Bend (A Stepbrother Romance) (17 page)

“Whatever your reasons are, Keir Sonder, you need to grow the fuck up.” She wiped her eyes, though she didn’t sound like she wanted to cry, now. If anything her voice was just getting stronger. “You’re not as invincible as you think.”

Uh, yes I am
. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You think that nothing can touch you, but you’re the most paranoid man I’ve ever met. You think everyone is out to get you.”

“I’m not paranoid.”

“Tears were gathering at the corners of her eyes again, but she laughed. “Really? You think that I masterminded seducing you while our parents were getting married behind your back.”

“It’s not paranoia if it’s true. Get out of your little fantasy bubble where this is all such great fun and your stupid blog never hurts anybody. Everyone’s after something.”

A snarl came over her face as her temper got the better of her once more. “Oh, please. So a few girls used you. Get the fuck over it.”

“I’m over it as soon as they’re out the door. This is showbiz, kid. You learn how to not let anything touch you pretty fucking quick.”

She wiped her eyes again. “Bullshit. You’ve got so many scars you can’t even see through them to realize what’s right in front your face.”

“And what’s that?” I asked flatly, growing weary of her tirade.

She only shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.” Her eyes dropped. “Like you said. No one could possibly want me, anyway.” She pushed past me to jog down the stairs. I didn’t follow. She got in one last jab when she called back over her shoulder. “Grow up, Keir.”

She made it out the front door before I could formulate any coherent reply. Mostly I just wanted to curse at her. And then wipe her tears away. I was a fucking mess.

═ ♪ ♫ ♪ ═

I should have flown right back out to the band, but I couldn’t leave things like that. Not after she’d torn me a new asshole. And running away would only prove that I needed to “grow up”—which I fucking didn’t. But I wasn’t giving her anymore ammo for her next rant.

I had a day to kill before the next stop on the tour, and meeting them out there wouldn’t be an issue. Though I was getting sick of flying. I was getting sick of it all, if I was being honest with myself. I didn’t want to travel and perform and wear myself out anymore. I wanted to write music. I wanted to finish Cadence’s damn song already.

I called a car and dropped in at my father’s office instead of doing any of the many things I should have done instead.

He sent his receptionist down to the lobby to fetch me. The girl was obviously new at the job—young and star-struck and unable to stop giggling. A month ago I would have hit on her. Now? Nothing. I glanced at her cleavage but that was as far as my interest extended.

“You’re supposed to be on your way to Chicago,” Dad said as I crossed the vast space of his corner office. He loved the floor-to-ceiling windows but I always felt like I was in a glass prison, or a fishbowl. It was too damn open and bright.

“I know,” I said. He closed his laptop as I sat down across from him.

“What’s up?” he asked. “I’ve got…” He checked his watch. “Approximately nine minutes.”

“Tight schedule.”

“Always.”

I sat in awkward silence, feeling guilty that I was interrupting his obviously busy day but grateful that he’d been able to see me at all. Hell, the man wasn’t even trying to multitask.
I must look pretty bad
.

“Did something happen?” he asked. “Anything I need to be concerned about?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?” He leaned over his desk, studying my face. “Is this about Cadence?”

“Why is she staying at the house?” I asked.

“I invited her. I’m hoping she’ll reconcile with her mother, eventually. I know Victoria’s upset that they stopped talking.”

“What happened between them?” I asked. Dad only shrugged, unwilling to share their personal business with me. “I rushed out here because of the rumor that she was seeing someone,” I admitted.

His eyebrows went up. “Is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“I hope she is,” he said. “She’s a nice girl. She deserves to be happy. And hopefully it’ll keep her away from you and out of the headlines.”

“So, is that what’s happening?” I asked, eyes narrowing, “She’s moving in and I’m getting pushed out?”

“No, absolutely not,” he said, holding up his hands. “Calm down. I meant away from your goddamn bed. How many stupid fucking Lannister jokes can a person endure?”

“I don’t give a shit what anyone says.”

“Oh? So you’re admitting that you give a shit about being with her?”

“No!”
Maybe. Kind of
.

“Here’s the deal, Keir.” My father leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the desk. “If you were in love with her, that would be one thing.” He waited for a response but I gave nothing, keeping my face impassive. “But we know that’s not how you operate. And I’m not going to be made to look like a fool by these ridiculous headlines anymore, not so you can have a fling with this poor girl. Understand? Leave her alone.”

“Why’d you tell her about Mom?” I asked, deliberately veering the conversation away from how I felt about Cadence.

“She asked. And she’s family now.” He sighed and sat back. “Sometimes I wonder why you don’t talk about your mother. There might be things you want to know. Things that you should know—”

“So spilling to Cadence was your answer?” I asked. Whatever information or secret my father was hinting at, I didn’t want to know.
Did he hear something? Close, or far away? Alive, or dead?
I was on such shaky ground already, and I just knew that bringing Mom into it would knock me flat. I’d avoid the subject forever if I could.

“Cadence does care about you, you know. All the more reason for you to back off. I’d hate to see her get hurt.”

“Since when do you care about some stepdaughter’s feelings over mine?” I asked, grimacing.

“Uh, ever since you demonstrated repeatedly that you’re thinking with your dick instead of with your head. Or your heart, for that matter.”
Maybe I just don’t want it to get broken as often as yours
. He checked his watch. “I’ve got to run. Are you flying out tonight?”

“Early in the morning.”

“I might not see you. Victoria and I are going to a dinner tonight with some advertisers.” He made a face, displaying exactly how unexcited he was for it. “Give me a call when you land tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Okay.” I followed him out of his office, then made my way back out to the street with no plan in mind and no place to go.

Were there even any friends around to call? I didn’t feel like seeing anyone. Between Cadence’s rant and my father’s judgment, the only thing I wanted to see was the bottom of a bottle of whiskey.

There was plenty back at the estate. Maybe I could put myself into a coma before Cadence got home from work, if I was lucky. I suspected I ought to try to apologize somehow, but I didn’t think I could actually face her anytime soon.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cadence

Keir’s sudden appearance that morning shook me up in so many ways, even my less friendly coworkers noticed that I was off. They gave me a wide berth, requesting much less research than on a normal day.

“Let me guess,” Zach said when he stopped by my desk. “Pale face, distracted look, smudged eyeliner—the stepbrother is home? Did you fuck him, or were you crying?”

“Guess.” I slumped in my chair. He smiled sympathetically and rubbed my shoulders.“Drinks after work? You need a few.”

“I do,” I said, though I wasn’t really in the mood to socialize. “Let’s do it.”

I met him and my roommate Alisa after work at a little place called Dorothy’s. They sold coffee during the day and wine and beer at night, and had just the sort of cozy atmosphere that I needed. I felt more relaxed after just one glass of merlot. To be fair, I swallowed it pretty quickly.

“He said some horrible things to me,” I admitted after they prodded me for a solid fifteen minutes. “But I said some truly awful things back. He’ll never forgive me.”

“Sure he will,” Alisa said, rubbing my back. “Look at how he flew home, all jealous. He’s head over heels for you.”

I shook my head. “He hates that I’m spending time at his father’s house, that’s all. If I disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow, he’d be thrilled.”

“I don’t buy that for a second,” Zach said. His usually animated smile was set in a grim line. “Speaking as a dude, you don’t surprise visit someone like that unless you’re into them. And I’m not condoning it!” He smirked. “The more you two hook up, the more material I get to pitch to Wendi. But I don’t like selling you out.”

“You’re a good friend,” I said dryly.

He snorted. “That’s setting the bar pretty low.”

“I won’t be your friend much longer if you don’t let me see that kitchen,” Alisa teased, downing the rest of her drink.

“Let’s go now,” I said. Glenn had told me I could have people over—just a few, he’d said, no parties without warning the staff first. I hadn’t planned on taking him up on it, but if Keir was still home, maybe he’d leave me alone if I was with friends.

And if not, well, he could meet Zach himself—the surfer-boy who was into boys. He’d see what an idiot he’d been for getting jealous, then.

═ ♪ ♫ ♪ ═

“It’s beautiful!” Alisa ran her hand down the long, white marble countertop with a look of almost religious awe on her face. “And so clean! Doesn’t anyone even cook in here?”

“The staff does,” I said.

Zach laughed. He put his nose in the air and put on a snooty voice. “The staff, yes. As soon as they’re done cleaning the yacht, they come back here and prepare the evening roast.”

I punched him playfully in the arm. “Stop!”

There was a thud in the living room. All three of us froze. Keir himself wandered in just as we were exchanging glances and mouthing, “Ghosts?” at each other.

He rubbed his red-rimmed eyes and looked between the three of us. “I’m way too sober for this.”

“Come on, guys,” I said, “I’ll show you my room. We can watch a movie.” I quickly retrieved three wineglasses from one of the cabinets, keeping a wary eye on Keir. He watched, expressionless, as I led my friends out of the kitchen and to the stairwell in the foyer.

I breathed a sigh of relief when he was out of sight. Zach lifted the bottle of red he’d bought on our way over and announced, “I need another.”

“Me, too,” Alisa said, watching hopefully over her shoulder in case Keir was following. She wasn’t a huge fan of his music, but she liked ogling rock stars as much as the next girl. I herded her forward and up to my room.

“Behave,” I said.

“Oh, I know,” she said, “I’m only admiring from afar. I wouldn’t go after my friend’s man.” She winked.

“Uh, you mean your friend’s stepbrother,” I said. She shrugged and smirked.

“Yo, Cade, let me check my email?” Zach asked once we were closed inside the room. He pointed at my laptop.

“Not if you’re going to report to Wendi that you’re here!” I exclaimed, uncorking the bottle of wine.

“Won’t. Promise.”

He was through before I finished pouring. We were comfortably settled watching a movie—Alisa and I on the small couch and Zach stretched out on my bed—when my phone buzzed. Alisa eyed me sideways but I blocked the screen with my hand so she couldn’t see.

It was a text from Keir.
Shit
.

That’s the guy, isn’t it. [Tue 10:45]

I typed back.

Mind your business. [Tue 10:47]

My phone buzzed again before I could put it down.

My house, my business. [Tue 10:50]

I tucked the phone under the couch cushion. I don’t know why I’d hoped that he’d leave me alone if I had guests over. Of course he was going to try to be as big of a jackass as he could.

No way was I staying in the house that night if he was. I’d go home with Alisa as soon as the movie was over. Most of my stuff was still there, anyway. Staying at Glenn’s estate had felt like a fun vacation from real life but if Keir was going to be around, then I had to get back to the real world.

And I honestly meant to stick to that plan. The movie ended and Zach flipped the lights back on, then stretched his arms. “Need a ride home?” he asked Alisa.

“Both of us do,” I said firmly, gathering up my purse.

Alisa looked skeptical, but she didn’t argue. I was still paying rent, after all. Just because I hadn’t slept there in nearly a week didn’t mean I’d officially moved out or anything.

I really did mean to leave. I almost made it out the front door. But just as I was following Alisa out into the night, Keir called me from the foyer. “Cadence. We need to talk.”

Zach reacted before I did. He pushed past me back inside the house and said, “You’ve hurt her feelings enough for one night, man.”