Page 8 of The Wiener Across the Way

I was ready to hit the showers when fuck if the PR team didn’t hit the locker room, phones in hand, probably already recording. They were always wanting us to do some quiz or game or other annoying thing to promote the team on FlipFlop or FaceSpace. I was better on the field than I was on camera.

Of course Everett and Hayes were the first two they flocked too since both had huge social media followings already. I kept my back to them, hoping they’d know better than to try to get me to say anything on camera.

“Hey, Everett, who would you pick as a partner in a dance off?” They named three popular singers, and I just shook my head.

“Oh, it’s got to be?—”

“Kelsey Best.” Somehow, I just blurted that out. What the fuck was wrong with my mouth? They weren’t even talking to me. She wasn’t even on their list. But she should be.

Everett, Hayes, and the two PR kids turned to me. I looked back at them and shrugged. “Whatever he was going to say was wrong because the only right answer is Kelsey. She’s got all the moves.”

I dropped trou and grabbed my towel to hit the showers before they could even think about any follow up questions.

I went straight from practice back to the neighborhood we all lived in. My house was across the way from my childhood home. Well, it was only mostly mine. Chris owned it. I’d buy it from him eventually. When I had a reason to.

After I parked my truck in the driveaway, I jogged across to my dad’s house and braced myself for the whirlwind that was my little sister. None of us were worried in the least that she had us all wrapped around her little finger.

She was sprawled out in the living room, surrounded by schoolbooks, and blasting the one and only Kelsey Best. I started singing along, and she looked up, her eyes lighting up with that mischievous spark unique to her.

“Dorklan. What are you doing here on a school night?” She jumped up and gave me a hug that nearly knocked the wind out of me. Thank goodness she wasn’t one of those too cool for hugs teenagers. “Running away from your adoring fans?”

I laughed, ruffling her hair. “Not quite. Actually, I have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “If this is about dating advice, I’m ready. Hit me with your deepest how to get the girl questions.”

“No, no,” I interrupted, holding up my hands in surrender. “Nothing like that. I happened to get my hands on tickets to Kelsey Best’s show on Friday. Thought you might want to come with me.”

Her reaction was instantaneous. Her eyes went wide, and she let out a squeal that could probably be heard from the next block. “Are you serious? Kelsey Best? She’s my fricking idol. I’m dead. Literally, not literally dead.”

I nodded, enjoying the rare moment of seeing her this excited. “Yeah, figured you’d maybe die if I didn’t take you with.Either that or I would because you’d kill me if you found out I went without you.”

She threw her arms around me again, this time with a force that spoke volumes of her excitement. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I always said you were the best older brother. Don’t tell the others I said so though. I still have to live with Flynn, Garrett, and Isak in the summer.”

“Only the best for my little sis,” I said, feeling a warmth in my chest that only family could bring.

She pulled away and did a little dance around the coffee table. “We’re gonna have so much fun. And just so you know, if any of your adoring fan girls try to crash our night, I’m totally prepared to take them down.”

I laughed, knowing full well she could and would. “Why do you think I invited you? You’re the only one who’ll protect me.”

Like, for real. Everett had already texted me the names of three of the ladies on the cheer squad who were ready for a night in my bed and nothing more.

I was just about to leave when Dad walked in from the backyard, carrying some freshly grilled chicken. “Declan, staying for dinner?”

“Hey, Dad,” I greeted him, but his attention went straight to Jules, who was still bouncing around with excitement.

“Who spoiled you and with what?” he said, setting the plate down and crossing his arms. He glared at me. “What did you do?”

Jules rolled her eyes but grinned. “He’s taking me to the Kelsey Best concert at Rust Rocks on Friday. I can go, right?”

“Did you finish your paper for psych?”

“What does it look like I’m working on?” She indicated her books. “It’s not like I’m up for valedictorian or anything.”

Was she? Probably. And taking psychology? I didn’t even know they offered that in high school. The smarts were strong inthis one. Not that any of us were slouches in school. Dad was a stickler for grades.

She pulled on her lip, like she was actually worried he wouldn’t let her go. But I’d been on the receiving end of this routine a few times myself. He was a big proponent of work hard, play hard. And I happened to know he thought she worked too hard and didn’t play often enough. “So can I go?”

Dad chuckled, but his eyes were serious when they met mine. “You make sure she’s safe at that concert, kid. She’s my baby girl.”

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