Liam Lockwood. Danny’s best friend.
It didn’t surprise me he hadn’t welcomed me like the others. Out of all of my brother’s friends, I always hated him the most, and I was certain the feeling was mutual. He was the reason I’d had to finish my senior year of high school at an all-girls private school.
I returned my attention to Nikko. “Um, seven actually…and surprisingly, yes. I passed that age years ago.”
Nikko’s interest was piqued. “Really?”
“It’s a funny thing, that whole aging process.” I rolled my eyes, stealing another glimpse at Liam.
“And you couldn’t come to at leastoneshow all this time?” Nikko asked.
Danny laughed once, and my ears warmed.
“Oh, I’ve wanted to. You guys have just been touring so much; it’s been hard to catch you when you’re playing here on a night I can go. School has kept me pretty busy the last few years. I think I have all of the songs on my phone though. Danny has shown me some of your videos on tour when we get together for holidays and stuff.”
“She’s got more important things to do anyway,” Danny muttered.
Milton bumped my shoulder. “Oh yeah. You’re at Stanford, right?”
My lips turned up in a rehearsed way. “Second year of med school.”
“You’re a doctor?” Nikko’s eyes widened.
“Um, someday,” I said.
“Just like Mom,” Danny mocked and excused himself to join Liam in the kitchen.
My gaze dropped to the floor. Danny had a talent for making me feel guilty about something I knew I shouldn’t without saying much. That was the one and only thing he and our mother had in common.
Nikko slowly looked me over again. “I’ve never met any doctors who look like this. Maybe I need to get sick more often.”
“We’re finishing up our tour with a few more shows here on the West Coast. There’re a few in the area coming up, if you want to come,” Milton said, ignoring Nikko’s comment. “Just let us know, and we can put you on the VIP list.”
I met his kind stare. “Okay. Sure. That’d be great.”
“And bring some of your hot doctor friends,” Nikko added.
Milton stood up taller, pinching his eyebrows together. “Stop being an asshole, asshole. She just got here.”
“Calm down, Tic. I’m just playin’. You hungry, Avery? There’s more than enough pizza.”
I waved them off. “I think I’m just going to get settled. Thanks for letting me stay here, guys.”
Nikko and Milton nodded and left me in the hall.
Liam caught my gaze when I looked back up at him, and my whole body tensed when those dark brown eyes landed on me, freezing me and melting me at the same time.
He had swapped his baggy clothes for more form-fitting ones since I’d last seen him. His gray T-shirt was almost too tight for him as it stretched over his shoulders, and the simple black jeans he wore emphasized his height somehow.
Is he taller?
His arms showcased a gallery of random black and gray tattoos.
My eyes moved up to his hair. It was maturer and sleeker than the long skater-boy style he’d had when we were younger. It was short on the sides now, like he’d recently seen a barber. But there was this loose, curly mess on top that was kind of sexy and—
Oh my God, I’m still staring!
But so was he.
