4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Laredo
“ T hat’s mine.” Adam elbows me, but he’s too late—I’m already halfway through his tiny bag of airplane peanuts.
“Snooze, you lose.” I pour the rest of the peanuts into my hand and shove it into my mouth. He made the rookie mistake of falling asleep, expecting his snack to remain untouched. He lifts the armrest between our airplane seats and elbows me again, this time right in my ribs.
“You’re an ass.”
I give him the first two hits for free because he’s right. I am one, at least when it comes to my twin brother. We’ve been fighting since we came out of the womb together. “Well, this ass is the reason we’re flying for free on our way back to the music festival.” I divert his attention to the one thing that always captures his attention: music. “Ariel wants me.” Ever since I read the text from Ariel, I’ve been listening to her band’s music. Devil May Care is a tight team of eight that has been together since high school. In many ways, they are a family band just like ours. Or rather, our old band.
“She reached out to me first, so I think I’m the one who got us this gig. You’re just tagging along.” Adam slams the armrest back in place and glances out the window. We may be twins, but you’d have to be blind not to know the difference between us.
He’s clean-shaven, with short, dark hair and soft, approachable eyes. I’m always two months past a haircut, tattooed up and down my arms, and vacillate between get out of my way scowls and you’re coming home with me smirks.
I should let him get the last word, but where’s the fun in that? I swipe at my phone and pull up the text message thread from Ariel. My words are breathy as I layer in a falsetto voice. “I’d love to have your guitar skills in the studio with us.” I swipe and continue. “It’ll be better than the time we played together in Boston, but with a lot fewer people in the room with us.”
I shove the phone in his face, and he jabs me in the gut. This is who we are. It feels good to be us again. Both of us have been lost for months, and this gig has come at the right time. Music has always been our family’s savior.
“I’m not my brother’s keeper on this trip,” Adam warns me, and I take notice. He’s the kind brother, the one with patience and empathy. If he ever reaches the end of his rope with me, I’ll know I’ve gone too far.
“I heard you the first seven times. Ariel is a big girl; she won’t need you to protect her.” I wait for his reaction. Last fall, Hailey’s boyfriend, Marshall, surprised her at the recording studio in Boston, where they were working on her album. He brought me, Adam, Ariel, and a few members of Ariel’s band to play on a track for Ariel’s debut album. We only had one day to nail everything and winded up working a twelve-hour day together.
Adam has never said a word, but I could tell by his actions that day, as well as how he reacts whenever Ariel’s name is mentioned, that he’s hung up on her. And it’s my duty as his older brother to tease him about it. “I promise to say nice things about you over our pillow talk.”
“As if I’m worried about that. She operates in an entirely different stratosphere from where you usually score. It’ll take a lot more than you whispering sweet nothings and strumming a guitar to get her attention.”
“Is that worry I hear in your voice?” I needle him because it’s expected.
“I’m not doing this with you.” Adam scoops up the empty bags of peanuts in front of me and stuffs them into my plastic cup, handing them to the flight attendant in the aisle. Like I said, he’s the nice brother.
I turn my attention to the attendant. I’m sitting on the aisle seat, and I catch a whiff of her perfume when she leans in to collect the garbage.
“Pure Existence,” I whisper.
She leans back, brow raised with a hint of a half-smile. “Excuse?”
“Your fragrance. It’s Pure Existence, am I right?”
Her smile expands. “Yes, it is. That’s impressive.” She stuffs the cup into the center bin of the cart she’s pulling through the aisle. “Your girlfriend must have good taste.”
I give her my practiced smirk and ignore the loud scoff from Adam. “No girlfriend.” I pause and let my words sink in. “My sister. She obsessed over that fragrance for a year but refused to spend the money on something she knew she’d enjoy. So, I bought her three bottles.”
“Bullshit,” Adam coughs into his hand, but I turn to block him.
She doesn’t appear to have heard him. “That’s the sweetest. She must be special?”
“She is, Louise.” I read the lapel on her jacket. “Are you flying back, or do you have a layover in Oregon?”
She glances over her shoulder and grabs a handful of garbage from the aisle across from us. Her time is limited. I have a rep to protect and can’t let Adam know about my plans to reach out to Betty. I’d never hear the end of it. I don’t need the hassle – not even for my twin brother.
“Headed back tonight. Quick turnaround, thirty minutes after we land.” Louise offers me a professional smile.
“Next time.” I let the non-invite dangle. When she doesn’t take the bait, I jump in, “I’ll be in Oregon for the next week. You know, the whole music festival thing. If your schedule opens up…”
Her dark eyes sparkle, and I can sense she is on the edge. “Musician? Let me stop you right there. I don’t deal with your type. I’ve seen you break too many hearts. A different girl in every city. I’ll pass. Please fasten your seat belt, and enjoy the rest of the flight.”
Her rebuke is quick and efficient. The message is clear: keep your butt in your seat, and don’t say another word. My gaze lingers on her working down the aisle with practiced efficiency, regretting what comes next.
Adam.
He clears his throat, making sure he has my complete attention. “You think she knows Betty?” he asks with humor in his voice.
Adam is more perceptive than I give him credit for. Most of the girls I hook up with, I never mention their names to Adam. Betty was different.
It’s the only reason Adam even recalls her name. I invited him to join us and her friend one night, something I don’t recall doing with any other recent girl. She’s cool like that.
Adam pushes his seat back and lowers his baseball cap across his eyes. Time for him to nap again.
I’m wide-awake. With Adam’s mention of Betty, I no longer have to hide my intent. I’ll even give him credit if it works out. The more I think of it, the more excited I get.
I hope she’ll feel the same way when I reach out.
I snicker. Of course she will. I’m Laredo. I leave a lasting impression. She’ll never forget my name.