REBEL Brother

by Jessa Wayne

  "What? Wait. I thought you were going to buy it?"

  "I was. Until he found out about it."

  "I don't understand."

  "The night at the restaurant when I told everyone my plans about buying the club, he was there. That's when he walked in, remember?"

  "I do."

  "He can't be in my shadow. He found out about it and went to the bank. The paperwork is in the works right now."

  "I can't believe he'd do something like that."

  "He stole it out from under me. What else do you want?"

  "I have to go, Travis."

  I walked out of the studio, leaving him to doubt how I felt. I needed to hear it from Julien. I had believed in him since I met him and I couldn't just stop. He has been nothing but nice to me, truthful, and needing a friend. I couldn't just turn my back on him because of what Travis said.

  When I got back to the club, Julien was singing a song unfamiliar to me.

  "Hey," I said after the song was over.

  "You're back." He sounded less than happy to see me.

  "Yeah. What were you singing?"

  "Just a song I've been working on. It's nowhere near ready."

  He slid the sheets of music into a folder and walked toward me.

  "You ready to sing?" I asked.

  "I think we're going to wrap it up for today. We have it pretty much in the bag."

  "I think I could use some more practice time on it."

  "Nah, you sounded great, Maddie. We're ready for this."

  "Julien, can I ask you something?"

  "Sure."

  "You can tell me it's none of my business, but I just wanted to ask."

  "What's up?"

  I hesitated until I found the right words to say. "Are you buying Desperado?"

  He looked up at me with widened eyes. "How did you hear about that?"

  My mind raced to make up something, wondering how Travis had found out.

  "Um, my girlfriend works at the bank. She was talking about you, and I told her I knew you. She wanted to know who you were." I smiled at him. "She thinks you're cute."

  His smile told me he bought my story.

  "You caught me. I am buying it."

  He didn't offer any more information.

  "It's weird. Travis was talking about how excited he was to buy it. I wonder why he decided against it."

  "He didn't. He doesn't know that I got to it first. You didn't tell him, did you?"

  "No! I didn't think it was a big deal."

  "Don't tell him. It's a, um, a surprise."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I'm buying it for him."

  "Seriously?"

  "We've never seen eye to eye on things growing up. No matter how hard I tried, it just didn't seem like I could do right in his eyes. I guess it goes along with being the big brother and looking out for me; I don't know. But, I came into some money a few years ago, and I wanted to show him how much he means to me. I'm going to present it to him after the show."

  I smiled, a warmth growing inside. If this didn't bring them together, nothing would.

  "I have to go take care of some things before tomorrow's big day," he said, stacking his things into his arms. "I'll meet you here around noon?"

  "Sounds good."

  He leaned toward me, kissing my cheek. "Don't worry," he said. "You've got this."

  I nodded, soaking in his encouragement. When he walked out the door, I walked to the center of the stage and looked out toward the large open space. My heart beat faster. I sang the music a capella and closed my eyes, imagining myself in a crowded venue. When I finished belting out the notes, Travis clapped slowly as he approached the stage.

  "Oh, I didn't know you were there," I said.

  "That was so beautiful. I always loved listening to you sing. You have the voice of an angel."

  "This is a big deal to me. I'm looking forward to tomorrow with a nervous stomach, but I am determined. Thank you for letting us do this, Travis."

  "You need this. I just don't want you to get your hopes up."

  "You don't think I can pull this off? I thought you, of all people, would have backed me up more than anyone."

  "It's not that. What I meant to say was, don't get your hopes up about Julien."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Listen, I don't know how you feel about him. If it's more than I assume, I wish you all the happiness in the world, I do. But, regardless of what you believe, he isn't who you think he is. In time, you'll find that out."

  "Don't you think you're being overly dramatic? He's just trying to fit back into his life here. He knows he messed up with you. He's just trying to make it right."

  He shook his head, and I knew I wasn't going to get through to him. Hopefully, Julien's surprise would. I wanted to tell him, but it wasn't my surprise to tell.

  "I know the way he works, Maddie. And I know that is the only reason you think we need to be apart. I love you, and nothing is going to change that."

  "Travis..."

  "I'm a patient man, and I will wait for you."

  His words were like a shot through my heart.

  "Julien, he has some news, good news. You'll see, after the show."

  "I hope you're right."

  The look on his face wasn't one of hope. He didn't believe there was anything good that would come out of Julien.

  "You'll see," I said, with that hope I wished Travis had.

  "Yes, we will. Iris is back in town."

  What did that mean? Was she going to try and win Julien back? Was she here for the show? Maybe Julien finally talked her into giving him another chance.

  I didn't get a lot of sleep that night as my mind raced from thought to thought. I was nervous about being on stage in front of hundreds of people, but I was more nervous about how Julien and Travis's relationship was going to turn out. I felt like there was so much on the line.

  As soon as the sun crept in through my window, I crawled out of bed and woke myself up in the shower. I tried contacting Julien as I sipped my morning coffee but he wasn't picking up or answering my texts.

  I was hoping to get a little more practice time in before the show. What time are you going to be at the club?

  When he didn't respond, the nervous ball in my stomach started jumping around inside.

  I walked into the club around noon, and it was buzzing with technicians setting up the lighting and the sound systems.

  "Check one, check one, check one, two, three."

  Buck stood on the stage where I was going to be standing in a couple of hours.

  "Hey, Buck."

  "Maddie. How are you? Are you ready for your big debut?"

  "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." I rubbed my stomach and smiled up at him.

  "Don't be nervous. You'll do great."

  "Thanks. I hope so. Have you seen Julien anywhere? Has he been in yet?"

  "Haven't seen him. Try the back. Maybe he's out there helping with the equipment."

  "Thanks."

  But when I went looking he was nowhere to be found.

  "Travis?"

  "Hi." He wrapped his arms around me and held me there. It felt so good, safe. "Are you ready to go?"

  "I think so. Have you seen Julien?"

  "He's not here yet?"

  "No. I was hoping to sound check with him and run through the song again."

  "Well, it doesn't surprise me. He'll probably pop in just as the song is starting."

  "Please don't tell me that."

  "I told you yesterday; you shouldn't get your hopes up. I don't want you to be let down any more than you already have been."

  He rubbed my arms, and it made me wonder if he was talking about the way he let me down.

  The closer it got to show time, the more nervous I got. I tried helping the crew set up the stages, but it wasn't distracting enough to keep my mind off the fact that Travis might have been right.

  "Ten minutes to show time!"

  I heard the
warning, but I didn't know what to do. I ran to Travis, my eyes wide.

  "He isn't here yet. What are we going to do? We are the opening act."

  "Maddie," he said, his hands on my arms. "Listen to me. I want you to sing."

  "By myself?"

  "You can do this. I've always known you were born to sing. I heard you sing that song a capella yesterday. You killed it.

  "But there are hundreds of people here. I can't…."

  "You can. I've always believed in you. You have what it takes to be a star. I already know you are. Show them," I said, motioning to the audience.

  I swallowed hard and took a big breath, nodding my head.

  "Okay, okay. I can do this."

  I heard Buck's voice over the speaker system as he welcomed everyone to the first annual Battle of the Bands.

  "You can do this." Travis pulled me toward him and kissed me tenderly. "I've always been your number one fan. I love you." His gaze comforted me. "Now go get em."

  I walked up on the stage and looked out over the sea of people surrounding the stage. My stomach calmed as my hand wrapped around the microphone, and I felt the confidence I needed to do it.

  I looked at Travis and smiled as I began my song.

  Chapter Nine

  Travis

  I followed Maddie to the stage, my eyes scanning the area. Was it wrong for me to hope Julien didn't show? I will admit, I was happy when he didn't. Maddie deserved to be up on that stage. She deserved the limelight. He didn't.

  I watched her pick up the microphone. When the band started playing, it was as if she was born to be on that stage. Her voice flawlessly belted out the sweetest melody, melting my heart.

  The crowd swayed to the song and clapped with thunderous applause when she finished.

  I motioned for her to sing another one and she nodded. After a brief chat with the band, they started playing a more upbeat song which got everyone tapping their feet and dancing with their partners. I couldn't have been more proud of her than I was at that moment.

  She ended the song, taking her bow before running off the stage toward me. She jumped into my arms and twirled around me as I held her tightly.

  "I did it. Did you hear me?" Her face was beaming, and her eyes were brighter than I had ever seen.

  "I did. I knew you could."

  "Oh my God, it was exhilarating! I didn't think I could do it, but as soon as I looked out at the people it just felt right, ya know?"

  "I do know. I always knew you had it."

  She was breathing fast, a smile plastered on her face.

  "I didn't need Julien after all. But, where is Julien?" She stood on her toes looking around. I don't know what happened to him."

  "I wouldn't worry about him. This is your moment, Maddie. I'm so proud of you."

  "Thank you." She was smiling and glowing, and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

  "Can we talk? Seriously?" I shouted over the music as the next performer began singing.

  Maddie nodded and took my hand. I led her out into the back room of the club the music fading into the background. She closed the door, and before I could say anything, she spoke her mind.

  "Travis. I want to apologize to you."

  "You don't have to apologize, Maddie."

  "Yes, I do. The way I acted... and just everything. I shouldn't have treated you the way I did."

  "You didn't know. Julien can be quite the sweet talker. He knows how to manipulate a situation to his advantage."

  "Deep down I did know. I just didn't want to admit it. I don't know why I let myself listen to him."

  "Let's put it in the past and concentrate on what's important."

  "When I was tossing and turning in my bed last night, I thought about you, about us. We have had such an amazing relationship since the beginning. I had no reason to doubt you. Julien clouded that for me, making me think you were someone I didn't know yet."

  "It's okay."

  "No, it's not. I should have been open and honest with you from the beginning, but I wasn't. I let him manipulate me into what to think. Because of that, I could have lost you."

  "But you didn't." I took her hands seizing the opportunity to get her back." I’ve always been right here."

  "This is what I'm talking about. You have such a big heart. I was stupid to break up with you. I'm so sorry, Travis."

  "Does this mean you want to start over? You want to give us another chance?"

  She nodded, and my heart wanted to bust out of my chest. I hugged her tight, not wanting the moment to end.

  She pulled away from me, and her lips found mine. I let her manipulate the kiss until she leaned into me. I felt her body against mine, and my hands slid down her back. I deepened the kiss feeling her press into me, her hands moving down to my ass.

  "God, I've missed you," I mumbled through the kiss. She began pulling my shirt away from me, her fingers unbuttoning each button and I glanced at the door, wondering if we should have locked it. It was a fleeting thought.

  I pulled her dress off her body and up over her head, my lips kissing and smooching on her neck. I was so hungry for her; I couldn't get enough.

  She backed me up to a chair against the wall, and I sat down, her legs straddling over my lap. Her kisses were tender, delicious, fulfilling. Her hands stroked the back of my neck as she leaned into me. She opened my pants, and I closed my eyes as she reached into my pants and pulled me out, stroking me with her delicate hands.

  I exhaled all of the air from my lungs feeling the arousal she easily filled me with. When I opened my eyes and looked at her, she held my gaze, and her eyes said so much.

  "I don't want anything to come between us again. I've missed you so much, Travis."

  She kissed me hungrily, her breathing becoming irregular. She stood up fumbling between us until I felt myself entering her as she sat back down. She exhausted her breath as I filled her and she stopped when I was fully inside her.

  I encircled her with my arms, pressing into her until she began moving back and forth. She lit my arousal up like an inferno and quickly brought my orgasm to life. It pushed forward, filling me as we moved faster and more urgently. My hands were on her hips as I picked her up and pushed her back down on my hardened cock.

  I pulled her bra from her breasts, taking her nipple into my mouth. I grazed my tongue across the hardened nub watching her excite from the feeling it gave her. My hands caressed her body while she fucked me and as if a switch was thrown, an orgasm rocked me like an earthquake. I grabbed her hips and thrust into her, grunting as I filled her. Her body tightened in my arms and the small squeal she let out made me smile.

  When she came down from her orgasm, she melted around me, her arms encircling my neck and her head resting on my shoulder. She slowly moved back and forth as she cooed in my ear.

  "I love you." Her words floated into my head and danced through my body.

  "You do?"

  "Yes."

  "Then promise me something," I said softly.

  "Anything."

  "Talk to me when you doubt us. Don't let someone else try telling you how it is or how it should be."

  "I promise. It's just that... with what Julien was saying about you and the way you were lashing out at him... it all made sense at the time."

  "I figured it out. I knew I was treating the situation poorly."

  "I still want you to talk to him, Travis. Try to make it right."

  "Maddie…" I shook my head, surprised that she was still on this.

  "No, listen. He said he had a surprise for you after the show."

  "He also promised to sing with you on stage."

  "Maybe something happened."

  "Maybe his surprise was leaving."

  She looked disappointed, and that killed me.

  "You have a big heart, Maddie. I know you want to make it right between us. But, I'm sorry. I don't think it will ever happen. You just don't know him as I do."

  "No," she said, hesitating. "I shouldn't tell y
ou but, he was buying Desperado… for you."

  "Do you honestly believe that?"

  "Yes. He told me he was."

  She stood up and put herself back together.

  "I want to believe you, Maddie. I just can't."

  "I'll prove it to you. I just have to find him."

  I wanted to reach out to her and make her believe. I just didn't know how. She wanted it to be so true that she refused to face reality.

  I didn't stand up until she had opened the door and disappeared.

  "I'll find him, then you'll see!"

  I quickly dressed and ran after her.

  Once she was back in the club, I had a hard time keeping her in my sights. I fought to get through the crowd of people. Before I got to the other side, she was nowhere to be found. I just wished I could have gotten to her before she found out what kind of man Julien really was.

  Chapter Ten

  Maddie

  I was on a mission, and I was determined to prove Travis wrong. Julien was genuine; he had to be. He was so heartfelt, and my heart cried out for him. I had to try and make things between him and his brother better.

  I pushed through the crowd, looking all over for Julien but feeling frustrated with each unfamiliar face I looked at. I climbed up on the outside stage and looked around, staying to the side as the band played.

  Looking past the crowd toward the side of the club, there was a small clearing with a couple of bench seats surrounded by trees and flowers. Julien was there talking with a woman, and I smiled. I wanted to call out to him, but the music and the people would never have allowed my voice to carry that far. I spotted Travis and waved at him, pointing toward Julien.

  I jumped off the stage and pushed through the people. I had a good feeling that if I could get everyone talking, everything would work out okay.

  "Maddie!" Travis yelled from a distance.

  I looked back and motioned for him to follow me.

  "No! Maddie, stop!"

  I pushed through until I cleared the crowd but Julien wasn't on the bench. I looked around, frantic. I ran up to the woman, still looking for Julien.

  "Excuse me. That man you were just talking to. Do you know where he went?"