Page 89 of Play For Me

Solomon looks to the twins, like he’s expecting them to chime in next. Ash raises his hands. “Our older siblings were smart enough to leave the music to our parents.”

“This is Ruby Roads you’re talking about?” Jay asks, looking eager. “Man, I loved their debut album.” He shakes his head. “So weird you’re all related.”

Vi looks at me, and I know she’s wondering if I want to invite them. A big part of me does—I would actually really love to introduce Sol to Silas. I feel like out of all of my brothers, the two of them would get along the best. Silas is a little quieter than the rest of us, a little calmer.

But it wouldn’t just be Silas. It would be the whole family. And whatever messy feelings I might be having about my cousins and big changes, there’s a more important issue here—going to this concert would probably be really overwhelming to Sol.

“Oh, speaking of the concert,” Cade says. “My dad is so pissed. I guess they have some premiere in New York—remember that movie soundtrack they got roped into writing a few songs for? It’s releasing the same weekend, so none of the parents are going to make it.”

“Seriously?” Vega asks. “I bet Dad is losing his shit.”

Cade waves her off. “It’s not like they can’t just take the jet to one of the tour stops whenever they want to.”

Sol looks at me with raised eyebrows. “Cecelia,” he says in a calm voice, but I can see the amusement dancing in his eyes. “Does your family own a private jet you’ve never told me about?”

“The record label owns a private jet,” I argue. When he just keeps looking at me, I groan. “And we use it whenever we want. Happy now?”

He grins, sliding his hand down to squeeze my knee. “Very.”

Our eyes catch for a long moment and God, I wish we weren’t in public so I could kiss him right now. Like I said, there’s something about Solomon giving me shit that just makes me happy.

I realize that I’m looking at him with a dopey grin about a second before I realize that everyone at the table is staring at us. I try to wipe the expression off my face, but it’s too late. Vega and Jay look gleeful while Violet appears to be trying not to laugh. “Not obsessed, huh?” Vega mutters, and I kick her under the table.

“As I wassaying,” Cade goes on. “The parental units will not be at the concert. Which I figure is good for us. We can go to the afterparty and not get any grief if we want to get our drink on.”

“Or smoke,” Ash says, nodding. “Sweet.”

“You’re such a pothead,” Vega sighs and Ash flips her off.

“So are you guys coming?” Cade asks Jay and Solomon, completely clueless about the conversation me and the girls were having about my doubts just a few minutes ago.

“Oh.” Jay looks excited but I can tell he’s trying not to show it since he hasn’t actually been invited. “Uh. I’m not sure.”

“You should,” I say immediately. I’m feeling way less conflicted about this now that I know the parents won’t be there. And Vega said we’ll be down quite a few cousins. Sure, there will still be a shit ton of people. And Will and Wyatt will probably come. But it somehow all feels like less of a big deal without my dad and uncles being there. I squeeze Sol’s hand where it still rests on top of my knee. “Both of you. Emery too, if you want.”

“Seriously?” Jay asks. “That would be so cool, Ceece.”

“Of course. It’s going to be a fun night.”

“If we’re going to drink, we should probably arrange some cars,” Vega tells him. “Or we could make it a limo instead so we can all ride together.”

“Ooh, or a party bus,” Cade says while Jay looks like Christmas just came early. “Then we could pregame on the way.”

“I’m going to spend the entire night looking after drunk idiots,” Violet sighs.

“Hell yeah I’ll want to drink,” Cade says. “It’s the only way I can deal with all those assholes trying to get my sister to notice them when she’s on stage.”

Vega grins, just to fuck with him. “I don’t blame them. Lyric is so freaking hot when she wears leather pants.”

Cade groans. We all ignore him.

Solomon is quiet as the rest of them make plans for the evening. The longer we sit there, the more worried I get. He hasn’t actually said he wants to go. Does he feel pressured? Is he trying to think of a way to let me down gently?

Eventually, Vi announces she needs to get to class, which reminds Cade that he was supposed to be in Stats twenty minutes ago. Such a model student, my cousin. I need to be at the soccer facility in half an hour, so I decide to head over now as our lunch group breaks up. “I’ll walk with you,” Solomon says, and my stomach twists a little at the guarded sound of his voice. Is he upset?

He waits until we’re outside to bring it up. “It’s okay if you don’t want me to go,” he says and I almost trip over my own two feet in my surprise.

“What do you mean?”