Page 158 of Fame and Obsession

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you, but you’re avoiding my question.”

He flashes that sexy smirk. “What question was that?”

“You heard me.”

He points to his ears and squints while peering up at me. “Nope, can’t hear anything—loud music.” Picking up his glass with his free hand, he brings it to his lips as Ryker holds up his hand in protest.

“Wait…hold on!”

Pausing with the glass against his mouth, he quirks an eyebrow at his brother and mumbles something incoherent against the crystal.

Ryker pushes his chair back and lifts his lanky body to a standing position. Directing his glance at us, he raises his hand high and clears his throat.

“It’s been a… Well, I guess you could say, very different year for our family. I thought Julian had it all as a kid. I swear my brother could fall into a pile of shit and come out smelling like a rose.”

“This toast is going downhill fast,” Eliza warns. “Wrap it up, son.”

“What I’m trying to say is I hope one day I find someone I love as much as my brother loves Phoebe.” He lifts his higher. “I just hope my niece or nephew inherits its uncle’s musical abilities, which far outweigh its father’s. Happy twenty-third, Phoebe!”

Julian groans behind me. Laughing, I lean in and dust a kiss across his forehead. Everyone toasts, their eyes turning toward us. Running a hand up the length of my back, Julian gently pulls me in for a kiss.

“I will refrain from stating the obvious—that we’re in a public place, and you two are making out like you’re in the back of an El Camino. But I will say, brother, if you don’t get your ass up right now, I’m heading to the bar and getting shitfaced with your toxic brother.”

With a sigh, Julian pulls back. “Z, you have shitty timing.”

Zane shrugs and turns up the last of his drink. “This was your idea, Jag. It’s your dime, so it makes no difference to me. By all means, continue sucking face. Wouldn’t mind doing a little of that myself.” He glances over his shoulder, and I follow his gaze to where Faith is wildly gesturing to Ryker and Gage.

I cock an eyebrow. “Zane, Faith Addison might be more woman than you can handle.”

“I’ve handled my share.”

“I’m not referring to your score card. She’s taken, Zane. Trust me on this.”

He grins and scratches the back of his head. “I like a challenge. It excites me.”

“The fucking wind excites you.” Julian smirks. “Seriously, man, please don’t get Phoebe’s friend drunk and take her home. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

I nod in agreement. “He’s right, he’ll never hear the end of it. Which means”—I lift a hand and point directly at Zane—“you’ll never hear the end of it.”

He holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, geez, you two are ruthless.”

I prefer “a force to be reckoned with,” but to each his own…

Julian stands and deposits me on my feet. “I have to go for a few minutes. I’ll be back.”

I tilt my head. “Where are you going?”

Smiling, he presses my hand against his lips, grazing the plastic ring on my finger. “You’ll see. Patience is a virtue.”

Without another word, he turns and follows Zane down the walkway and through a set of double doors.

Forty-Three

Julian

Ryker captures my gaze. With a grin, he shrugs and nods toward the stage. “What have you done, big brother?”

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