“What’s wrong?” Leighanne asked.
“Nothing-well, something, but…” Madeleine trailed off. If Leighanne knew, Brian would find out pretty soon, too.
“Nick problems again?” Leighanne noticed the look of worry on her friend’s face and smiled reassuringly. “I won’t tell Brian.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely Nick problems.”
“It has to do with that night you were locked in his dressing room together, doesn’t it?”
“How did you know? Brian doesn’t suspect anything, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t. I just tend to pick up on these things,” Leighanne said slyly. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
Meanwhile, Loryn stepped out of her room to hear two voices belonging to Leighanne and Madeleine. When she heard Nick’s name, she backed up against the wall to eavesdrop.
“Nick and I…we did some stuff,” Madeleine said uncomfortably.
Leighanne gasped. “Did he use protection?”
“I wasn’t paying attention, but I would assume so,” Madeleine replied. “I don’t want to tell Brian because he’d kick me off the tour if he knew, but it’s tearing me apart!”
“Oh, sweetie, I wish I could tell you what to do, but I don’t have the slightest idea. Sometimes Brian can be so thick!”
“I wish he could just understand how much Nick and I love each other! I wouldn’t have slept with anyone that I didn’t love! Brian’s just too stubborn to see it.”
Loryn smiled wickedly. This was perfect! If Brian found out what that little slut did, he’d kick her off the tour immediately, and there would be no competition for Nick! She took off the opposite way down the hall to find Brian.
After twenty minutes, Loryn found Brian at the hotel restaurant. He was about to get a table. “Brian, can I talk to you?” she requested sweetly.
Brian purposely let out an exaggerated sigh. After what this girl did to his best friend and sister, he had no desire to hear anything she had to say. “What do you want?”
“Look. I know you don’t like me. I don’t know why, but that’s beside the point. The point is, I have some information that I’m sure you’d like to know,” she babbled. When Brian didn’t reply, she added, “It’s about Nick and your little sister, and you might want to hear.”
“What would you know about them?” Brian demanded.
“I heard something today that, as a protective older brother and guardian, you really should know.”
“Fine. Let’s sit down first,” Brian suggested. Though he didn’t like her, he pulled out a chair for her like the gentleman that he was. The waiter took their orders and left them to their discussion.
“The night that Nick and Mattie got locked in the dressing room-”
“The night YOU locked them in the dressing room.”
“I don’t know why they think I would do such a thing! I could never be so cruel!” she exclaimed. “Anyway, I heard Leighanne and Mattie talking this afternoon. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I heard Mattie say that she and Nick…” she trailed off.
Brian narrowed his eyes. “That she and Nick what?”
“They had sex.”
“What? That’s insane!” he exclaimed. “She would never do that!”
“She really loves him, Brian,” Loryn said. She knew that wouldn’t change Brian’s mind about the situation, but it would help convince him she was telling the truth.
“You’re telling me that you heard her tell Leighanne that they…uh…you know…that night?” Brian said skeptically.
“I swear to you, Brian. I wouldn’t lie! It’s the truth!”
“And you heard this directly from my sister’s mouth,” he said uncertainly.
“Yes. I heard her tell Leighanne that she didn’t want you to know because she knew you would want her off the tour,” Loryn said honestly. “That girl really does think he loves her, Brian.” In her mind, she was almost convinced she was actually helping the poor girl. She was sure Nick didn’t give a damn about Madeleine, but he certainly did care about her. As soon as Madeleine was out of the way, he’d figure that out.
Brian abruptly stood up. “I’m going to go find my sister. Uh, thank you, I guess,” he said.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that from me. I feel terrible,” Loryn lied. “I just thought you had a right to know.
Before he turned to leave, he nodded in appreciation, hiding his anger.