Aspen stifled a laugh. “God, I wish I had a sister.”
“You do.” Erin threw her arms out wide. “Me.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” I said to Aspen. “Now, both of you sit down, shut up, and listen.”
“You are so bossy.” Erin winked at Aspen, who winked back. These two women were ganging up on me, and I fucking loved it.
When I returned to the studio, a momentary raft of nerves swarmed my stomach at playing such a personal song for the woman I loved in front of my sister, but the second I picked up my guitar and began to play, they fled.
As I sang an as-yet unnamed tune about having someone truly see me, to believe in me, and to support me and love me, faults and all, the most powerful emotions I’d ever felt bubbled up inside my chest. I only realized I had tears streaming down my face when I played the last note. The door to the studio flung open, and Aspen ran toward me. I ripped off my guitar and threw my arms around her.
“Thank you, Spitfire. For everything.”
“I love you,” she murmured, covering my damp face in kisses. “I love you so much.”
“Ditto. You saved me. Without you, I’d have drowned. You gave me something to live for. I only existed before you, but now I see the world in vibrant color, and you’re at the center of it.”
“Can I get in on the group hug?” Erin asked, hovering by the doorway while she bit her thumbnail—a habit she’d had since forever.
“Come here, you daft cow.” I held out my arms, and my sister folded herself inside them.
“Have you heard the way he speaks to me?” Erin said in fake outrage. “Disgraceful.”
“Since you call me a fucking twat on the regular, you have no room to talk.”
“Are you two always like this?” Aspen asked.
“Yes,” we answered at the same time.
“Good to know.”
“Is anyone hungry?” Erin asked. “Because I’m starving.”
“I could eat.” I fired a look at Aspen. A faint tinge of pink rose in her cheeks.
“God, you are disgusting.” Erin shook her head. “Are you sure you want to be with this prat, Aspen? I mean, you’re a gorgeous, successful woman. You could have anyone you choose.”
Aspen ran her hand over my arse. “I think I chose well.”
I stuck my tongue out at Erin. Childish, but this was how it was with us. We’d bantered ever since she could talk. The eleven years between us had never mattered. I’d fallen in love with her the day Mum brought her home from the hospital, and those feelings had only deepened over time.
“You are such a dickhead. And you may say that now, Aspen, but wait until you discover all of his vile habits. I bet he’s been on his best behavior, but he’ll show his true colors soon.”
“Oh, yeah?” I nudged my sister. “Like what?”
“Oh, mister, you’ll be sorry you gave me a platform. Like how you hum riffs or half-sing lyricseverywhere.In the shower, on the loo, mid-conversation.”
Aspen looked at me, a secretive smile tugging at her lips. “That sounds romantic.”
Erin snorted. “Okay, how about this? He’s a chronic shirt shedder. He’d spend his life naked if he could get away with it.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Aspen said.
“Jesus Christ. You really are gone for him, aren’t you? Okay, this one will hammer the nail in his perfect persona. When he’s in full creative flow, he paces the house at 3:00 a.m. mutteringto himself. Don’t expect a decent night’s sleep if he’s brooding. He’ll drive you nuts.”
Aspen rested her head on my shoulder. “I’ll get up and make the coffee.”
Erin threw her hands in the air. “I give up. You’re perfect for each other.”
