The door to my loft opens. I call out from the bathroom, my mouth full of toothpaste, “In here!”

Justin appears behind me and leans on the doorframe, crossing his arms. “You haven’t brushed your teeth yet today? Oh…coffee breath.”

“Mmmhmm.” I spit and run the faucet water over my toothbrush, sizing him up through the mirror. “Is that the same thing you wore last night?”

“I fucked Simone.”

I freeze and blink at him, then flip off the tap and turn around. “What the fuck?”

His jaw moves around as he thinks a moment, bringing his eyes back to meet mine. “I wanted to help.”

Narrowing a glare on him I toss the toothbrush onto the counter and cross my arms over my t-shirt, mirroring him.

“You’re kidding me, Justin. I know you’re a dick but wow.”

His gaze drops to the floor as he says, “We’ve shared girls before.”

Scoffing I snap, “Not to manipulate them!”

He nods and looks at me, parroting in a quieter tone, “No, not to manipulate them.” Shoving his hands in his pockets he spreads his feet and exhales. “Look, I didn’t like her. I wanted her gone. And I thought it was the way to do it. But Sarah handled it better than I did.”

I know my brother’s morals aren’t always on the up and up. I said it before, he has a dark side. He’s also a man who won’t let anyone get in the way of what he wants. If what he wants has something to do with me, he’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if those actions are what I would deem wrong.

But now that he’s mentioned Sarah with that look on his face, I’m dying of curiosity.

“How so?”

“She came clean. Told Simone off. It was harsh, but true. Needed to be said.” His voice loses volume as he adds, “I should have done that instead.”

On a laugh of pure disbelief, I mutter, “Well, it’s too late for that now. How is Simone?”

“Smitten.”

“Oh shit,” I groan.

Justin moves over so I can get out of this bathroom. I need to pace. He leans against a wall and waits.

Finally, I grumble, “You deserve this. You deserve each other.”

“I don’t have feelings for the girl.”

“I know! Jesus, you should have thought of that.”

“How did I know she’d get all goo-goo eyed?!” he explodes.

Laughing harshly, I face him. “Because you’re an asshole. Women like her love dark clouds! It’s why she didn’t like me. You’re over there acting like you don’t care, because you don’t! And that is going to make her want you. God, you know this! It’s science! It’s how they work!”

“I know,” he sighs loudly through his nose, looking very much like our father. “I’m going to…ah fuck. I don’t know. What do you want me to do?”

I rub my forehead for solutions. “She lives in Detroit. Let it play out. Give it some time. Show her attention and don’t hurt her. Let distance be the reason it ends.” Off his look, I point at him. “I know what you’re thinking. But she’s not a bad person. She’s just spoiled. She doesn’t need you fucking with her heart right now when she’s got this album coming out. It’s more important than you. Hell, it’s more important than her, too.”

He makes a face like he doesn’t understand.

But he wouldn’t. Only an artist would. And the people who support them. Like me.

“Art isn’t just for the person who made it. It’s for the world.”

Snorting, Justin mutters, “Write a Hallmark card.”

Walking to my kitchen I almost don’t spell it out for him, but this is something I’m passionate about, and I had to listen to his potholes speeches.

Over my shoulder while I pour orange juice for both of us, I tell him something that will probably never stick, but fuck it. I have to do this.

“The reason it’s a tragedy when an artist dies at an early age, or why we all mourn David Bowie even when he lived a long life and leaves us, is because their art was sent to us, the people, to elevate our worlds. Make our days better. Life is shitty most of the time, and then there’s that perfect song that moves your body and makes you forget your past, your future, everything.” Justin has walked over and I hand him his juice as I finish, looking him right in the eyes, “Simone was given a gift. And her and those boys singing that song are going to lift people up when they hear it. And she’s going to tour, and every city she goes to will be elevated by the people who bought those tickets. Because that’s why art is so important. And you breaking her heart right now by telling her you don’t care about her, isn’t the right thing to do. You want to make this right? Treat her with respect. And let time take its course.”

He’s listened to every word, and he licks his lips against the ego-hit it is for him to take my advice. Justin was born two minutes before I was and believes in his heart that he’s older than I am, and therefore should be leading the way. And he usually does. But sometimes, like today, I have to step into the older brother role.

He taps his juice glass to mine and nods once, muttering, “Okay.”

“Good. Now go home and shower. I have to call Sarah.”

As soon as the door clicks behind him I’m dialing the number I used to hate calling. She answers after three rings, right as I think I’m being sent to voicemail.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” I smile. “Thought for a second you weren’t going to answer.”

I can hear the amusement in her reply. “I thought about it.”

“You should’ve made me wait.”

“I don’t feel like playing games with you, Jason.”

“Me neither.” We’re silent a moment and then I say, “What’s on your schedule for today? I know how tight you keep that thing.”

“I have to take Simone to the airport. Then I guess I’m coming back to the Airbnb.”

“She’s leaving?”

Lowering her voice, Sarah tells me, “Something happened I’m not sure it’s my right to tell you.”

“She slept with my brother.”

“You know?”

Frowning I pick at a bubble of paint on my wall. “He just left. Yeah. He told me.”

On a sigh, Sarah says, “Oh good. I didn’t want that between us. How are you?”

“Fine.”

“Really?”

“I don’t have feelings like that for her, Sarah. Justin didn’t hurt me with what he did.”

Another exhale. “Oh good. Well, I know how he is, so I’m sure you won’t mind my coming out and being honest. Simone’s getting out of town so he doesn’t get attached.”

I almost snort, but instead mutter an incredulous, “Come again?”

“Yeah, he was really into her and she’s just not feeling it. And after what I told her today when I was mad, she confessed she doesn’t want to use men anymore. She’d rather just be alone for a little while.”

“Ahh…well, I’m sure he’ll be crushed, but he’ll get over her in time.”

Sarah’s voice is weighted as she agrees, “I think the distance will help, don’t you?”

I’m trying so hard not to laugh. “Yep. I hope you’re right.”

“Me too. She always leaves a string of broken hearts behind her and I don’t want your brother hurting. Justin can be arrogant, but…you know.”

“When can I see you?”

“Oh, uh,” she laughs, nervous. “I can come by after the airport?”

“Come to the studio. I’ll be working.”

We get off the phone and I pull up my brother’s number, thumb hovering. “Fuck it. I won’t tell him. I’m gonna enjoy this too much. Maybe it’ll teach him a lesson.”

Laughing to myself, I dial Jake’s number instead.

“Hey Jason, how was the party?”

“Weird. How’s Drew?”

“Better. Fever broke. She’s sleeping.”

“Jake, Bernie showed up last night.”

“Oh, fuck, you’re kidding me? You toss her on her ass?”

Huffing through my nose as I head to pull the sheets off my bed for the laundry, I tell him, “No, that’s why I’m calling. Tell Drew she finally agreed to rehab. I just got back from taking her there. Who knows if it’ll stick, but it’s the first time she agreed to go.”

“Wow, okay, Drew’ll want to know about this. She’ll probably go visit.”

“No visitors for awhile. It’s going to be a rough start for her.” I opt not to tell him about the heroin, and say instead, “But I have faith. When you and Drew go, I’ll go with you guys, okay?”

“Sure. How’d you get her to say yes?”

Smiling as I tug the pillowcase off, I tell my brother, “Sarah got her to go.”

“Who’s Sarah?”

“Someone you’re about to meet. Very soon.”

His voice lightens as he understands what I’m saying. “Holy shit, Jason! Are we talking BBQ time?”

“We most certainly are!”