Say You're Mine (The Gallaghers Book 1) by Layla Hagen (comprehension books .txt) 📕

him on the tour and that this was all going to be too much for me one day. That I’ll feel caged in, and I’ll want to break out and I’ll leave him. Which is absolutely not true. I love him.”

“But you did tell him you didn’t think your lifestyles are compatible at one point,” Josie said slowly. “I don’t think it’s so far-fetched for him to worry about it.”

Dylan was silent for a few beats, but I could tell it was only because he was searching for the right words. “Well, as someone who was dumped by his girlfriend because her feelings for me had changed, I can’t say that I don’t understand his point of view.”

I couldn’t believe he used himself as an example. I knew how difficult it was for him to talk about this. My heart was hurting for my brother.

Ian cocked a brow. “I’m no expert, but you two make no sense. Dylan, this isn’t the same situation. Isabelle was leery in the beginning, but she even told us this isn’t as difficult as she thought. So what’s the problem?”

Dylan laughed. “I wish the world were as black-and-white as you think, brother. Lina—”

“She didn’t break up with you randomly because her feelings changed, okay? Or because of anything you did. She was sleeping with a coworker,” Ian said, throwing a hand in the air.

I gasped, sliding lower on my lounger. Josie covered her mouth. I’d been certain Ian was keeping something to himself when Dylan had opened up during that breakfast, but not something this big.

Ian closed his eyes briefly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt that out,” he said.

Dylan was quiet for so long that I could practically feel him raising walls around him.

“How do you know?” Dylan asked eventually.

“Doesn’t matter,” Ian replied, glancing at me in the camera. His gaze moved briefly lower, probably at Josie on his screen. This was sibling code for “Help me out.” Ian always had zero tact, but this time, I didn’t know how to help him.

“Yes it fucking does.”

“Her sister mentioned it to a common friend, and...” Ian shrugged.

Dylan’s expression darkened. “Let’s focus on Isabelle. The call is for her.”

I wanted to reach out through the phone and hug him.

“Isabelle, this is a tough period for you guys. The press and fan attention is overbearing, and I think at the end of the day, he wants to protect you,” Josie said, then added, “You haven’t changed your mind about him... have you?”

“No I haven’t. I love him even more.” The collective gasp from my sibs almost had me laughing. Oh, well, cat’s out of the bag now.

“Well, then, man up, Sis. Pull up those big girl pants and put Brayden on the straight and narrow,” Josie said. Now that had us all laughing.

We chatted a little bit more about Sophie and what happened since I’d been gone, though I noticed Dylan didn’t add anything, and Ian hadn’t spoken since apologizing, which was probably for the best.

“Thanks for taking my call, folks. I don’t want to keep you any longer,” I said.

“Are you sure?” Dylan asked.

I nodded, and after he said his goodbyes, he disconnected right away. Josie and Ian didn’t. I’d always been grateful that we were very good at wordless communication, but never more than now.

I stood up from the lounger because I couldn’t lie down any longer; I could think better when I was moving around. I went to the snack table, hoping something tasty might have magically popped up. Nope. Still just apples and nuts.

“Ian, for the love of God,” Josie exclaimed.

“So... how long do you think he’s going to be mad at me?” Ian asked.

“A while,” I answered. “A long one. Ummm... Josie, I think Dylan’s in need of some sisterly love.”

“I agree 100 percent. I’m going to pay him a visit with Sophie in tow. She always seems to cheer him up.”

“Well, she’s tiny and pink, and when she smiles, everyone turns into goo. Including Dylan.” I leaned against a window, enjoying the cool feeling against the back of my head.

“I’m guessing I should stay out of his way today,” Ian said, frowning. The sounds in his background kept getting louder. I wanted to comfort him too, but before I could say anything, he added, “I’m going to hang up. This large group came in, and I can barely hear you.”

He disconnected right away. It was just me and my sis now.

“Isabelle, I’m taking care of our brothers, okay? You have enough to worry about.”

“I know, but I don’t like seeing them like this.”

“I promise you I’ve got this. How are you holding up? What are you going to do?”

“I want to talk to him. Go take care of our brothers,” I said.

“I will. Good luck.”

“Thanks, I really need it.”

“Sis, you can figure out anything. You kick ass. And you’re the only person I know who doesn’t resort to comfort food when she feels down.”

Should I confess that I was only eating an apple because there was no tastier alternative? Perhaps I should have... but I didn’t.

“Love how much confidence you have in me.”

Josie smiled. “Always.”

After the call ended, I realized the ball was in my court. My hero was hurting, and it was my job to change that.

Chapter Twenty-EightBrayden

“Lars, this isn’t helping,” I exclaimed. He’d been talking my ear off since Isabelle left.

He snapped his fingers, as if he had a light bulb moment.

“Of course it doesn’t. I suck at giving relationship advice. But you know who’s good at it? Thomas. I’ll call the guys.”

I cocked a brow. “What’s Harvey’s input going to be?”

“Nothing. He just doesn’t like being left out.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. When the band was on a tour, we dealt with everything together. Well, almost everything. I’d always liked dealing with personal matters on my own, but right now, I didn’t mind the guys rallying around me. This was all Isabelle’s influence on me. Something fundamental had shifted inside me since she became part