I stare at it, unsure what to think. Don’t guys quit giving hickeys when they graduate high school? Or maybe I’m mistaken in that assumption…
Regardless, it’s embarrassing. I’m too old to walk around with a hickey. And the weather’s too warm to cover up my neck.
Thank God I didn’t know about it. I wouldn’t have been able to leave the suite until I found my thong. I can only do one embarrassing thing at a time.
I step into a hot shower and take my time loosening my muscles. I slather on some cream and lip balm. Unless I have to be dolled up—in which case I hire a makeup artist—I don’t bother. Faces aren’t my canvas.
When I’m out of the bathroom, the phone buzzes. I check it.
[–Max: Where are you? Are you okay?
I then see texts from last night. He tried to get in touch to have a drink and hang out. I missed them because I was too busy with Batman debauchery.
[–Me: I’m in my room and I’m fine. Sorry, my battery died last night, and I didn’t realize until now.
[–Max: Wanna have breakfast? I’ll go over to your hotel.
I hesitate. I don’t want him to see the hickey. Although we’re both adults and he has to know I have sex, it’s still embarrassing to let your older brother see physical proof.
But I’d hate to turn him down. Max is usually busy, and he doesn’t like to come down and spend time in Drover. New York is neutral ground, and I want to hang out with him some more before heading back home to Texas.
I have a small scarf I travel with. I have it wrapped around the handle of my black carry-on to identify it out of all the dark suitcases stuffed in the overhead bins.
I can probably use it to cover up my neck. And since this hotel’s cold enough to serve as a meat locker, Max won’t think it’s weird.
[–Me: Sure. We can eat here.
[–Max: Deal. See you soon.
I unknot the scarf from the suitcase and am pleased to find it isn’t wrinkled at all. Tied loosely around my neck, it looks sort of like a teal and pink piece of coral. Kind of nice, actually. At any rate, it does the trick.
I put on a pair of faded jeans, a pink scoop-neck T-shirt that picks up some of the color from the scarf and cowboy boots that are so comfortable, I feel almost barefoot. Tasha occasionally accuses me of being a stereotype, but it isn’t my fault I haven’t found anything comfier than my beloved cowboy boots, made by hand in good ol’ Texas. Tasha bought me a pair of fancy designer heels from Europe, and while they looked scrumptious, they felt like a KGB torture device.
Max arrives in less than half an hour and texts me. We meet at the restaurant on the first floor.
“Hey! Just you and me for breakfast?”
He grunts, which in this case means yes. “What’s with your voice? Did you catch cold?”
Nah, it was just all the sex and screaming I did last night. “I think it’s the smog here. So different from Drover. Anyway, your bandmates aren’t coming?”
“They’re busy. Killian’s doing a video call with his wife. Cole’s trying to decide what he’s going to get for his fiancée while we’re here in New York.”
I smile at all the words pouring out of my brother. He acts like he’s on a word ration with everyone except me. It’s compensation for my
prosopagnosia because he can’t use his expressions to communicate.
He continues, “As for Dev…” He gives a judgmental grunt. “No idea. Probably out getting laid. That’s what he does in every city, which is why you didn’t get to meet him last night. He probably stayed at the reception long enough to pick up a chick before splitting.”
“Don’t be so hard on him,” I say, feeling slightly guilty I missed my brother’s texts because I was having enough sex to satisfy an entire harem for a month. “He’s a rock star. I’m sure it’s hard for him to resist all the women swarming around.”
“It’s that face. Too pretty for his own good.” Max grunts.
When we’re seated, he orders a huge omelet with bacon and pancakes. I get pancakes with extra berries and whipped cream on the side. Plus some extra-strong coffee to compensate for my lack of sleep.
“How’s the career going? Last night was a big hit, right?” he asks.
I smile at the pride in his tone. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that. But being given a show by Catherine is definitely something. Other people are starting to take notice.” Including that creepy Isaac, but I’ll keep that to myself.