Riley
They are more than enough. You need to get yourself some of that man meat
Me
Riley
Sorry that was Tai. Call me tomorrow so we can go over the photos
I smile and grab my clutch and camera bag. My brother’s band, Broken Crown, is debuting their new album tonight at a small venue downtown. Intimate crowd. Invite only.
My phone buzzes again.
Ace
Five minutes.
Me
Ready.
When I step into the hallway outside my apartment, all three of them are waiting. Ace looks me up and down, his expression unreadable. Rhodes’s eyes linger a second too long, his jaw tightening. Vander’s jaw clenches slightly before he looks away. Shit, now Riley is putting ideas in my head.
“You look nice,” Rhodes says with his signature dimpled smile.
“I look hot,” I correct.
“Let’s go,” Ace snaps, already heading for the elevator.
The drive to the venue is quiet. I’m in the back seat with Vander, scrolling through my camera settings and trying not to think about how close he’s sitting. His presence is always more intense than the others, but now I’m hyperaware that he’s watching my every move.
When we pull up to the venue, there’s a line around the block despite the exclusive guest list. Kade’s fans are dedicated, and the buzz around the new album has been building for months.
Rhodes opens my door, and I step into the cool evening air. Cameras flash, and I smile automatically. I’m used to this by now; it comes with the territory of having a famous brother. It’s how Riley and I bonded. She runs the band’s socials, but she also understands what it’s like to live in their shadow.
The venue is already packed. The stage is set up at the far end, and I can hear the sound check wrapping up.
“I’m going to find Kade,” I tell Ace.
“We’ll be close,” he replies, which is code forwe’re following you.
I find Kade in the green room, looking nervous despite having done this a thousand times. He always overthinks a new album drop, though this new one is epic, so he has nothing to worry about.
“Mads!” He pulls me into a hug. “You made it.”
“Of course I made it. I do your best publicity.” I hold up my camera.
“Not sure I would agree with you there.”
“You know I like to keep you humble.”
He laughs, then glances past me to where Vander, Ace, and Rhodes are hovering in the doorway. “Your shadows are extra intense tonight.”
“They’re always like that.”
“Yeah, but tonight they look like they want to murder anyone who looks at you.” He grins. “Is it the dress?”
“Probably.”
