh’s words since she said them to me.
‘I thought this day would never come.’
How many people were aware of our chemistry before we were? Or did Braxton know something I didn’t? The thoughts have been eating away at me.
It’s been bittersweet spending some time today with Breigh. I know she is only here for one more day, but it also makes me think about how little time we have left on tour. I feel like they dragged me kicking and screaming, but now I’m content, and besides missing Mischa a little, I’ve been enjoying myself. I’m worried about these newly recognized feelings for Braxton and how that will shift once we aren’t spending twenty-four hours a day together.
I snap a few pictures of the band onstage doing their thing before joining Breigh in the back of the room. Her eyes haven’t left Cade since he stepped up on stage. I glance around the room, and most of the girls are fixated on Cade, as per usual. Something is different about tonight, I can feel it, I’m sure my best friend can feel it too. I feel like I’m invading this personal moment as Cade serenades Breigh; no one else exists but the two of them. I’ve never seen Cade look at anyone the way I see him looking at Breigh tonight.
I’ve kept my secret glances with Braxton more reserved, more mysterious. I don’t need Cade catching onto anything just yet. I’m not even sure if there is anything to report. I know I trust him, and I think I’m ready to just get it over with. I feel almost embarrassed that I am still a virgin. If it weren’t for Cade and all his buddies cock-blocking me all my life, who knows where I’d be today. Maybe I’d be knocked up with another on the way? I shudder at the thought.
We spend the rest of the night running the merch table. I think it gives Breigh some kind of sick and twisted validation when the girls come up to the table and instantly give us the once over, wanting to know who we are. None of them come out and ask us, but they stare us down long and hard before making silent assessments to themselves.
When Cade finally emerges—sweaty with a towel slung around his neck—he’s immediately taken over by all the adoring fans. Most of them are female, but they all surround him, waiting to get an autograph and pictures. At one point, he looks up amid all the chaos and his eyes search for Breigh’s. It’s a touching moment that is only caught by me and possibly a few others who are attentive. I find it endearing. Cade is really trying… I don’t know what Breigh said or did to him, but I’m almost dying to ask her secrets for myself.
Braxton is smooth as he makes his way through the room, stopping to talk to every person who wants to engage with him. Most of them treat him like he’s a celebrity, but it doesn’t faze him. I watch as he gives care to each person he encounters. He’s a social butterfly, and I’ve always admired that about him. Everyone wants to know him and those who know him want to be him. Girls cling to him as they pose, making sure to press against him or flaunt their boobs. A small part of me grows insecure knowing I’m not the most well-equipped when it comes to my cup size, as I’m a modest and small B.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he makes his way to me. “Hey,” he says simply, rubbing the hand towel over his face and neck.
“Hi,” I reply.
“How’s it going?”
I’m not sure why he is making small talk, but maybe he isn’t sure how to act around me. I don’t like it one bit. “It’s fine.”
“Do you want to get a drink?” Finally, something he says that makes complete sense to me.
I nod, letting him lead the way to the back of the venue where the bar is. “What do you want?” he asks.
I glance quickly at the alcohol sitting on the wooden shelves and then back to Braxton. “Rum and Coke.”
He bobs his head in understanding and then turns his attention on the bartender. “Can I get a rum and Coke and a whiskey sour?” The young bartender doesn’t even acknowledge the order, just begins making it; his bright electric blue Mohawk the most interesting thing about him.
I turn my attention to Braxton. He is staring at me, and not any kind of gawking, he looks like he is going to eat me up any second. “Cut it out,” I warn him, raising my eyebrows, “before somebody sees.”
He flashes his charming smile back at me. The same one that has had plenty of girls eating out of the palm of his hand. Braxton is one of those guys that are so dangerously good looking that he can get away with virtually anything. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve always felt like there is something magical about him.
The bartender places our drinks in front of us and then looks at Braxton. “It’s on the house.”
“Oh, wow. Thanks, man,” he says appreciatively, still throwing a five dollar bill on the counter as a tip. “Have a good night.” Turning to me, he hands me the rum and Coke I ordered.
I stir the liquid around with the skinny black straw, and then glance at Braxton. “So, what should we cheers to?”
He stares back at me, fighting a grin. His black straw is between his teeth, but the way he does it gives me goosebumps all over. I wonder what kind of tricks he can do with that mouth.
The thought shocks the hell out of me. I’m not the most experienced girl, but I’m also not an innocent lamb. I’ve been intimate with a couple of guys, enough so that I’m surprised we never made it to home base, but it was never the right time.
“How about we cheers to new beginnings?” Braxton suggests, lifting his glass toward mine.
I cock my head to the side and oblige by clinking his glass softly with my own. Funny, and here I am thinking he’s going to cheers to all the dirty and nasty things he’s going to do to me in the next few hours. A chill runs down my spine. It’s starting to sink in. Braxton, my brother’s closest and most trusted friend, someone who has picked on me our entire relationship, is going to bed me.
Even knowing all of that, I’m more excited than anything else. For once in my life, I’m finally going to feel like I am not a twenty-two-year-old virgin.