Grace’s Prologue
I’ve known about the Aldridge brothers all my life. I’m best friends with the youngest, Beacon Kirk Aldridge. We’ve known each other since…well, I wasn’t even born when he moved to Mercer Island, Washington, where all of my family lives.
You could say we’ve been inseparable since the beginning of time. We’re talking about having embarrassing pictures of the two of us covered in finger paint, swimming in a kiddie pool, and taking naps together. There are videos of us playing music together. Well, it’s not music. It’s just noises a two-year-old—that’d be me—and a four-year-old can make at that age.
Summers together were the best, except for that one week when he had to visit his father. I missed him so much. He’d come back talking about his brothers. They were older. He wanted to bring them home so they could be a family. When I think about that boy asking, “But why can’t we live together?” my heart shrinks. He wanted them to be a part of his life. He looked up to them until they stopped going to Baker’s Creek; and it was just him.
Who are his brothers?
He likes to categorize them by assholiness. I’m not kidding. That’s how he does it. Number one is Henry. The guy owns one of the best hotel chains in the world. Number two is Hayes. He’s one of the best orthopedic doctors in the world. Number three is Pierce. He’s a lawyer—bloodsucking asshole. Number four is Vance. He’s a former Delta Force. Number five is Mills. He’s not really an asshole—or maybe he lost his title because his son, Arden, is super cute. We adore him.
Number six is Carter. He died when he was twenty-one. Carter was his favorite brother.
I’m not a fan of those guys—or his parents.
His dad dying and leaving a will where he forces his sons to spend eighteen months in Baker’s Creek was bad. You know what’s worse? Beacon doesn’t like nonsense. Good luck keeping him in one place for that long.
While he’s gone, I’m taking this time to find a boyfriend. Without the man around who likes to swat away any prospect like a fly, I might be able to finally meet Mr. Right.
Beacon’s Prologue
When I was twenty-five, I was named the Sexiest Man Alive.
Is it true? Nah, but there are things said about me that I don’t care to control. The rest—I keep a tight grip on what the media prints, publishes, and posts about me.
On the outside, I’m a free-spirited man who doesn’t give a shit about the world. That’s how I want everyone to see me. As I mentioned, I regulate the narrative of my life.
I’m also called one of the most influential figures of alternative rock. That is the one I care about. I work hard to be number one. I live for what I do.
Music is one of the most important and powerful things in the world.
Music is my life.
A life I fill with melodies, harmonies, and lyrics. Without it, my existence would be pointless.
She’s been a part of me since I can remember.
I started playing music as a young child. Although I composed and wrote lyrics when I was a teenager, my career didn’t take off until my friends and I formed Too Far from Grace.
We could go on and on about how my career began. But I’m sure you’re not here to hear about my epic band, our success, or how millions of fans idolize us.
You want to know more about me because I’m one of the six Aldridge brothers.
So let’s do this with style, unlike my brothers.
The name is Beacon.
One name. I’m a mononymous person, like Plato, Molière, Bono, Sting, and Beyoncé.
Most know me as the front man and lead guitarist of the punk rock, alternative band Too Far from Grace. I formed that band when I was twenty-one after graduating from Juilliard. My best friends and I planned it while growing up.
It was all set, except one of them said, “Thank you, but I play solo.”
Maybe she said, “I’m too cute to be with a bunch of disgusting boys.”
Nah, I’m kidding. Grace isn’t a diva. She’s my closest friend. It’s because of her and her mom that I found my love for music.
When we were forming the band, though, she was already a famous cellist getting requests to play worldwide. She’s the Bach of our time.
When you’re that famous, why would you want to play for an unknown band?
Also, she doesn’t like to deal with crowds. She’d rather