Front & Center (Book 2 of the Back-Up Series) by A. M. Madden

finally speaks. “Wow! Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, unable to hide the hurt he feels in his voice. “Ok, so I suspected. But I’ve waited and waited for you to confirm or deny my suspicions. I’ve given you more than one opportunity to do that. And you said nothing.”
    “Evan…you had a lot going on with your mom and my dad. I didn’t want to worry you.”
    “Why would I be worried? Because he is walking sex? Your words, not mine! Or because you work for him? Or because you are trapped on a bus with him for months and you have nowhere to run if it doesn’t work out? Or maybe because I’ve heard he has quite a reputation and he’s not a one-woman man? Are any of these possibly the reasons you think I would worry?”
    “Ev…”
    “Leila…I’m not your father. But I am your brother and your best friend, and I have the right to worry about you. Are you sure you want this?”
    “Yes.”
    Now it’s Evan’s turn to sigh heavily. “You said it was a crush.”
    “It’s more.”
    “And what about all his conquests?”
    “Evan. He’s not like that anymore.”
    “I can’t believe you just said that.”
    “Well, he’s not.” While Evan remains silent on his end, I take the opportunity to convince him that Jack is my soul mate. “We’re good together. We didn’t just jump into this. We got to know each other first. He’s a good man. He’s kind and considerate. Evan, he loves me and I love him.” Tears well up as I sit on the phone, miles away from my best friend, enduring the torturous silence he’s determined to unleash on me. I sit heavily on the couch, waiting for him to speak.
    “Are you happy?” he finally asks quietly.
    “Very much so.”
    Jack walks out from the back bedroom to witness me swiping away my tears. His face crumples with concern as he squats before me. Taking my hand, he squeezes until I make eye contact with him.
    “ Ev…are you there?”
    “I’m here.”
    Jack motions for the phone. I shake my head because I’m not sure Evan would want to talk to Jack right now.
    “Listen, I told my dad. He was happy for me. Besides you two, Jack’s family and our band, no one else knows yet. But something happened in Boston, and you may start seeing things on the Internet. I wanted to tell you myself.” When Evan doesn’t respond, I add, “Call me back when you’re ready to talk about it.”
    “Is he there now?” he asks, ignoring my comments.
    “Yes, ” I respond while looking at Jack.
    “Let me talk to him.”
    “Evan…”
    “Lei…let me talk to him.” Wordlessly, I hand the phone to Jack.
    “Hey , Evan…yes, I understand…” Jack sits next to me while Evan rants on the other end. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and then kisses the top of my head, patiently waiting for Evan to finish his tirade.
    “Yes, I got it…crystal clear…I love her Evan…” There’s another long pause before Jack adds, “Yes…it’s not like that anymore…you need to trust me…I intend to…sure, hold on.”
    Jack smiles as he hands me the phone. “Hey…”
    “Hey…I’m sorry I acted like an idiot. I just worry about you.”
    “I know.”
    “And I love you. Don’t keep anything from me, ok?”
    “Ok.”
    “Good. I’m happy you’re happy. And he knows he’ll have to retrieve my shoe from his ass if he hurts you.”
    “Great…”
    “Bye, Lei.”
    “Bye , Ev.”
    Turning towards Jack, I shrug sheepishly. “Well , that went well.”
    “Babe, you had to expect that. He cares about you.”
    “I’m sorry he grilled you.”
    Jack laughs and says, “No worries.”
    “How di d it go with your mom and Lizzy?”
    “They are thrilled.” He turns serious, and then asks, “What about your dad?”
    “He was happy, I think. Strange. You must have charmed the pants off him. He wants to talk to you also, but I’m sure he won’t be as crude as Evan was.”
    Jack laughs again. “That was the first time someone threatened to shove their foot and ankle up my