EMMA

Beau is still asleep when I wake, our legs tangled in the smooth hotel sheets, my torso held captive under his heavy arm. I lightly trace the skull on his forearm, up to the spiderweb in the crook of his elbow, back down to the roses of his inner arm, wondering how much getting a tattoo would hurt. I smile to myself, eyeing the Latin quote just under his ear, and conclude that it must not be so horrible.

His dark brows are furrowed tightly over his eyes, creasing his forehead, even in sleep. Gently, I smooth the skin there, just barely reaching from my position under his arm. He smells like smoke, a scent I've never been able to understand, as I've never seen him actually light a cigarette. Nestling into his neck, I inhale the slightly sweaty smell of his hair, a reminder of last nights bathroom sexcapades.

Despite having no audience, I hide my blush with my hands, already imagining what Gemma will say when she finds out. Of all the things she's done that I haven't, I would've sworn public sex was one we'd never have in common.

Beau stirs beside me, grumbling incoherently as he turns over, releasing me from his grasp. As carefully as I can, I slip from the plush mattress and around Zeus's makeshift dog bed to the side table. Zeus watches me, his round, brown eyes nearly begging me to bring him outside.

"Your dad will take you out soon." I promise, quietly dialing the main lobby. "Hi, Emma Carter in Suite A. I wanted to confirm that my package will be brought up tonight," I watch Beau for any indication that he's awake.

"Yes, let me just check." The woman mutters as she types loudly. "We have it set for nine o'clock, is that still the time you'd like?"

I quickly run through the show schedule and confirm before hanging up, excitement building in my belly. I hope Beau likes the guitar - even if I did mess it up a little. Giving Zeus a little pat, I tip toe to the bathroom, clicking the door softly behind me.

Already naked, I stare at myself in the mirror, eyes lingering on the little bruises on my breasts, the red mark shaped suspiciously like a handprint on my butt. Biting my lip, I trail my fingers over the marks, a giggle creeping out before I can help myself.

Right as I catch myself by flinging a hand over my mouth, I hear Beau's cell blaring out his ringtone. I rush towards the sound, hoping to get to it before it wakes him. With another show tonight, Beau needs all the rest he can get before he performs again.

Plus, it's finally April tenth.

But by the time I'm out of the bathroom, Beau is sitting up against the headboard, rubbing his eyes groggily as he grunts into the phone.

He lets out a long yawn, finally raising his gaze to me. Suddenly aware of my nakedness, I blush, barely covering my chest and nether-regions with my hands. Beau grins his Cheshire Cat smile, standing and pulling my hands out of the way.

"I don't know, Beck." He mutters between planting gentle kisses along my neck. My eyes flutter open at the name and I take a step back to watch Beau's expression.

His lips turn down slightly as he pulls me close to him again, fingers trailing up and down my spine. A delicious shiver runs up my back but I push off of Beau's chest and return to the bathroom.

Letting the hot shower stream work out the knots in my back, I close my eyes and think of last night - not including the scenes from the bathroom. Rey was drunk: so drunk that she couldn't stop staring at Beau once we returned from the restroom, a mix of confusion and hurt in her eyes. But she tried - I will give her that, asking questions about the lake house and Gemma. When I tried to return the favor though, I mostly got half sentences and tipsy giggles.

Her band mates mostly kept to themselves, except for Scott. Scott followed Rey everywhere and every time she frowned at something Beau said or did, his jaw would flex and he'd squint at Beau in disgust.

Beau seemed to neither notice nor care.

And then there is Beck. Beau tried to ignore him for most of the night, giving short answers when he replied at all, but mostly just focusing on me. Beck seems nice enough - listening intently to the conversation and glancing at Beau every few minutes. But I know Beau has little interest in really getting to know his brother, much less trusting him.

Should he? What a mess.

"Knock, knock." Beau's deep voice shocks me from my thoughts, making me open my eyes before I've thoroughly rinsed out my shampoo.

"Ouch," I wince, blinking rapidly and rubbing as delicately as I can.

"Here, just close." Beau steps forward, cupping my face in his hands and tilting my head back toward the spray. "There," He murmurs after a couple of seconds.

Relieved, I gaze up at the soft smile on Beau's lips. "Happy birthday," I stand on my toes to plant a tender kiss on his mouth.

When we pull apart, Beau looks torn. "You remembered," He cocks his head to the side before regaining his normal, aloof expression. "Thank you, baby. But it's not a big deal."

I nod in agreement, undeterred from my original plans for this evening after the concert, and blink water droplets from my lashes. Finally, I move aside and pass him the bar of lavender soap.

"How are you feeling?"

Beau smirks smugly. "You want to know what Beck said?"

"I want to know how you are," I splash water at him.

"He wants to go to breakfast. Me, you, and him," His grin falls, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "And his pregnant girlfriend."

"What'd he say her name was?" I scrub my body with a loofah, ignoring Beau's persistent stare.

"He didn't." Beau says firmly. "And it doesn't matter, we're not going."

I drop the loofah and frown at him, resisting the urge to put my hands on my hips. It is ultimately his decision but I still don't like it.

"Fine, I'm not. You should if you want to," He shrugs, reaching behind me to turn the shower off. He stills momentarily, breath cool on my neck amidst the shower steam before pulling back and shaking his hair out casually.

Rushing a hand through the damp strands, he kisses my cheek quickly before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist.

"Beau," I sigh, rolling my eyes up to the ceiling. Groaning, I step into the cool air of the bathroom and throw on the plush bathrobe hanging on the back of the door.

I follow Beau into the room and take a seat on the mattress, crossing my legs beneath me. Beau goes through the process of getting ready, not angrily, but mechanically and without speaking to me. I bite the corner of my lip, not wanting to pester him with questions but nearly exploding with curiosity.

"What're you thinking, Em?" Beau let's out a deep breath, finally settling his gaze on my face, a half grin on his lips. He stretches his arms through the holes of a cut off band tee, sitting close to me on the bed.

Zeus lays his head on Beau's lap, eyes focused intently on his face. Beau pats the dog lovingly, "Give me a minute, buddy."

The dog whines loudly, eyeing me accusingly.

"I just don't want you to regret anything." I lean my cheek on his broad shoulder, intertwining our fingers and using my other hand to ruffle Zeus's thick fur.

"You sound like Dr. Dex," Beau scoffs. "I'll be fine. I'm a big boy,"

I chuckle and give in, still feeling uneasy. "You're right." And I know better than to push Beau when he really doesn't want to do something.

"Hear that, boy?" Beau asks. Zeus's large ears perk up instantly. "We don't hear that very often, do we?" His eyes twinkle playfully. "Let's go outside,"

I roll my eyes but Beau plants a kiss in my hair as he walks by, grabbing the leash from the side table.

"I'll be back," He shouts just before the suite door closes.

Moments later, I grab my phone and dial Gemma's number.

"Emma!" Her huge smile fills my screen almost immediately. A wave of homesickness rushes over me suddenly, confusing me for just a second. "How's Boston? I always thought you'd love it!" Gemma settles into Connor's lap then and he nods at the camera.

"Hey, Connor. Boston's great, I love the accent." Gemma scrunches her nose as I hear a familiar laugh in the background. "Is that Nadine?"

"Uh huh," Gemma turns the camera around to what I remember as Adam and Connor's apartment. "And David,"

"She let you meet David?" I gasp. "Nadine! How dare you?"

Nadine sucks her teeth at me, shaking her head but bringing David onto the screen. Probably in his late twenties with dark skin and light eyes, David is gorgeous. And smitten with Nadine, I can tell by the way he's smiling at her now, even as she introduces him to me.

"This is David. I wanted to wait till you were with us, but he's impatient." Nadine rests a hand on his chest soothingly.

"Can you blame me?" David smiles, finally looking at me. "It's nice to meet you, I've heard a lot."

My heart warms. "Oh, I cannot wait to return the favor."

"Is that Emma?" Adam's voice comes from off screen. "Hey, Emma!" He snatches Gemma's phone away, clearly carrying me down the hall. The movement is dizzying, but suddenly all I want is to hear my friends voices. "I hate you for being in Boston right now. These four are getting unbearable."

***

"So, is she coming or not?" Beau rocks back on the legs of his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. I pick my cuticles nervously, wondering what brought on his change of heart.

The restaurant is uppity - full of airy decor and waiters carrying tall flutes of champagne and colorful mimosas. Beau is out of place per usual, dark in a sea of pastel button downs and khaki pants. Women wear floral dresses in intricate patterns, teetering on tall wedges under wide sun hats.

I chew my lip as I review the menu, and more particularly, the prices. A croissant is nearly double the price here as it is at Nadine's. My eyes flit nervously to Beau's security, sitting at the bar a few yards away. This one watches more intently than some of the others - I hate it.

Across the table, Beck shifts uncomfortably in his chair, scanning the menu over and over.

"She'll be here," He checks his phone again. "Oh, that's her, actually."

Beck stands just as a sweet, female voice says, "Hi honey."

Beau and I turn at the same time, but Beau's reaction diverts my attention from the gorgeous and adorably pregnant blonde woman in front of me. The muscle in his jaw flexes furiously, his fists clench on the table, eyes unmoving from the woman's face.

Her round eyes land on me, a glossy smile brightening her delicate face. "I'm -"

"Zoey." Beau stands abruptly, nearly knocking his chair over, and holds a hand out for me to take. "Come on, we're going."

Thanks for reading loves!
Who
Is
Zoey
Let me know in the comments❤️