Page 69 of Rescue

Chapter Thirteen

Lennon

“I gotta tell you, Len, I never thought you had it in you.”

I continue clearing our gear off the stage after rehearsal, refusing to acknowledge Cash and wishing, for the millionth time in my life, that there was a way to mute my older brother.

He bumps my shoulder with his. “I mean, really, dude. She’s pretty hot.”

“She is quite attractive,” Daltrey adds, joining us by the amps to help us roll some cords. “What’s she doing hanging out with you?”

“She’s also a lot cooler than you. I mean, she’s a proper rock star. Adventurous. Fun. Not some lame-o book-reading dork.”

“Do you try to sound like a Neanderthal, or does it happen naturally?”

Cash snickers, and I finally give in to the urge to glare at him. “Hey now.” He holds up his hands as if in self-defense. “Give us a little leeway here, Len. You never tell us about the girls you’re into.”

“He’s right,” Daltrey says. “We never get the chance to mess with you about this shit. We’re overdue.”

“Which is why I never tell you about the girls I’m into,” I say.

“Hmm.” Cash rubs his chin. “Good point. But it’s too late now. I saw the two of you sucking face in the elevator last night.”

“Not to mention how you spent all your time in the museum alone together.” Daltrey waggles his eyebrows at me. “Doing God knows what upstairs where no one could see you.”

“This is a banner day for you, Dalt,” I say as I stand, finished with the cords. “I actually want to punch your face more than Cash’s.”

He grins. “I’m honored.”

“What’s going on?” Levi asks, joining us. “Why am I loading all your instruments for you?”

“Because it’s your job?” Cash earns himself a jab in the ribs from our tour manager for that.

“We’re just giving Lennon a hard time,” Daltrey says. “You know. Because he has agirlfriend.” He uses an exaggerated whisper on the last word.

“Because they’re so mature,” I add.

“I don’t know, Len,” Levi says, resting his elbow on Cash’s shoulder as he appraises me. “You never really give us a chance to mess with you about this stuff.”

“That’s exactly what I said!” Cash agrees excitedly.

“So maybe it’s kind of your turn.”

As annoying as they all are, the truth is, I’m having trouble making myself care too much. It’s hard to get worked up about people teasing me for the thing that’s making me happier than I’ve been in ages.

“You too, Levi?” I ask, shaking my head in disappointment. “I expected more.”

“Daltrey!” Reed barks from the other side of the stage. “What the hell is your guitar doing on my stand?”

Dalt rolls his eyes at us. “You think he’s ever going to get the stick out of his ass?”

“What are you guys doing?” Reed yells. “Why is no one working?”

“I doubt it,” Cash says to Daltrey. “Come on, better get the rest of this cleared before he loses his shit.” They cross the stage to help Reed while I bend to put my bass back in its case.

“You okay with that?” Levi asks, kneeling next to me. He answers my questioning look by gesturing at the retreating backs of my brothers. “The teasing, I mean. I know they can be kind of annoying—”

“They? You’re leaving yourself out of this?”