One Weekend in Vegas: A Best Friend's Older Brother, Rock Star Romance

Chapter 6

Islide out of the elevator as soon as the doors open and let my parents and Krista step out. Then I reach for Brittany’s hand.

“Ryder, you know where we’re going, so you better lead the way,” Dad says.

With a grunt of affirmation, I move to the front of the group, keeping Brittany’s fingers tangled with mine, and lead them toward the private dining room.

“Everything okay?” I murmur, arching one brow at Brittany.

“Just…processing. They don’t really seem to mind, do they?” she asks, her gaze flicking to mine.

“I didn’t think they would. What did Krista say in the elevator?”

“She has lots of questions for me.”

I crane my neck to the side and find my baby sister watching us from her spot next to Mom, while Dad has fallen behind, exploring a storefront ten feet back.

“Dad,” I call out.

He glances up from the sports memorabilia store’s window display and rushes to catch up to us.

I make a mental note to check that shop out later, since his birthday is next month. He’s been a die-hard Colorado Knights fan for as long as I can remember.

“What are you going to tell her?” I ask, turning back to Brittany.

“As little as I can get away with. It should help that you’re her brother. She won’t want all the details.”

My steps falter as her response sinks in. “What do you mean ‘all the details’?”

Her face contorts, her lips pursing. “Do you really need me to spell it out for you?”

“Humor me.”

“How our…sex life…is.” Her voice is so low I can hardly make out the words.

As we step inside the restaurant, I give the name for our reservation to the ma?tre d’, who tells us to follow him.

“You two talk about that kind of stuff?”

“How else would I know that your sister likes to?—”

With a jerk, I drop her hand and cover my ears. “I don’t want to know,” I tell her.

She smirks and drills her index finger into my stomach. “Just like she won’t want to know.”

Sighing, I step through the open door into the private room. Wyatt, Reid, and Hudson are already here, without guests, thank fuck. I warned them that my family was coming, and it looks like they all got the memo. Not a random chick in sight.

There’s a flurry of activity as Reid rushes my sister, picks her up, and throws her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. “Hey, baby sister. How are you?”

She giggles and smacks my drummer on the ass as she squirms to get free.

“Reid,” I grit out. “Maybe you want to let my sister walk under her own power?”

“Nah, this is more fun. Hey, Mama Powell,” Reid hollers, waving at my mom.

She laughs at his antics while Dad dives into a conversation with Hudson. They’re no doubt talking about the highlights from their team’s most recent game. As incredible as Hudson is with a guitar, he was just as good on the football field in high school. The guy turned down scholarships so we could make a go at getting Downfall signed.

“Britt, you remember Wyatt, right?” I stop next to the quiet member of the band.

His expression remains neutral as he gives her a silent nod, but his eyes flick down to where my hand is laced with hers.

“Yeah. Hey.” She waves with her free hand as I tuck her into my side.

“Brittany,” Reid says, stepping up on her other side, “has anyone ever told you how hot you are?”

Jealousy spikes quick and fast, sending my body temperature rising.

He’s only trying to get a reaction.

It’s what Reid does best.

Brittany chokes on air, her eyes going wide. “What?”

He motions to her body.

“Hot.” He emphasizes the T as I plot my revenge.

A pale pink blush fills her cheeks in response to his comment.

“My boy, Ryder, here has, I bet. In fact,” he says, shooting me a knowing grin, “I think I remember him making some remarks about that backstage a few months ago.”

Fuck. My stomach sinks at the realization. I was sure we hadn’t garnered any notice behind the curtain that night.

Guess I was wrong.

“Something like?—”

“Finish that statement, motherfucker, and you’ll find superglue on every single drumstick from now until the end of time.”

He snaps his mouth shut and studies me. “You’re serious?”

Teeth gritted, I stare him down. “Yes.”

He holds up his hands in defense, brows raised. “You never care when I give you shit in front of your family.”

“I care right now. Keep it to yourself.”

And I’ll make sure to keep Brittany far from the jackass. The sounds she makes are for me and me alone.

“Ryder, what kind of food does this place serve?” Dad asks, pulling out a chair for my mom.

“Don’t worry, Dad. There are a couple of steak options on the menu.”

“Stephen, your cholesterol.” Mom gives him a pointed look.

“If I get a salad, can I have a steak too?” he asks.

I bite back a laugh at their interaction. They’ve always been this way. Giving and taking. Bantering, but in a way that’s softer than what Brittany and I have. Suddenly, though, I’m seeing it in a whole new light.

I’ve always wanted what they have. And now it’s so close I can taste it.

Mom sighs, but she gives in with a nod. “A small one.”

Dad lights up like he just won the lottery and Super Bowl tickets. Then he drops into his seat. “I’m ready to order.”

??????

“Fuck, that was good,” Reid says, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his stomach.

“You better not let Mama Powell hear you talk like that,” Wyatt tells him.

Reid bolts upright, eyes wide, and scans the room for my mom. She’s busted the guys more than once for using, in her words, “bad language.”

“Relax,” I tell Reid with a laugh. “She and Krista went with Britt to the bathroom.”

“While we’re talking about Britt…” Hudson chimes in.

I groan. “We weren’t talking about Britt any more than we were talking about my mom or Kris.”

“Well, she’s not here, so it’s an open topic anyway,” Hudson says. “What the fuck is going on? I thought she was some girl you hooked up with occasionally.”

My heart about gives out at that last comment. “What?”

Dad glances up from his phone and eyes us all, so I lower my voice.

“How the hell do you guys know about that?”

Wyatt shrugs. “It wasn’t hard to figure it out. She’s been to a bunch of our concerts this year, and when she’s around, you aren’t.”

“And when she isn’t around, you don’t want to go out or party,” Reid adds.

Well, fuck. “So me telling you that we’re dating…” I start.

“Figures,” Hudson says.

The other two nod.

“You guys are all okay with that?” I ask.

Reid drops his forearms to the table and leans in. “No.”

That single word is like a knife to the chest. None of us have ever taken issues with anyone the others have dated.

Though I suppose dating is the wrong word. More like long-term benefits status, since not one of us has been in a relationship since high school.

“No?”

“Look, man,” Reid says, “I know it was bound to happen at some point. One of us getting involved with a woman seriously. But now? Just as our residency is starting? You need to be focused here. Not on her.”

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I survey Wyatt, then Hudson. Both are far too quiet. Do they agree with him?

“I mean, I get it. I’m jealous.” Reid rakes his fingers through his hair and gives me a devious smirk. “She’s hot as fuck. But what’s wrong with keeping it casual?”

“It hasn’t been casual. Not for me. Not for a while.” Fuck, just saying those words out loud makes my chest ache. “And seriously, stop telling me how hot you think she is unless you want my fist in your face. Same goes for my sister,” I tell him, pointing my finger so he gets my point.

“Ryder doesn’t want to hear what you think of his girlfriend,” Wyatt tells Reid.

“She’s not—” The denial dies on my lips, and my back goes ramrod straight. “Holy shit.”

“Are you just now realizing that she’s your girlfriend?” Wyatt asks.

I rough a hand down my face and frown at him. “Yeah, kinda.”

But it’s more. She’s not just my girlfriend. She’s the mother of my future child. And we haven’t even discussed what happens at the end of these forty-eight hours.

“You look like you’re going to be sick,” Hudson says. “I would be too at the thought of one pussy for the rest of my life.”

I scowl at him. “I’m not going to be sick.”

But I do need to talk to Britt. Alone.

“Sound check is tomorrow at five. Don’t forget,” I say, and with that, I stand, say good night to my dad, and head out in search of Britt.

“Oh my god!” The squeal hits me as I start down the corridor for the bathrooms.

With a deep breath, I turn, and sure enough, it’s what I expect. The girl is in her early twenties at best, wearing heavy makeup and skintight clothes. Women like this are a dime a dozen backstage after every Downfall concert.

“Are you Ryder Powell? I love Downfall!”

Without waiting for confirmation of my identity, she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms and legs around me like an octopus.

“I’m here for my twenty-first birthday,” she slurs, clearly drunk. “My friends got me tickets for your show tomorrow night! I’m so excited to see you! I guess my birthday wish almost came true.”

“Almost?” I ask as I try to extract myself from her death grip.

“Yeah, but if you want to take me back to your hotel room and fuck me on my birthday, the rest of it will come true too.” She simpers up at me, her fake lashes sticking together as she bats them, making it look like she has spiders on her face.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Not my type.

A few years ago? I would have taken her up on her offer without a second thought.

Right now? I need her to leave before Britt comes out and gets the wrong impression.

“I’m glad you’re excited for the show, love—lovely lady.” Britt’s words come back to me, and I vow that she’ll be the only one I call love from here on out.

“So what do you say about my birthday wish?” She latches on to my arm and rubs herself against me.

I back up, pressing myself against the wall, but she follows. Fuck. “I have a girlfriend,” I tell her.

She lifts a shoulder, her breasts nearly popping free of her shirt. “So?”

“So, she minds,” Britt says, suddenly appearing at my side.

No, not at my side. The goddess slips in front of me. Like she’s defending my honor.

“You’re his girlfriend?” Birthday Girl asks, brows raised so high in disbelief they almost disappear into her hairline.

“I am.” Britt’s voice is strong and clear, without an ounce of hesitation.

Relief swamps me. I could kiss her. Instead, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her back against me, making sure my growing erection presses against her. Watching her defend me has me turned on to a level I’ve never experienced before.

The girl in front of us deflates. “Oh.”

“Enjoy the show tomorrow,” Britt says. “Babe, are you ready to head back to our room?”

I tighten my arms around her and bury my face in her hair. “More than.”

Once the birthday girl has disappeared from sight, she turns around in my arms.

“It wasn’t what it looked like,” I tell her, lowering my head to drop a kiss to the tip of her nose.

“I know.”

My shoulders relax. Thank fuck. I was worried I’d have to work to defend myself. “You know?”

She nods once. “Yeah. At first, I was walking over here to rip you a new one…”

Something I’m sure she’s more than capable of doing.

“Then I realized your virtue was at stake and you needed to be rescued.”

I bark out a laugh just as Mom and Krista approach.

“What’s so funny?” Krista asks.

“Your brother was a damsel in distress. I had to save him from an overly eager fan,” Britt tells her.

Krista giggles and makes a show of scanning the floor around us. “And the girl lived to tell about it?”

“I’m not that bad.” Britt steps away from me and shoves Krista playfully.

“Yeah, okay,” she says. “Where’s everyone else?”

“In the dining room.” I wave a hand in the direction of the private area. “I wanted to talk to Britt.”

“And you couldn’t wait for her to get back?” Krista asks, planting her hands on her hips and giving me an incredulous look.

I glare at her, ready to dive into our usual sibling bullshit, but Mom waves a hand between us with a sigh, cutting me off.

“Thirty and thirty-two and you still act like you’re kids. Come on, Krista, let’s go find your dad.”

Krista smirks at me. “Maybe I’ll see if Reid wants to hang out.”

“The fuck you will.” No way does my little sister need to fuck around with any of my asshole bandmates.

“Relax, Grandpa. I meant hit up the tables or something. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” She turns to Britt.

Lips pressed together in uncertainty, Britt looks up at me.

“Your call,” I say.

“Yeah,” she says quietly, her shoulders relaxing. “Good night. Night, Lori.” She hugs both women, and when they’re gone, she turns to face me. “What did you want to talk about?”

Her eyes find mine, and I take advantage.

I can’t resist touching her when we’re so close, so I pull her so her hips are flush with mine. Then I dip my head for a kiss and grind my erection against her stomach. “We need privacy for our conversation,” I tell her once I break the kiss.

She opens her eyes and gives me a dazed look. “So what are you waiting for?”