Transitions (A Thousand Words Book 1) by Tori Brooks Read Free Book Online

the pressure of – her little problem. Dev didn’t like to think about it specifically. He certainly wasn’t going to ask if she had any mishaps. First, he didn’t want to insult her by asking; and second, he didn’t want to know. Dev wasn’t happy that his sixteen-year-old girlfriend had slept with an undetermined number of guys, but he accepted it. She had a problem. They were working on it. He was really looking forward to seeing her again.
    Sophie threw herself at him as soon as he stepped off the plane. By the time he finished hugging and tickling her and got himself free, a small crowd had formed around him. Flynn was already signing autographs. Following Flynn’s lead, he smiled and posed for photographs with fans and signed autographs until Gunter started fussing in Sophie’s arms. The baby’s timing was the first warm thought Dev had to spare for his little brother.
    Flynn asked how the semester went on the way home. Sophie answered as much as Dev did, quoting Dev’s multitude of emails and weekly phone calls. Overall, Dev managed to avoid real conversation with his stepfather without serious effort. He wondered if Flynn was only allowing it because he was eighteen now and technically didn’t have to come home at all.
    Cassie and Tiffany were already home and ambushed Dev as soon as he walked in the door, effectively keeping Jess and Kenny at bay. Dev was simultaneously touched and annoyed by it and wondered if Jess was going to spend the rest of his life trying to avoid Cassie. Kenny told him before to drop it, in a tone that left an implied ‘or else’ hanging with threats of violence, so Dev dropped it. Except, sooner or later, his sister was bound to notice and Kenny had no influence over her.
    It was over an hour before Dev got to slip out to the apartment over the garage and say hi to his best friends. Three water balloons hit him as soon as he walked in the door.
    “Awesome,” Dev said as he wiped water from his face and looked at his three grinning pseudo-brothers.
    “Yeah, we thought about paintballs, but you’re so fussy about your wardrobe we figured you’d go ballistic,” Jess said. He casually tossed another water balloon in the air and caught it again.
    “You’re right,” Dev said. “Now do I get one of those to even things out?”
    Jess shrugged, “Sure.” He threw the water balloon at Dev, hitting the front of his pants. Dev flinched, catching himself before he swore.
    “Sorry, tossed that a little harder than intended.”
    “No problem,” Dev nodded amiably, “it happens.” He grinned at Kenny who gave him a knowing nod. Next time they were on stage he was going to have to figure out a way to water balloon Jess. That would be a memorable prank. Maybe on a photo shoot. The thought made him think of his mom telling him of the photo shoot she met Flynn on. The memory brought up mixed emotions in Dev, missing his mom, hating Flynn for still being here, for her giving her life just to give him a son.
    Bryan threw a towel at him, hitting him in the face and breaking him from the downward spiral he’d started.
    “Have a seat,” Bryan said.
    Dev sat at the small table and Kenny didn’t waste any time launching into the tour plans. Alec, their manager, was coming in the following day, and they had to get their act together. The songs and order were set, they were opening for Rushing On, a band Dev actually didn’t listen to. He picked up their CDs months ago when the tour was arranged, but somehow never found the time to seriously listen to them. Now would be good.
    Maybe he’d take the CDs, grab Lindsay, and make a night of it. It was warm, they could sit in the park, turn up the music, and watch the sun go down. Assuming the music was conducive to that sort of thing. Not that it really mattered with Lindsay, she’d go with it.
    “Are you paying attention?” Kenny demanded, hovering over Dev’s shoulder. Dev jumped and looked back at him. Clearly he wasn’t because he