Chapter 14
ALEX
God help me, my sister’s words play inside my head during the flight to San Francisco. Nothing I do is good enough for anyone. I always give my best to everything I do. What’s there to figure out?
I commit. Samantha and I signed a partnership contract. We lived together for a couple of years. She left me, not the other way around.
That’s committing, right?
The entire way to San Francisco, I keep playing June’s words. It’s public knowledge that my little sister doesn’t respect me and thinks too little of me. Is that why I don’t deserve her friend?
June swears my life will fall apart if she’s not holding everything together for me. I could manage my career and my life if I wanted to. I can hire another publicist and another manager. Maybe we’re too codependent on each other. She needs to boss people around; I let her, because, why not?
This might be a step in the right direction. She doesn’t have to look at me as the fucked-up guy who can’t keep his career straight. Yeah, maybe I’m not that responsible when it comes to my professional life and I’ve never put boundaries between us when it comes to my personal one.
She wants change, that’s where I’m starting. Our professional relationship is over. I don’t need her to survive, only for her to be my sister. A supportive sister for that matter.
Once I land, I focus on my days with Hannah. It doesn’t take me long to buy a basket and fill it with what I think might cheer her up or that’ll remind her that she’s not alone.
When I arrive at her apartment, a guy as tall as me with silver eyes opens the door.
“Yeah?” he says. “Can I help you?”
Studying him closer, I realize he’s the same guy from the charity dinner. One of her bandmates and best friends. No, she mentioned they’re her family. This is why June was pissed. Hannah called her old band and not my sister.
I’m not upset because I have no right. But this is who I want to be for Hannah. I want to be the first call she makes when she needs someone by her side: not the guy who happened to eavesdrop on a conversation and is now trying to reach her.
“I’m looking for Hannah,” I reply, glaring at him the moment he pulls the door closed, so I can’t see what’s inside—maybe he’s trying to keep Draco inside.
He glances at the basket and rolls his eyes. “She’s not here.”
“When are you expecting her?”
“She’s out of the country. We don’t know when she’ll come back,” he explains. “I just came to pick up the demon spawn.”
I can’t help but snort because she was here a few hours ago. She might be fast, but not this fast. Plus, I can feel her inside. I sense when she’s around.
“Are you taking Draco to her sister’s?”
He shakes his head. “The guys and I are taking turns while she’s away.”
Jack and Emmeline have two cats. Sushi and Ramen are like my nephews. Ever since they got together, they’ve been asking Jason and I to cat sit for them. It’s hard on the furkids to be moving away from their house. It’s the least I can do for Hannah.
I tilt my head toward June’s apartment and pull out her spare keys. “I’m moving next door. It’d be easier on Draco if he stays at home. I could care for him.”
The guy looks at me as if I had just grown a third arm. He exhales and says, “Give me a second.”
Without another word, he goes back inside the apartment. It takes a few minutes for him to come out, and he’s not alone. Another guy follows behind him and I have the feeling that the entire band is inside—Hannah included.
“Ethan,” the new guy introduces himself, extending his hand. “This is Tucker. I heard you’re offering to take care of her baby.”
Tucker tilts his head toward the basket. “Told you,” he says.
Ethan studies it and smiles.
“I get it. He almost got it right,” he tells Tucker, who nods. “He just missed the flowers.”
Flowers? I have to ask Hannah about that later.
“So close,” Tucker says and chuckles. “He might take better care of the cat. She’s going to be away for a year, if not more.”
“More reason to keep him at home, don’t you think?” I ask, hoping they’ll let me do this one thing for her.
Ethan hands me his phone. “Add your number to my contacts. I’ll send you her keys and instructions by tomorrow. Make sure that you keep him company at night. He doesn’t like to be lonely.”
“Can I have her email address?”
They look at each other before Ethan, who seems to be the spokesperson, answers, “I’ll discuss it with her.”
I smirk, how he says it confirms my hunch. “Thank you,” I say, stepping closer to the door and knocking with my palm open. “Get better, I’ll be here waiting for you. Call if you need me.”
What the fuck does that mean exactly? I don’t know. I just feel like she needs to know it. I’ll be here for her.