22. Lilah
LILAH
Your village doesn’t have to be big. It has to be loyal.
—Lilah’s Secret Thoughts
T here’s a knock at the front door a minute before it opens and Noah walks in, and I freeze. “What are you doing here?”
My words are barely audible over my crazy, thrumming heart.
“Guess I should have changed the gate code,” I murmur and slide my other foot into my silver heel.
“Really?” Noah asks as he shuts the door behind him. “You look pretty, Tink.”
I look down at the tiered, red gown that was flown in for me to wear to the Kingston Foundation benefit tonight. It’s a beautiful piece of art, and I feel like the princess everyone likes to call me.
“Thank you. You look pretty snazzy yourself.” Noah always rocks a tux like nobody’s business. “And no. I didn’t mean it when I said I should have changed the code. You just caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Yeah well, I figured since you fired me, I wasn’t exactly welcome.” He shoves his hands into his navy-blue pockets and pouts. Yup, pouts. Because what else should a big brother do when you’re mad at him. And I use the term big cautiously. Noah is six minutes older than me—and over a foot taller.
“Well, I assumed since you lied so well?—”
“Jesus Christ,” Killian groans as he walks down the staircase in his own tux and makes my brother look like a little boy playing dress-up. “You’re both miserable without the other to talk to every day, and you know it. Kiss and make up. Life’s too damn short.” He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “You look beautiful, Lilah.” He hands me his bow tie. “Can you tie this stupid thing for me?”
I look from him to Noah and feel like a complete asshole.
I take the tie from his hand and tuck it into his pocket. “Sorry, champ. I don’t have a clue how to tie that. But it looks nice unbuttoned.” I smooth my hands down his lapels.
“You okay?” he asks as he looks between my brother and me, and I nod.
“Yeah. Can you give me a minute?”
“Sure, princess.” Then he runs his nose over my ear. “You look beautiful tonight. Any chance the panties match the dress?”
I giggle and press up onto my toes and whisper, “Who says I’m wearing panties?”
He groans, and I think Noah gags. Shithead . It’s not like he heard what I just said. “Is this how it’s going to be now? You two making out whenever you’re together?”
“That’s assuming you’re around to see it,” I snap, and Killian walks away, knowing I need to handle this myself.
Noah nods Killian’s way. “Does that mean you two finally worked your shit out?”
“Yes,” I answer softly because it’s nobody’s business but ours. Actually... “You knew what really happened for years, and you never told me?”
There’s no missing the hurt in my voice or the hurt on Noah’s face at my words.
“It wasn’t my story to tell, Tink. It was his. And he asked us not to say anything. You never asked me what happened, so I never lied to you, and Killer was dealing with his own shit. If that was how he needed to deal with it, we all had to respect that.” It’s pretty amazing how much you can love someone and hate what they did at the same time.
“I never knew you were so good at keeping secrets, big brother.” The words come out more cruel than I intended, and guilt trickles in immediately.
Noah takes a step toward the door, and I reach out to stop him. “Don’t— Don’t go. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Believe it or not, I do know that you were trying to protect me. Misguided as you were. You can’t protect someone with a lie, Noah. Especially when that lie actually put me more at risk.”
He closes his eyes, and I see the tension he’s keeping in his shoulders and the exhaustion lining his eyes that wasn’t there before. “I swear to you, Tink, I thought I was protecting you. I trusted Scottie to know what was best, and I was wrong. I am sorry, and on my fucking life, I’ll never do it again.”
Scottie... Maybe it is time for a team shake-up.
My assistant was selling secrets to the paparazzi.
My publicist is constantly pissed about my choices.
My manager thinks it’s safe to lie to me.
Which leads me to wonder what the hell else she’s been lying about.
And there’s still the issue of the stalker no one has heard from since the tour went on hiatus.
“Do you promise to never do it again?” I ask as I move next to him and brush my hip against his, then lean my head against his shoulder.
“Yeah,” he answers immediately and leans his head on top of mine. “Any chance you haven’t replaced me yet? I hate the idea of you being out there for two months without me... Who’s gonna make sure you survive on more than strawberries and ice cream?”
“There’s a pretty good chance. I never told the label I fired you,” I admit as Noah slides an arm around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry I fucked up.”
I look up at my twin brother and know deep in my soul I don’t want to tour without him.
“I think this is going to be our last tour for a few years. You okay with that?” I murmur, admitting it out loud for the first time.
“Yeah, Tink. That sounds good to me.”
A minute later, Killian walks back in like the cat who ate the damn canary. “Okay, now that we’re all good, can we please leave before my mother gives us shit for being late? You both know how she gets.”
“Damn. I’m outta here. See you guys there.” Noah kisses my cheek and waves at Killian.
“Chicken,” I call out as the door clicks shut behind him. “You ready for this?” I ask Killian as I step into his arms.
“Ready for what? My family already knows about us. Rome has a big mouth. No way he kept it shut. And your family definitely knows because Dillan’s crazy-ass mouth is even bigger than Rome’s, and she might as well move in with us as much as she’s here.”
I giggle because nothing he said is wrong. “I mean, you’re not wrong. But that’s not what I was talking about. You think your life is high-profile. You’re a world champion with a pedigree to back it up and a family legacy on both sides most people would die for a piece of. But trust me when I say none of that has prepared you for what stepping out with me will do to your life.”
“Lilah Belle...” He circles my waist and drags me to him. “I’ve gone through the motions without you for years. There’s not a damn thing you could do or say that’s going to scare me away. Bring on the crazy.”
“Are you sure?” I ask him, so scared he’s going to change his mind. “I’ve never done this before, so the paparazzi is going to be rabid.”
“Let them, baby.”
Let them... I guess it’s worth a try.
Killian
T he top floor of the Four Seasons hotel has hosted the Kingston Foundation Awards for the past five years. The foundation recognizes achievement in humanitarianism in and around the city of Philadelphia, and this is one of the few events my entire family is expected to attend each year. Lilah’s grandfather, Joe Sinclair, the former head coach of the Philadelphia Kings, is one of the recipients tonight, for years of quiet dedication to this city and the thousands of hours he’s spent giving back. He could donate money—write a check and feel good about himself—but that’s not his way. He knows he’s getting the award tonight, but I don’t think his family does.
And as the questions fly at Lilah and me from every direction when we walk along the gauntlet of press to get to the ballroom, I’m glad it wasn’t announced ahead of time either. Or the whole world would know by now. Questions fly at us, left and right, and my girl smiles and holds my hand like a pro. She rarely answers except when a pushy older guy whistles, and she stops and looks at him. “Hey, Lilah. Any chance this is the guy?”
“What guy?” She smiles coyly, knowing exactly what she’s doing.
“Your muse,” he calls back. “You know... the guy.”
Lilah looks up at me, absolutely fucking beaming, and I slide my hand from hers and wrap my arm around her waist. “His name is Killian St. James, in case you weren’t sure. And he’s not just the guy. He’s always been that guy.”
She leans up onto her toes and presses a kiss to my cheek, then keeps moving, and I do my best to just keep up with her.
Once we’re inside the noisy ballroom, she relaxes for a moment. “You did well.”
“You did all the talking, princess.” I hold her closer. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
“Anytime.” She smiles. “Ohh, I see my sister and cousins.”
“Go. I’ll get us drinks.” I watch her walk away, thinking about how badly I want to strip her out of that damn gown as I head for the bar.
“Stop thinking it, son.” Dad comes up beside me and slaps my back. “Weigh-ins are tomorrow. Your fight is two days from now.”
“You warning me about booze or sex?” I joke, knowing the answer is both, especially when the old man glares. I was already only getting a water for myself. But there’s no way I’m not stripping that woman naked and sinking into her all night long later.
“I hear ya. You already know I’m two pounds under, and I’m gonna be fine for weigh-ins.” I try to reassure him, but for as calm as Dad usually is, he’s the opposite on fight weekends.
“I told your mother we should have rescheduled this event for a different date,” he grumbles.
“What do you always say?” I argue, and the look he gives me says he knows exactly where I’m going here and isn’t having it.
“You’re a fucking beast, Killer. You’re the fucking best. But even the best don’t need distractions, and tonight is a distraction. That girl.” He points to where Lilah is standing with her family. “She’s a distraction.”
“I’m going to marry that girl,” I tell him, and fuck, if it doesn’t sound even better out loud.
He claps my shoulder. “Just don’t do it this weekend.”
“Asshole,” I grumble, and the old man laughs.
“One day you’re gonna have your own kid, and they’re going to drive you crazy, and I’m going to laugh my ass off. But right now, you’re still my kid, and it’s my job to make sure you’re ready for this weekend.”
“I’m ready.” I force my eyes off Lilah. I’m ready for everything.