"Yeah." His deep voice gets serious, protective. "I don't want anything happening to you."
"Yeah, you wouldn't want that strike against you."
"No, Piper. You're a good kid, and we're friends. I don't want anything happening to you."
"Oh, yeah. Right." My eyes get stuck on his. I can't help it. His brown eyes are beautiful. But this really isn't the place to stop to chat. I force myself to move forward.
It is starting to feel like Kit's my friend. Not my best friend but certainly more than that famous rock star I know. Certainly more than my older brother's hot, slutty friend.
I soak in the warmth of his body for the rest of the walk. Okay, I still have a crush on him. I can't help it. He's beautiful and troubled and protective—that annoys me on everyone else, but it's not so bad on him—and I just know that deep down, he's sweet and caring too.
I dig my keys from my purse and unlock the car. "You want a ride back to your place?"
He gives me a long, slow once over. His eyes linger on my hips and chest then they're on mine. "I'll be okay."
"You sure?"
"Positive." He leans in to wrap his arms around me.
My chest presses against his. My fingers dig into his leather jacket. He smells good and this is the closest we've ever been.
For a second, my eyes close, and I imagine kissing him again. God, I want to kiss him again.
He steps back. "Drive safe, Piper."
"Thanks." I slide into my car. My hands are shaking so much it's hard to turn the thing on, but I manage. I cringe as my stereo turns on—it's blasting Britney Spears.
Kit smiles. "Nice tunes."
"I try. I guess I'll see you around."
He nods.
I pull onto the street and navigate onto the freeway. Long after Kit is a blip in my rearview mirror, he's glued to my brain.
Thankfully, Mal and Ethan's cars are nowhere to be seen. I'm not sure if they're at regular parties or special celebrity parties. I'm still not quite used to my brothers being famous rock stars. It's weird getting stopped on the way to the gym. It's weirder when fans look at me with envy, like they think Mal or Ethan is going home with me. Which, I guess is technically true. Mal and Ethan have more than enough money to move out of our parents' place, but they insist on staying so I don't get lonely.
Not that it makes much of a difference. They're on the road two-thirds of the year.
The house feels empty when they're away. But I can't get caught up in that yet. I have another day before I'm stuck all alone for another two months.
I try to shake off the thought as I change out of my dress and into my pajamas, but it won't go. I'm already dreading waking up to a quiet house.
By the time I finish washing my face and brushing my teeth, I've managed to push it aside.
I'm ready for bed.
Okay, ready to stroke myself to orgasm thinking about Kit, but that's really all the same. It's going to happen in my bed.
God, I might as well write virgin on my forehead. I'm not usually embarrassed about my lack of experience, but the way Kit looked at me like it sealed my fate as a nice girl who doesn't have any fun...
I grab my cell and plug it into my charger. The phone flashes. I have a text from Kit.
Kit: Let me know you got home okay.
He's checking on me. That's sweet in a I care about my friend's little sister like a sister kind of way. Really, it's sweet, but I don't need an extra brother. Two is plenty.
Piper: You don't have to do this.