by Kira Adams
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Acknowledgments
Sneak Peek of Crash. Burn. Sting. by Alora Kate
About the Author
Books by Kira Adams
Infinite Love series
Ultimate Game Changer
A Novel
By: Kira Adams
https://www.facebook.com/KiraAdamsAuthor
http://www.wattpad.com/user/xKiraAdamsx
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179367.Kira_Adams
http://www.amazon.com/Kira-Adams/e/B00KQZ5838
© 2017 Krista Pakseresht. All Rights Reserved.
Cover design by Alora Kate, Stock Photo from Canstock
Editing by Silvia Curry
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
“Don’t forget, if you’re not doing something you love, you’re not really living.”
–Kira Adams
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Acknowledgments
Sneak Peek of Crash. Burn. Sting. by Alora Kate
About the Author
Books by Kira Adams
Chapter One:
Emerson
“Holy shit!” my brother Cade exclaims; his hand reflexively flies up to cover his mouth.
“What?” I ask, shifting my attention from the screen of my phone to him. His eyes dart back and forth between the screen of his phone and me.
“The Deafening Silence is going on tour with Glass Houses, Tanks, and A Night to Remember on the Collateral Tour.”
“Oh my God!” I jump off the couch and tackle him. For as long as I can remember, music has been Cade’s life. At least ever since that night when we were twelve. I don’t like to talk about that night, they aren’t good memories for either of us.
I begin tearing up, and Cade pulls back like I’m poison oak. “Are you crying?” His hands immediately begin roaming my face protectively.
I swat his hands away and rub the tears from my eyes. “It’s nothing.”
“Bullshit!” he bellows. “Did somebody hurt you?”
“Cade,” I say, hoping he’ll drop it.
“No,” he pushes back. “I want to know why on one of the best days of my fucking life, you’re upset?”
“God, you’re such a fucking asshole, you know that?” I shake my head, not even surprised. I spin on my heel and head back to the couch, plopping back into the cushions.
“What?” he asks, clueless.
“What?” I hear Braxton’s deep voice behind me and then suddenly I’m being suffocated with a pillow.
“Braxton!” I cry out, fighting the soft pillow in front of my face.
He is laughing heartily as he drops the pillow, plops down beside me, and ruffles my hair like I’m some kid.
“We got the tour, man!” Cade exclaims excitedly.
Braxton exchanges a glance with both of us before he breaks out into a smile. He throws his arm around my neck and puts me into a headlock. Grade-A Braxton. He’s got the looks of a sex god—over six feet tall, brown hair, brown eyes, and rock hard abs. He’s been my brother’s best friend and sidekick since the end of freshmen year. Unfortunately for me, that means I’m his number one target. It’s like he thrives on making me suffer.
“Well shit, I need to pack!” Cade hurriedly leaves the room, heading for his own.
“You can let go now, Brax,” I say, still stuck underneath his armpit. Maybe some girls like this. I’m not one of them.
Braxton chuckles and then releases me. “Come on; we need to get packing.” He hops up and then extends his hand out to me. What a freaking gentleman.
“I think you mean you need to go pack. I need to meet Breigh for sangria.” I start to make my way past him when Braxton grabs my arm, stopping me.
“What are you talking about? You’re coming on tour with us, right?” His eyes are a little manic, and suddenly his grip around my arm becomes uncomfortable. I pull my arm away, immediately protecting it with the other.
“What’s your deal, Brax? I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” He’s acting so strange, and I don’t know why. I’ve been looking forward to some alone time; now that we’re older, Mischa is never home.
“Cade!” Braxton shouts.
“Oh my God, Braxton, really?” I pout. I have no idea what his deal is, but it is pissing me off.
“What?” Cade answers from upstairs.
“Yo, come here for a sec,” Braxton orders him. He’s down the stairs not a minute later.
“What’s up?” he asks Braxton, his eyes darting between the both of us.
“Tell me you are not letting Em stay home while we go on this tour of a lifetime. Tell me she is coming with us.”
I sigh. Yeah, the tour would be fun. A lot of fun. But for once I’d like to break out on my own and not follow in my twin’s footsteps. For once I would like to find something that separates me from him. For him, it’s his music. I still haven’t found my thing, so I’m stuck in his shadow. I love Cade and everything; I just want to be my own person, not only Cade’s twin.
Cade chuckles. “W
hat are you talking about? Of course, she is coming with us. Go pack, Em,” he says.
When I don’t move, he cocks his head to the side. “Em? What’s going on?”
“This tour is incredible, and I am so happy for you guys, but I was hoping to be able to spend some alone time while you were away. I was going to try to build up my photography portfolio and maybe take a couple of classes on Photoshop.”
Cade shakes his head. “Funny enough, we need a tour photographer, and you’d be perfect for the job! Just think, you could cushion your portfolio, get the experience you need, and have fun with us! It’s a win-win. Take the Photoshop classes online, or have Braxton teach you; you know he went to school for it.”
I don’t know if it’s because he is eight minutes older than me, or if it’s because our parents died and he feels responsible for me, but his always has the final say. I nod, defeated. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Come on, Em! It’s going to be the time of our life. I don’t want you to miss out on this.” He comes over to me and throws his arm around my neck. “This is the last time I’ll drag you on tour, Scout’s Honor.”
Part of the reason I wanted alone time was so maybe I could try to meet someone. You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to meet someone when you have an intimidating, overprotective brother and all of his friends who act like their blood relations all cock-blocking you. I can’t remember the last time I was out with someone, and it didn’t end in complete disaster.
Online dating here I come.
***
“Seriously though, what am I going to do without you?” Breigh asks, her face falling.
“You’re going to be fine.” I dismiss her comment. “Three months is going to fly by.”
“Is Cade excited?” she asks. We’ve been best friends since she sat down next to me in Creative Writing back in our sophomore year of high school. She’s been crushing on Cade since before then.
It’s hard because Cade doesn’t want to be tied down right now, and the last thing I want is to lead my friend to the slaughter. I don’t want her to get hurt.
I take a sip of my sangria and bite into an artichoke toast. We’re at our favorite Happy Hour spot, Dante’s. Pitchers of sangria half off? Yes, please.
Breigh sighs dramatically. “I bet he’s jumping off the walls,” she murmurs before taking a long swig of her sangria.
“This is what he’s wanted for as long as I can remember… so yeah, he’s stoked.”
“How are you feeling about being out on the road with Braxton and Cade?” she asks, raising her eyebrows; always trying to get the gossip.
I shrug. “It can’t be much different than it is now.”
“The hell it can’t! You and Braxton stuck in a small van or hotel room... you are going to have to watch your back twenty-four seven. Sleep with one eye open!” Breigh slams her hand down onto our table, and our neighboring tables begin eyeing us.
“Okay, Paranoid, what’s the worst that could happen to me? Say they pour water on me while I’m sleeping? It would suck, but I’d get over it. Or maybe they tie my shoelaces together, and I trip and fall on my face; it would hurt, but I’d live. Honestly, I’ve been putting up with Cade’s crazy antics my entire life, what’s another three months?”
Breigh shakes her head and then takes another sip off her drink. “I’m not worried about Cade. I’m worried about Braxton; you know that boy has no boundaries.”
I roll my eyes. “So, what does your schedule look like for the next three months?”
Her eyes widen and for a moment, I feel bad misleading her. “I’m not talking about the entire tour, but I think it’d be cool if you came out for a weekend. Plus, you think I’m in danger, so come be my backup!”
Breigh laughs and then takes a bite of her salad. “Okay. Yay, oh my gosh, I am so excited! Should we tell Cade?”
“No, let’s just surprise him when the time comes,” I suggest casually. Breigh and Cade have spent a lot of time with each other over the years, as one would imagine, but Cade is such a free spirit, his eyes never stop wandering. I don’t want my friend to be let down. I’ve been very clear with Cade that he is not to ever engage in any sexual relationship with Breigh. Some might call that overbearing; I call that being a friend.
We finish our dinner and say our goodbyes before I head back to the house. On the one hand, I’m angry with Braxton and Cade for taking my choice away. On another, I love hanging out with my brother and his friends, and this opportunity may lead to more within a field I am passionate about.
When I finally make it back to the house and let myself in, all the lights are off. It’s not too late; I know the guys are probably just upstairs. Either that or Braxton finally left. I’m crossing through the living room when I get the eerie feeling that I’m being watched. I spin around, and there is a shadow in the darkness, sitting in the corner of the room. I squint my eyes trying to get a better look before I find a light switch and solve the mystery. “Braxton?” I cry out when I realize it’s him. “What are you still doing here? Why are you sitting in the dark?”
“I was waiting for you,” he replies simply.
“Ew you creep, did it never occur to you just to call me or text me and ask when I would be home?” Braxton always acts strange, but today he’s on another level.
He shrugs. “Set your alarm for five.”
“Five!” I cry out. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Em,” he says, batting his long lashes at me. His entire family has them. What I wouldn’t give for luxurious lashes like theirs. “We need to get a head start.”
“On what?”
“On your training. If you’re going to be the band’s tour photographer, you kind of need to know what you’re doing. Now do you want my help or not?”
I’m backed into a corner. I’m going on the tour whether I like it or not, so I might as well suck it up, and utilize the time I have as best I can. “Ugh, fine.” I throw my hands in the air in surrender.
“Good, I’ll see you then,” he says as he brushes past me and out the front door. “Sweet dreams.”
If this is what it takes, then I’m willing to put on my big girl panties and just do it. On the other hand, dealing with Braxton for any longer than usual may be torture…
Chapter Two:
Braxton
“You’re not even going to miss me, are you?” Melissa or Mackenzie, or whatever her name is, asks.
I glance up from my pedalboard and into her eyes. “Of course I am; haven’t I told you already that you’re my favorite?”
A blush creeps up over her cheeks, and then a smile begins to form on her lips. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
I brush my fingers across her cheek just enough to make her panties wet. “It’s only temporary, babe. Don’t you even worry. I have to go now, though; we have to get on the road.”
Her face falls. “Oh, okay. Well, call me?”
I nod. “Soon.” I turn around and pack up my bass guitar. There’s no way in hell I’m calling her. There’s too much pussy on the road to focus on; I don’t need distractions from home. That’s what we are doing today, breaking the news about the tour to our groupies. Some of them will follow us out on the road; they’re just that hardcore. The others will find another band to sniff around until we get back into town.
Once we’ve done our due diligence and made headway on packing the van, I pull out my phone and check the time. We should leave in half an hour if we want to make it to the first tour stop on time, seeing as it’s more than an eight-hour drive. “Dude, have you heard from Em?” I address Cade. She blew me off for our five am training session, and I haven’t heard from her all day. Something tells me she is up to no good.
Cade shrugs. “She’ll be here.”
He doesn’t seem worried in the slightest. Finding her number in my cell, I tap on it and begin typing a text. Hey, where are you? We’re almost finished here and ready to leave.
I don’t know why I am so worried if
she goes or not, I just know how much fun it is to mess with her, and I don’t want to have to wait months to pull another prank on her crazy ass.
It’s another twenty minutes before I hear anything from her. The sound of knocking, her custom text message notification, comes through the speaker of my phone. Without hesitation, I pull up the message. Come help me.
Relief washes through me as I make my way back outside to the parking lot. “You really had me going there when you didn’t show up this morning,” I say as I approach.
She doesn’t even bother glancing at me, but even then, I can still see her roll her eyes through the long strands of her blond hair. “You’re delusional if you think you’re ever going to get me up that early—training or not.”
I grab the oversized, heavy suitcase she packed and place it on the ground. “Jesus, what did you pack in there? A dead body?”
Again, she barely acknowledges me before closing her trunk.
“What’s your problem?” I ask, irritated that she is not giving me the kind of attention I command from any other female on the planet.