My Cone and Only (King Family #1) - Susannah Nix Page 0,69

too much to think about right now. I wasn’t ready to do the things she was talking about, because I wasn’t sure I wanted everything else that would come along with it.

“You know what I mean,” she said. “You could be so much more than a cover band.”

I moved her off me and swung my legs to the floor so I could push myself upright. My skin felt hot and itchy all over, and I scratched at my chest. “What if I don’t want more than that?”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

I dipped my head into my hands and rubbed my forehead. I didn’t have an answer. Not one I could put into words, anyway. All I knew was that whenever I thought about seriously trying to make a go of it as a musician, I got a sick, sour feeling in my stomach.

Andie laid a soothing hand on my arm. “Wyatt, talk to me. I just want to understand.”

“I don’t know why.” I looked at her helplessly. “I can’t explain it.”

She was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again her voice was gentle. “Is this about Brady?”

“No.” I spat out the denial reflexively. But as I swallowed the flood of bitterness in the back of my throat, I knew she was right. My eyes fell closed as I shook my head. “Maybe.”

It wasn’t something I’d ever admitted before. Not even to myself, because I’d spent so long trying not to think about my oldest brother at all.

Andie hugged my arm and rested her head on my shoulder. She knew Brady was a sore spot, and that I’d mostly refused to talk about him since he left.

I opened my eyes and stared at the framed needlepoint on the wall across from me. Get Your Shit Together, it told me in colorful letters, surrounded by dainty embroidered flowers.

“I guess…” I exhaled a long breath, grimacing. “It makes me seem pathetic. Like I’m trying to follow in his footsteps or—or get his attention.” I swallowed, and Andie squeezed my arm. “I don’t want to be known as the famous rock star’s little brother. Everyone will think I’m trying to ride his coattails and steal some of his spotlight for myself.”

“It’s not like that. Your music doesn’t have anything to do with Brady or his career. You’re talented in your own right.” She gave my arm a tug, like she was trying to physically drag me away from my own negative thoughts.

I turned and kissed her head. “It doesn’t matter. Doors will open for me because of Brady, and I’ll never know if I deserve any of the chances I get.”

“Who the fuck cares? That’s not a good enough reason to deny yourself the chance to do something you love. You are talented and you deserve your own shot.” Her voice was sharp and furious, but I knew her anger wasn’t directed at me. Andie’s mama bear instincts had been engaged. She’d kill me for saying it, but she could be just as overprotective as Josh when it came to the people she cared about. Those Lockharts were a fierce and loyal bunch.

I leaned back on the couch, and she loosened her vise grip on my arm so I could pull her against my chest. “No matter what I do or how I try to distinguish myself, I’ll always get compared to him. I’ll be trapped in his shadow.”

That was the part that really bothered me. Knowing anything I tried to accomplish for myself would automatically and forever be connected to someone I resented so much. I’d never be able to detach myself from his legacy.

“He’s not all that, you know. Just because he was lucky enough to join a band that got famous doesn’t make him that good.”

“He’s that good,” I said honestly. I’d followed his career closely enough to know just how much of Ghost Ships’ success was due to Brady’s songwriting.

“So are you,” Andie insisted. “Look, families produce famous siblings all the time. Jaden and Willow Smith. Miley and Noah Cyrus. All the Olsen kids. Maybe you won’t ever get to be more famous than Brady, but would it really be so bad if you were the Solange to his Beyoncé?”

“Beyoncé didn’t cut Solange out of her life and ignore her existence for twenty years.”

“So you’ll be more like Liam and Noel Gallagher, then.”

I shook my head. “I don’t even want to be famous. I just want to play music.”

“Then do that. Don’t let Brady be what stops you. Live your own