The five of us exchange puzzled glances.
Storm’s the first to speak. “Who’s your brother?”
Quinn blinks like it should be obvious. “Phoenix.”
When everyone looks at him, he shakes his head. “No the fuck I’m not.”
Quinn’s not backing down, though. “It’s true. My mom is Genevieve Moore, but her maiden name is Katz.”
She draws in a deep breath. “Which technically makes you my half-sib, but who actually uses the term half-sib…unless you don’t like the person. But you have no reason not to like me because you don’t even know me. Which is exactly why I’ve been trying to meet you for the past three years, but you’re incredibly hard to pin down. I’ve tried to go backstage a few times, but security won’t let me because—”
She makes air quotes with her fingers. “‘I’m too young’。 I took a bus to the hospital after your accident, but they had the nerve to tell me I wasn’t family, and every single freaking time I’ve attempted to break into your room, you were already gone.” She smiles. “I’m really glad you were here this time, though…and that I was able to catch you right before you two boned.”
Holy. Shit.
Phoenix looks at me. “That part checks out…well, the part about my mom’s last name.” He pulls a face. “Not the ramblings of a lunatic.”
I can feel Skylar mean mugging me. Feigning innocence, I twirl my finger around my ear and mouth, ‘she’s crazy.’
Phoenix eyes Quinn suspiciously. “How do you know my mother’s maiden name?”
Appearing exasperated, Quinn blows out a breath. “Because she’s my mom, too, dummy.” She points to herself. “Where do you think I got this mop of hair and these insanely high cheekbones from?” Peering up at the ceiling, she touches her eyeball. “I also have her green eyes. See? No contacts.”
Phoenix doesn’t look nearly as unsure about all this like he did a minute ago.
Oh boy.
While Quinn and Phoenix definitely look like they could be siblings, their personalities couldn’t be more opposite.
Phoenix is locked up tight, and this girl is an open book.
A strange and crafty open book.
I honestly don’t know what to make of her or this situation. I want to believe her…but there’s a chance she’s lying.
I’m not the only one who must be thinking this because Storm scrubs a hand down his face and utters, “Are you really gonna trust this little juvenile delinquent who broke into your hotel room?”
“Um, hello,” Quinn says, her face twisting with outrage. “Weren’t you listening? I had a good reason.”
Memphis takes a step forward. “What was the reason you broke into mine then?”
We all turn to look at Memphis, who until now hasn’t said much. Which is odd considering Quinn’s his baby mama. Allegedly.
Skylar’s eyes narrow. “You told me you never touched a minor.”
Memphis pinches the bridge of his nose. “That’s because I never touched her, Sky.” Palms up, he looks at all of us. “Or any other minor for the record.”
“Start talking,” Phoenix grits through his teeth before he plops down on the chair next to the couch. “Now.”
Memphis draws in a lungful of air. “The first night on tour, I came back to my room and found her there. I was about to call security, but she begged me not to and then went on and on about needing to see you immediately. She seemed a little…”
“Fucking psychotic,” Storm offers.
“Hey!” Quinn screeches.
“Mentally unstable,” Memphis says. “Anyway, I figured she was a stalker, but when I threatened to call security again, she broke down crying.” He shrugs. “She’s obviously young, and I felt bad, so I offered to call her parents…” He peers down at Quinn, who looks sheepish. “That’s when she bolted out of my room.”
“And then told the world she was pregnant with your love child,” Skylar cuts in, unable to contain her grimace.
I’m right there with her. It seems Quinn went to a trashy tabloid and started rumors that she was pregnant with Memphis’s baby…presumably so she could get Phoenix’s attention.
That’s beyond insane.
Quinn hangs her head. “I just wanted to meet my big brother.” Her gaze fixes on her sneakers. “And I only told TMZ that I thought I was pregnant with his child. I figured that would be enough for someone in the band’s camp to track me down…then I’d be introduced to Phoenix.”