Zip, Zero, Zilch (The Reed Brothers 6)

He reads: Out of everyone, I never expected this from you.

His thumbs are flying. I’d love to know what he’s saying. Emily goes to his shoulder and reads aloud over it. What are you talking about?

You should have told me, Logan reads.

I already apologized for that, Emily reads.

You’re my fucking brother.

What the fuck are you talking about?

Logan throws the phone on the bed and stomps into the bathroom. Emily snatches it up. “Uh-oh,” she breathes. “I think there was a misunderstanding.” She holds up the phone and shows me a tabloid cover on it that Sam has taken a picture of. It’s a picture of me and the douche who kissed me after the show last night. I take the phone from her and stare hard at it.

“That’s what he was talking about?” I look at her. “I thought he was asking me why I withheld the truth about Logan’s implant! I admitted to it. Now I realize I admitted to—” I hold out the phone. “—this!” I throw the phone down on the bed and walk out.

I pull out my own phone in the hallway and dial Sam’s number. He doesn’t answer, so I leave a voicemail. “Sam, I think there was a misunderstanding. Please come back.”

I text him.

Please call me. I didn’t understand what you were talking about.

Nothing in response.

Please come back so we can talk about this.

I text him over and over.

I get nada.

Zip.

Zero.

Zilch.

Finally, it’s time to get on the bus. Logan and Emily get on before me and set up their playpen and unload Kit’s toys.

“Have you talked to him?” I ask Emily.

“No. He’s not answering.”

Logan is throwing luggage into the overhead bins a little too forcefully.

“What do I do?” I ask her.

“If he won’t answer his phone, there’s not much any of us can do.” She glares at me. “You should have talked to him about it before he stormed out.”

“I did!”

Emily doesn’t even look at me, but Logan does.

“What do I do?” I ask him.

“Nothing. If he wanted to talk, he’d be talking.” He goes into their little suite and closes the door.

A sob wells up in my throat. I climb into my bunk, which is about the size of a postage stamp, and pull the curtain shut. I sob into my pillow, hoping that none of them hear me. The curtain shuffles, and someone climbs in with me. There’s barely enough space for one, much less two.

But Star has always climbed into bed with me. She has done it ever since we first became Zeroes, when she kept the monsters away. I’m afraid this is one monster she can’t slay, though. She takes my hand in hers and doesn’t say a word. She just lies there holding my hand.

***

A week later, Logan finally tells me where Sam is.

“He went back with the team. The doctor released him and he got his boot off, so he’s training hard and traveling with the team.”

“Oh.”

“Are you okay?” Logan asks.

I shake my head. “Not really. Did you talk to him?”

“No, he’s avoiding everyone. And since he’s traveling, no one can go and kick him in the ass, although Paul is ready to burst into the stadium and drag him off the field just so he can do it.”

“Will you tell me if you talk to him?”

He nods. “I will.” He squeezes my shoulder.

I guess I just need to give him some time. I’ll wait.

***

One week after that, Emilio and Marta show up at one of our tour stops. The door to the bus opens right before we’re about to pull out, and Fin sees them first. She squeals and jumps up, wrapping her arms around Emilio. They all take turns getting hugs, and I’ve honestly never been so glad to see anyone in my life.

The minute Marta puts her arms around me, I burst into tears. “Let’s talk,” she says, rubbing my back.

We walk to the back of the bus, where there’s a bench on one side. We sit down and she says, “Tell me what happened.”

I explain it all, from top to bottom, from Logan’s ears to the douchebag who kissed me, and she listens intently. “And now he’s gone back to traveling with the team, so I couldn’t find him to talk to him even if I tried.” And I did try. I left message after message and sent numerous texts. I got nothing in response.

“Do you want to go to him?” she asks.

I nod. “I want to explain. I didn’t cheat. I’m not that kind of person.”

“I saw him.”

“What?”

“Emilio was being a dad, and he tracked Sam to the stadium. Don’t worry. He came out of it with nothing more than a black eye.” She looks chagrined.

“Melio has a black eye?”

She shakes her head. “No, Sam does.”

“Melio hit him?” I jump up and run to the front of the bus. “You hit him?”

Emilio gathers his hair in his hands and puts it in a ponytail. “Yep.”

My sisters are all biting their lips to keep from smiling, I can tell. “Why would you do that?”

He shrugs. “Because I’m your father, and it’s what fathers do. We protect our daughters.”

I throw my hands up. “I can’t believe you did that.”

He gets up and points a finger in my face. “I did. And I’d do it again. Any man who makes one of my girls cry over something so fucking stupid deserves to get punched in the face. Hell, I should have punched him in the nuts. And I will if I ever get an opportunity.” He sits back down, huffing.