Free My Stepbrothers Rock: Headliner by Stephanie Brother Page A

happy. I don't know how I would have ever told Alex my feelings and honestly, I wasn't planning on ever professing my love, so when I saw him reading my written thoughts it was almost like when your best friend tells the guy you're crushing on that you're crushing on him. Then, he either makes a good move or a bad move. Lucky for me me, he made the good move.
    “Soon enough little bookworm. Hey! You know I'm playing Buffalo next month right? Grant has us opening for The Black Keys.” His fingers pluck the keys in a melody that gives me goose bumps. I've missed hearing him and while it's only been a few months it feels like forever. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I'm really in love with Alex the musician. The one who can play a few chords on a guitar and pull the strings of my heart so hard I feel as though I might die if not for the memory of his lips on mine.
    “Are you kidding? I love the Keys! Grant's actually got some taste.” I viewed my older stepbrother as a bit of a prude. Not sure why since Alex's band was in the same musical genre as the Keys. I guess I didn't think he was hip to the popular artists, or bands I liked, but then I didn't know much about Grant.
    He's almost ten years older than me and was already living on his own making it big in Los Angeles by the time my mom married his dad. Really our only contact was during the holidays. A few days of eating at Thanksgiving, a week of presents and parties during Christmas and the occasional Father's-Day-Birthday combination fishing trip, which I figured was some kind of male bonding so he could hit my stepdad up for money.
    “Yeah, he's not half bad little princess,” Alex scoffs.
    “Sounds like you guys are getting along.” I'm relieved at the thought, remembering the fight the two of them had during his birthday party a few years ago. After talking to my brother, reassuring him that the angst he felt toward Grant was misdirected, and almost planting a big fat kiss on his mouth, which, thank God I didn't because Grant found us moments later.
    I'd stood behind the small stage where my brother's band would later play and listened to their exchange, so bitter and angry, a side of Alex I'd never heard.
    “Hey, little bro. Not sure what just happened there, but I need you to know I'm serious about signing you with my management company.” Grant's voice was sincere and if I were Alex I would've just agreed and moved on.
    “Stop with the little bro shit. You haven't been around to be a BIG bro for years now.” The sound of Alex's voice, low and dark, made me shudder.
    “You're right and I'm sorry about that, but you've gotta see the bigger picture. I've got one of the most promising new artist management companies on the West coast. Give me a chance to promote you, get you on some tours and break out of the garage band phase.”
    “What does two million views in a month on my Youtube account and winning the national Battle of the Bands tell you? It says I don't need you and your damn promotion. I've already been hit up by the manager for Incubus to open their Asian tour, so tell me again, why do I need you?” I was in disbelief as this was the first time I was hearing about the Incubus deal. Alex always told me everything, so I was inclined to think it was a line of bullshit to look better in front of Grant.
    “Those are amazing statistics and you're right, maybe you don't need me, but I've got your best interest in mind and even more so because you're my brother. I'm not gonna screw you down the line or give you the leanest royalty deal I can pull over on you.” Grant sounds very convincing and I almost wanted to jump around the corner and yell “Take the deal!”
    “My best interest? What the fuck? You sound like dad. Did he bribe you into taking me on so you could watch out for my rock and roll lifestyle, make sure I didn't drown myself in women and drugs and spoil the family name?” Alex laughs as if those ideas are foreign and I hope they are or