Drawn to You (Lover to Stepbrother)(53)

“Go be amazing. Play.” I nod. “I’ll let you get ready.” He stands up and I quickly grab his hand, an electric shock shooting through my arm, all over my body. His eyes are trained to where my hand is in his.

“Stay close by,” I tell him.

“I’ll be outside the door, then I’ll be near the stage as you play.”





Colin


How is this motherfucker getting in here without getting caught? I called Dad to tell him what happened. I order people to come clean her room and to have someone watch the door. Seeing her sit in front of the mirror, she seemed so small.

I don’t think she has registered the seriousness of all this. I grab my phone and go through my contact list. I hit call and soon my best friend answers.

“Aaron, I need your help.”

“Hey man, what you need?”

“I need you to head back home and give me a hand.”

“A hand with what?”

“Looking after Sasha.” There’s a pause.

“Sasha as in Sasha Bennett? Your stepsister Sasha?” I hear the shock in his voice. I start pacing in front of the door.

“Yeah, that Sasha.”

“Isn’t she, like, famous now?”

“Yes, that’s why I need your help. There’s a stalker following her, leaving notes. He’s been taking pictures of her as she sleeps.”

“Fuck.”

“I know I’ve been AWOL for the last year, but its serious man.”

“Give me a couple of hours and I’ll be right over.”

“Thanks, man, I’ll message you the address and your name will be on the list. Just come look for me, okay?”

“Sure, man.” We say our goodbyes and hang up. I know Aaron will help me. I need more hands-on-deck. I can’t be with her twenty-four seven. I need to sleep, too, so with us both looking out for her, she will be safer.

I’m still pacing up and down when I hear a cough behind me and see Karen standing there, watching me. “Don’t mess with her,” she says in a harsh voice.

“I’m just doing my job.” I try and reassure her.

“I know you have history, but I remember how you two were back then. She’s hurt that you’ve ignored her over the years. She wanted to stay in your life but you pushed her away.”

“This has nothing to do with you,” I say angrily.

“It has everything to do with me. I had to pick up the pieces. Be her shoulder to cry on when you wouldn’t let her see you when you were in the hospital. She wanted to be there for you, but no, you had to be a selfish dick. You keep her safe, but keep your hands to yourself.” She turns and walks away.

I grip my hair in frustration.

After fifteen minutes, Sasha reappears in black leather pants and black leather corset. Fuck, I don’t want to see her in this right now. “Are you okay?” she asks me softly. I look into her eyes and the anger, the hate that was there has faded away. Another thing I don’t want to be seeing. Her looking at me like this, she looks like she did when we were eighteen.

“I should be asking you that.” We both stand there looking at one another.

“I better get going.” I nod in agreement.

I walk her to the darkened stage, everyone in place. I look to Karen and even though it’s dark, I can feel her eyes on me. Watching me. A single light lands on Sasha and the crowd roars out to her. She introduces herself and to the band and soon she starts to sing before the rest join her.

I watch mesmerized for the first song until my thoughts come back to me. I speak to a nearby worker and ask them to check that Sasha’s dressing room is still guarded and if the flowers have been taken care of.

I try and stay focused on my surroundings and not on Sasha’s voice, even though it's lulling me to her. I recognize some of her songs from her two albums and a few covers. I look out into the crowd to see if I can notice anyone looking shifty, but it looks like there are thousands of fans and no way can I tell from here.

An hour into the set, I feel a clap on my shoulder and I turn to see Aaron standing at my side. I give him a quick hug, thankful he got here so quickly.

“Fuck, man, she definitely is all grown up.” His eyes trail over Sasha and I give a shove.

“Thanks for coming.”

He shrugs it off. “It's fine. I get it. Besides, I’m still pining over Karen, especially now. She has turned into such a fox. I hate that I missed my chance back in school.” His eyes trail over her.

“Stop thinking with your dick.” I chuckle at him.

“Sorry. So, what’s the plan?”

“We both will be looking out for her. The guy seems to be only interested in her. We take turns in shifts when she sleeps. We search her home or wherever she stays including her changing rooms.”

“This is totally fucked up man. I know I’ve read about stuff like this happening, but I would never have thought it would happen to Sasha. Do you remember what she was like back then? Wearing baggy clothes, thick framed glasses. You wouldn’t think from looking at her now it’s the same girl.”

“I always knew she was beautiful. Inside as well as out.” I sigh out a long breath.

“I know you loved her. I knew it hurt you that you had to end it. I’m sorry, man.”