Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
EVERETT
A s I watch her go, I realize Raine’s dad isn’t looking at her. Hell, he isn’t even watching his son on the stage. His sole focus is on me, and I don’t know what to make of it until the song ends and squeals ensue.
Turning back to the stage, I see why. Dodger has jumped off the edge and is now strolling through the sea of fans, nodding to some, stopping for a quick picture with others, until he waves everyone off, asking for a minute with his dad.
And just like that, his fans listen. Keeping their distance. Giving him space. The guy’s arrogance radiates off him like cologne as he strides toward the bar, bringing his dad in for a quick hug and slap on the back. After, both of them turn to me.
I get it now. The timing. The reason why Raine’s dad stayed quiet, barely casting me a glance until this moment. This is an interrogation. And a decently orchestrated one, too. My sister would be proud.
I wait for pleasantries. For something. For whatever they want to say to be said. Instead, they only stare at me, waiting for me to crack.
I’ve played this game before, though. I’m used to the pressure. The heavy, charged air. The silent game of chicken.
Dodger’s eyes thin slightly before he gives in and demands, “How long you been dating Bo?”
“I’m Everett,” I reply dryly. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“Ah, you’re a funny one,” Dodger returns. He grabs a pretzel and tosses it into his mouth. “You the reason she’s pulled away from the family since last year?”
My jaw tics, and I fight the urge to defend myself, breaking Raine’s trust in the process. Reaching for my glass, I take a sip, then set it back on the counter, choosing my words carefully. “Have you asked Raine about any of this?”
“Raine’s good at keeping us in the dark. The more we push, the less she comes around,” her dad answers. “Honestly, it’s a miracle she even agreed to come work with me after moving back to Lockwood Heights. You the reason?”
“For Raine moving back?” I ask.
His chin dips.
“You’ll have to ask her,” I deflect.
“Why is she working with my dad, anyway?” Dodger demands. “And why do you drive her when she has a perfectly good car?”
“I see you two are close,” I note, swallowing the last of my beer and setting the empty glass on the counter. “I’m close with my family, too.”
“And my sister,” Dodger points out. “You seem awfully close with?—”
“Hey, Dodge,” Raine interjects. With her hands up and a what the fuck expression on her face, she adds, “Way to wait until I was gone to end the set.”
“Hey, Bo.” Dodger yanks her into a hug and squeezes her. “Missed you. ”
“Missed you .” After patting his back, she wiggles out of his hold and looks up at him. “So? Are we through with the interrogation?”
“His part in it,” Dodge shrugs. “ Sure .”
Scoffing, Raine drags out, “Aaaanyway. How was the tour?”
“Long,” he admits. “I could use a few months off, but our manager wants us to do a quick world tour before taking a breather and writing our next album.”
“A quick world tour?” Raine snorts. “Dude, our lives are total opposites. You know that, right?”
Scratching the scuff of his jaw, he lets out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, it’s wild. So, who’s this?” He lifts his chin toward me.
“This is Everett,” Raine announces. “Everett Taylor. Although I have a feeling you already know.”
“Hey.” I offer my hand to Raine’s brother, but he only stares at it.
“Are you the reason my baby sister’s been so absent this last year?” he demands.
Apparently, he didn’t like my answer the first time. I keep my expression blank and drop my hand. Raine’s right. This guy won’t give me an inch. Not willingly.
“Dodge,” Raine warns.
“Just asking him a question,” her brother returns, pinning me with another look. And it’s crazy. To see his easy-going persona from the stage slip, turning him into a fucking Rottweiler who wants to rip me to shreds.
Honestly, I admire it. His desire to protect Raine. To keep her safe, even if it pisses her off. He doesn’t know it, but I relate to him more than he’ll ever understand. It’s how I feel about Finley. About Dylan. And Ophelia and Tatum and everyone else I grew up with. A need to keep them safe. Protected .
“No, he’s not the reason I’ve been absent,” Raine argues. “We’ve only known each other for a few months.”
Dodger’s eyes thin. “Before or after you showed up at Dad’s work with a split lip and a shitty excuse about where it came from?”
Raine glares at her dad, and suddenly, it all makes sense. Milo didn’t need to put me through the wringer. He knew his son would do it for him.
When Raine and I stay quiet, Dodge asks, “What? Nothing to say?”
My molars grind, but I manage to keep my mouth shut. Because I have a lot to say. Like I would never hit Raine. And she has a crazy ex-stalker who not only hit her but filmed them together without her permission. Then, he stalked her place of work until she had to leave, potentially ruining her future in the tattoo industry if it wasn’t for her dad’s help. But I can’t say a fucking word because if I do, I’ll betray Raine’s trust, and Drake already obliterated it hand over fist, leaving nothing but pieces for me to put together all by myself. So that’s what I’m doing right now. By keeping my mouth shut. By biting my tongue until I swear I can taste blood. Because it isn’t my secret. It’s Raine’s.
“Can we not do this?” she begs. “I’m here to support you and your band, not be interrogated over something you know nothing about.”
Cracking his knuckles in front of him, Dodger laces them together and cups the back of his head. “Now, if that isn’t incriminating, I don’t know what is.”
Raine’s body tenses, and she turns to her father. “Thanks a lot, Dad. Thank you so much for reminding me why I should’ve never accepted an internship with you.”
“Raine,” her dad starts, but she stands up and heads outside, not bothering to grab her coat and put it on despite the dropping temperature .
“Did you accomplish what you came for?” I ask Dodge. “Don’t get me wrong. I get it. I have a little sister, too, but?—”
“Finley Taylor.” His mouth stretches into a sneer. “I did my research.”
Fuck me. If this guy was anyone else. Anyone. I’d beat the shit out of him for digging into my life as if I have something to hide. The fact he’s been sniffing around Fin, though? This asshole’s playing with fire. Unfortunately, kicking the shit out of my girlfriend’s brother isn’t on my to-do list. Not yet, anyway, so I try to rein in my temper.
“If you’ve done your research, you should already know one of the things I stress about more than anything in my life is whether my little sister is or isn’t being treated right by her boyfriend,” I tell him. “And no, not only physically, but emotionally, too.”
“Yeah, her boyfriend seems like a real piece of work,” he counters. “Might wanna stop fucking up on that front. But, hey, you do you.”
My molars grind, and I squeeze my empty glass, surprised it hasn’t splintered. “I understand the interrogation. The desire to check on Raine and make sure she isn’t making bad decisions or winding up with an asshole. But despite your desire to protect her, you’re only fucking up your relationship by implying you don’t trust her.”
“Where’d the split lip come from?” her dad demands.
My gaze slices to him. “I won’t break Raine’s trust?—”
“What if it was your sister?” Dodge interrupts. “What if Finley was the one pulling away? The one hiding things. The one who showed up with a split lip and a new boyfriend no one knew about who doesn’t let her out of his sight. What then?”
They’re right. If I was in their position, I’d be a mess.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I try to figure out how I can put their minds at ease about me without breaking Raine’s trust. None of it makes me feel better. I hate how there isn’t a simple solution. It’d be one thing if I didn’t like Raine the way I do. If I didn’t care about her as more than a human, a human I actually like. A human I want a future with, and said future should sure as shit include her family.
Nostrils flaring, I glance at SeaBird’s exit. “I’m not the one who hurt her, all right?”
“Who is?” Milo challenges.
“Someone I’m trying to protect her from,” I reply carefully. “And the sooner you become a safe space for Raine, the sooner she’ll open up to you without feeling like you’ll overreact or be disappointed in her. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I stand up, but Dodge blocks my way. We’re eye to eye. Nose to nose. And the asshole might be a rockstar, but he’s built like a fighter. One who isn’t afraid to fight dirty.
I hold his gaze, refusing to back down but not egging him on, either. No use adding fuel to the fire, not when he’s already close to losing his shit. Yeah, I’ve seen this look before, both on and off the ice. This guy’s a loose cannon.
“What are you gonna do, Dodge?” I ask. “Your move.”
He cocks his head. “If you’re lying, I’ll kill you,” he growls.
“That’s what your sister’s afraid of,” I reply. “You doing something stupid and fucking up your future for her.” My mouth twitches. “The irony is, if I was in your position, I’d be the same way. Don’t worry, though. I’m not the enemy. I’ll keep her safe. Promise.”
“Dodge,” a grumbly voice echoes from the stage. It’s a command. My head snaps in its direction. Sure enough, a guy in his early thirties with tats covering every inch of his skin from the neck down is at the mic. It’s the drummer. Judge, I think? The name’s fitting. Or maybe not. Executioner is a better choice, and right now, his sight is set on me and Dodge.
“Duty calls.” Dodge shifts back on his feet, leaving me space to move past him. “Talk soon.” Then, the same carefree smile takes up his expression when he jogs toward the limelight like he was made for it.
My head spins as I watch his entire demeanor change right before my eyes. When the intro to the next song starts playing, Dodge winks at me from the stage, and Raine’s dad stands up, offering his hand.
“I’m letting you pass,” he decides. “Don’t make me regret it.”
With a snort, I take it. “Thanks, I guess?”
“Now, go make my baby girl feel better.” He tugs me closer. “And I mean that in the most PG way possible.”
My mouth lifts. “I’ll see what I can do.”