by Kim Loraine
Heart in his throat, he stopped as he heard the resigned tone of Angela’s voice. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m leaving for my first tour in January.”
“Right, everything all smoothed out with Garrett?” He could hear the smile in Valerie’s voice as she spoke.
“Meh, he’ll be okay. The truth is, our producer loves my stuff. He thinks it changes up the album enough to make it diverse. He also said, In My Hour has number one written all over it.”
He couldn’t agree more. That song was easily the best thing they’d put together, and she’d written most of it.
“What? That’s amazing.”
“Yeah, it really is.” His chest squeezed at Angela’s voice. She sounded so torn—proud, yet self-conscious.
He stood in the hall. He could see them but knew they weren’t aware of his presence.
“When are you guys going into the studio?” Valerie asked.
Angela popped the last bite of pancake in her mouth and held up a finger.
“We start tomorrow,” he called as he emerged from his hiding place. He felt sheepish and awkward, standing in front of the friend he’d hurt and her petite, but fierce older sister.
“Garrett? What are you doing here? I thought you were locked away in your writing cave.” Angela’s voice betrayed the tension between them.
“I heard what you said about your song. I know I’ve been a jerk about you writing. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
A thrill ran through him at the deep blush that rushed up her cheeks.
“Have you heard your sister’s stuff? As if she needs to be any more amazing, right?”
Valerie nodded. “We like her.”
“Me, too.” Garrett’s eyes flitted from Valerie to the floor as his ears burned in embarrassment.
He could tell Valerie was uncomfortable as she shifted from foot to foot.
“I’ll give you guys a minute,” she said, moving to tend to Asher who was happily spreading pancake syrup all over himself. “Come on, Ash. You’re covered in syrup.”
Alone with Angela, his mouth suddenly ran dry. His eyes locked on the coffee pot behind her, needing something to occupy him and he cleared his throat. “You mind if I grab a cup?” He motioned to the half-full carafe.
Shrugging, she pulled a mug down from the cabinet and filled it for him. She refreshed her cup and they leaned against the counter.
“You left your lyric book at my house.”
She stiffened. “I know.”
“I’ve had it a long time.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you ask for it back?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“I read the lyrics. They’re good.”
“You really hurt me when I tried to show them to you before.”
She still wouldn’t look at him and he had to stop himself from taking her chin in his grasp and forcing those hazel eyes to make contact with his.
“I was a scared asshole. I don’t want you to leave us or even worse, not need me anymore.”
She sighed and put a hand over his, finally giving her gaze to him. “I’ll always need you.”
Chapter 43
The wedding venue was so very Parker. Gardenias scented the aisle, the soft sound of waves crashing served as the soundtrack to the entire event, and Angela had to smile at the buckets of flip-flops placed where cement met sand. She kicked off her heels and snagged a pair of the cheap sandals, grinning at the immediate increase in her comfort.
“You look beautiful.” Garrett’s voice startled her and the heat of his breath against her bare neck sent shockwaves of lust through her.
“Thanks.” She turned, taking in his tailored suit and robin’s egg blue tie. “You don’t look half bad yourself. You clean up nice for a drummer.”
She wasn’t lying. He looked amazing. His dark curls were combed and slicked back, bringing his sharp features into focus and making his intense eyes burn brighter. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him.
“Sorry we didn’t get a chance to rehearse,” he offered, pressing a hand to the small of her back and pushing her toward the altar.
Her heart hammered against the wall of her chest, threatening to burst. “We’ve got time now. Want to give it a quick run through?” she asked, praying her voice didn’t betray her emotions.
A slight nod from him boosted her confidence. Maybe he wanted to be around her. They moved to the side of the altar and he grabbed a guitar while she took her place next to him.
The connection was immediate when they started singing together. Their voices blended seamlessly, so smooth it was impossible to single them out from each other. She felt an ache, deep in her center as the song faded away and they disconnected.
“I’ve missed that.” She couldn’t contain her sadness at all she’d lost.
He gingerly placed the guitar back on the stand and nodded once before reflexively reaching to fiddle with the bracelet that was no longer on his wrist.
“Garrett? What are you doing out here?” A pretty blonde with a ridiculous hourglass figure and a generous amount of cleavage on display shuffled in the sand down the aisle toward them.
Garrett’s eyes widened and a guilty expression covered his face. “Casey, this is Angela.”
Casey cast a dubious glance Angela’s way and smirked. “I know her. Valerie’s little sister right? I’m friends with Lena and Michael.”
Angela nodded and offered a hand. “Nice to meet you, Casey.”
“Sure,” she said, shaking Angela’s hand and turning to Garrett. “Baby, we’ve got to get inside for pictures. Parker’s looking everywhere for you. Both of you, I guess.”
Baby? Angela grimaced at the endearment.
To his credit, Garrett looked uncomfortable as he stood there between the two women. Casey leaned into his side, stroked her hand over his chest and straightened his tie—an intimate gesture that sent a pang of loss through Angela’s heart.
Angela cleared her throat and averted her eyes as soon as Garrett’s connected with hers. “I’ll be a minute. I need to freshen up.”
She focused on the sand under her feet and the safety of the bathroom as she worked to maintain a sense of calm and headed straight for the reception site. As soon as she made it through the door to the ladies’ room, she blew out a tense breath and leaned against the cool tile wall.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She kicked the trashcan in time with her curses, wishing it made her feel better. It didn’t.
“You’re handling this well.” A sultry voice dripping with sarcasm came from an alcove around the corner and a wave of embarrassment hit her.
Peeking her head around the dividing wall she found a small sitting room with a vanity. Lena Shirakawa stood, leaning in close to the mirror as she applied her lipstick.
“Lena? I thought you were traveling.”
It was good to see her again, but a definite shock.
“I’m back for a few months. I head back to Tokyo in October for fall photo shoots.”
“Wow. Where were you last time?”
“I just got back from Bali. Before that it was Japan, Tokyo, and Kyoto.”
Sadness filled Lena’s eyes and an awkward silence filled the room.
“I didn’t know you knew Parker and Jason,” Angela offered, breaking the uncomfortable spell.
“Oh, I don’t really. Valerie recommended me to them.”
“You’re the photographer? Oh, of course.”
Lena offered her a teasing grin. “Damn, girl, you’re not firing on all cylinders are you?”
She heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. “It’s been a rough few weeks.”
“You and me both.” Lena fidgeted with the empty ring finger
on her left hand before plastering on a too bright smile and fluffing her long, ebony hair.
“See you out there.” She breezed out of the room, leaving Angela alone with the quiet of her own thoughts.
They made it through the ceremony—through walking down the aisle arm-in-arm—through standing inches away from each other while their best friend married the love of his life. The smell of Angela’s perfume had Garrett aching to hold her to him. He pushed away the tightness in his chest at the sound of their voices dancing over the notes of the song they performed. He even controlled his need to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He was proud of himself and miserable at the same time.
As the newly married couple shared their first kiss and headed down the aisle, his nerves sent tingles over his body. He’d have to touch her again. Angela slipped her hand under his arm and smiled at him. For the first time since the ceremony started, he spared a focused glance at her. His breath caught in his throat, and he had to force himself to look away. He could feel Casey’s eyes burning holes in his back as they followed Jason and Parker into the reception hall.
“It was so perfect,” Angela whispered.
He could hear the tears in her voice, the overwhelming happiness for their friend, and it almost broke down his resolve.
Almost done. Almost free. Just hold on.
Over the last few days he’d told himself over and over that he could make it through this in one piece. Her hazel eyes locked onto his and a jolt of lust crashed over him.
“I need a drink.” He untangled his arm from hers and bolted for the open bar, leaving her alone in the doorway of a near empty party.
A hand snaked over his shoulders, startling him as he took a long drink of his Jack and Coke. “You’re a bit tense there, rocker boy.” Casey leaned her body into his.
He shrugged out of her embrace and stared down at the bar. “I’m fine.”
“Want to grab a seat? The guests are snagging up all the tables.”
He looked at her then. Really looked. He wasn’t being fair to her. She was in this and he was standing outside of the possibility of something with her.
“I can’t. Wedding party has a special table.” He gestured to the head of the room.
“So you’re going to be sitting with her?” He couldn’t ignore the spite in her words.
“If by her you mean Angela, then yeah.”
“I don’t know how you’re doing it. I couldn’t be so civil.”
He downed the last of his drink and sighed. “We’ve got a lot of history. She’s not someone I’ll be able to throw away, Case. She’ll always be there.”
Her face fell as she took in his words. He knew she wasn’t happy to hear that Angela would be a permanent fixture in his life. Tossing her hair over one shoulder, she put on a wicked grin. “How about you and I take a little detour before the party gets started and I can help you forget about her for a while?”
She slid her hand discreetly over the front of his pants, making him thankful they were facing the bar and uncomfortable at the same time. He knew what she was doing, trying to stake her claim. That fact irritated him more than anything.
“Garrett, oh honey, that song was so beautiful.”
Humiliation slammed into him at the sound of his mother’s voice. Casey moved her hand away as they turned to face his mom.
“Thanks, Mom.”
She looked around the room and smiled as her eyes landed on her goal. He followed her gaze and saw Angela sitting at the table and sipping a glass of champagne. The memory of their kiss at New Year’s assaulted him. The taste of champagne and whisky on her lips, her tongue sliding into his mouth, the hitch in her breath as he pulled her body against his.
His mom’s voice broke through his memories. “I’m glad to see you two are speaking again. You just weren’t yourself without her.”
He felt Casey tense next to him.
Clearing his throat, he took Casey’s hand and forced a smile. “Yeah, good to be back to normal. I’d better show Case to her seat, Mom. I’ll see you in a few.”
Casey wasn’t happy to be left alone. She’d pouted and whined about it, clearly hoping he’d ditch his best man duties and come be with her. That was the last thing he wanted to do, and there was no fucking way Parker would let him get away with that. Snagging a waiter, he ordered two fingers of whisky and slid into his assigned seat next to Angela.
“Bubbly already?”
She raised her glass and grinned. “Gotta squash those baby rumors.”
A tremor raced through his gut and he remembered how he’d felt the moment before she told him she wasn’t pregnant, when she’d implied the baby wasn’t his. The anguish was still there, hiding.
The waiter brought over his drink and she raised an eyebrow at him. “Whisky?”
“It’s how we do these kinds of things right? Champagne and whisky?” He stared down into the amber liquid. “Except there won’t be any kissing at midnight.”
Her cheeks reddened and he felt a twinge of guilt at bringing that up. “Sorry.”
She shook her head. “Nope, you’re right. You’ve got someone new to kiss. It’s my turn to do the same.”
Chapter 44
For the next few nights, Angela dreamt of Garrett, of the wedding, of everything she’d had to see. Her heart had broken all over again as she’d watched him sway on the dance floor at Parker’s wedding, Casey in his arms. The woman had kissed him deeply over and over. Each moment was like a knife through her. Now she couldn’t escape the memories.
Her phone rang on her bedside table and she tossed the pillow off her head.
“Hello?” she said, trying to clear the fog of morning from her voice.
“Hi, baby doll.”
“Aiden?”
He chuckled over the line, the sexy rumble of his voice making her smile.
“Where are you calling from?”
“My house.”
“You mean you’re not off jet setting around the world? Hooking up with random runway models.”
“Sounds fun, but no. I’m taking some time off. Someone showed me a little bit about how important it is to stand up for who you are.”
Sitting up, she stretched and fought a yawn.
“Did I wake you? Isn’t it after eleven over there?”
“Mmm-hmm. I haven’t been sleeping much lately.”
He clicked his tongue and she could hear the smile in his voice. “Just can’t give up that rock star schedule?”
“No, can’t live it down.”
“I might have a way to help you out there. That’s what I was calling about actually.”
“I’m listening.”
“I left Backbeat. Well, Violet Hour did.”
Her jaw dropped. “What?”
“I made a statement about the split and also shared the fake relationship, my part in it, and Backbeat’s. Your name is cleared. Everyone knows the whole image was a ruse. That you weren’t cheating on me with Garrett.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything. If I’d had any integrity I wouldn’t have convinced you to do it in the first place.”
“I’m at fault, too. I made the decision to go with it.”
“Water under the bridge at this point, baby doll. Listen, I’m going to start my own label, that’s really why I was calling. I want you to sign with me. You, or you and Garrett, or the whole damn band. I want you to get a chance to gain fame the way you should have in the first place.”
Her stomach dropped. Fame? She broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“You’re a star. You really are. It would be such a shame if you didn’t get to shine.”
“I’ll think a
bout it, okay?”
“All right. Trust me, you need music in your life. When you’re ready, I’ll be here with a contract waiting.”
“Thanks, Aiden.”
“My pleasure.”
She hung up, hands trembling.
Angela sat at the piano which was nestled in the corner of Cups, her favorite coffee shop. Panic Station had played many gigs on this cramped stage during their high school years. She’d even played an open mic night here almost a year ago. She’d been dealing with Garrett then, too. This was so different though. This time it wasn’t a question of him being worried she’d leave him. He’d left her and moved on.
September being just days away, the coffee house was filled with high school kids getting in their last doses of freedom before heading back for another year in school. She’d hoped to stay under the radar. Even with the truth coming out about Aiden, she felt like there was still some bad blood in the community.
A soft cough caught her attention and she found herself staring into the soft blue eyes of Hank Maran, the shop’s owner.
“Angela Peters. It’s good to see you, girl.”
“Hi, Hank.” She couldn’t help but smile at the older man. Hank was kind, gentle, and always supportive of the community. She worked to push away the tendrils of fear that crept in when she realized he might not really want her here.
“Unscheduled concert?”
Heat crept up her cheeks. “Nah, just hiding.”
“Angie, you can play here whenever you want. I know things have been rough this last year. Doesn’t mean you lost your talent.”
“Thanks.”
He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “You got a job?”