“For?”
She shrugged, glancing down at her feet before looking back at me. “Until I find that special someone who wants to build it with me. I want to pick a spot together.”
My heart jumped as I lowered my head to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. A part of me wished I could be that special someone.
“What about you?” she asked, laying her head against my chest. “Do you have any family?”
I stiffened, but then made myself relax as I slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Just a brother, but he left when I was a child, and I haven’t heard from him since.” I had no idea why I just told her that. No one knew about Eric. Not even my band members. I kept my past a secret, except from Everly, it would seem.
“I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
Raising her head, she whispered, “Can I ask what happened?’
I gritted my teeth together tightly, looking blindly over her head as I thought back to that time in my life that I wish I could forget.
“Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”
I sighed, lowering my head so our foreheads touched. Maybe it was time I talked about it to someone. Not just anyone–to Everly. “My parents were in a car accident when I was young,” I replied gruffly, swallowing hard. “They didn’t make it. My brother and I were put in foster care. When Eric turned eighteen, he aged out. He left…” I stopped and couldn’t go on.
“He left you alone,” Everly whispered, both of her arms going around my waist, holding me tightly against her.
“I was ten,” I rasped. “I never heard from him again.”
“Oh, Alex.”
“I was lucky enough to be adopted by a good couple,” I told her, not wanting her to think I lived a horrible life. “They gave me a new name, and a new life with it.”
“A new name?”
“I used to be Alex Covington.”
“Oh! Where are they now?”
I sighed, holding her a little tighter. “They are both gone, but they were really good to me when I was growing up.”
“So, you are alone again?” Her words were soft and hesitant. As if she were afraid to speak them.
“I have my band.”
“They are your family?”
“The only one I have.”
Deciding it was time to leave the depressing talk behind, I leaned back and gave her a quick kiss before pulling away. “Last one to the bottom owes the other one dinner!”
Not waiting for a reply, I jumped on my sled and took off with Everly right behind me on hers.
6
Everly
“Adeal’s a deal.” I had my hands on my hips and was looking up at the stubborn, sexy rock star. He beat me to the bottom of the hill, and I planned to buy him dinner, but he was refusing to let me.
“Not happening, Evie.”
“You might as well let her have her way, Son. She’s as stubborn as her mama.” My dad came out onto the front porch and sat on the swing to watch our face off first-hand.