I catch the words “love broken”. This must be the song I saw Piper writing when I met her.
“I don’t know,” I answer, scanning the crowd. “No one else is.”
“Who cares what everyone else is doing?” He smiles as he takes a pull of his beer and sets it on the bar. He grabs my hand. “I’m not going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers.”
I don’t resist his offer as he gently squeezes my hand and maneuvers us through the crowd onto the dance floor.
“Hey.” He spins me around. “I’m not going to hurt you or step on your toes.” He looks into my eyes before he hesitantly pulls me toward him. When I don’t resist, he pulls me closer. My stomach flutters. Hearing those words remind me of Reed, our first kiss, and our first dance on his birthday. It’s like I just got slapped in the face as I try hard to hold my emotions in check. I feel unsettled, like someone is watching me, like the entire world is watching me. I rattle away the idea. It’s just me trying to get used to my new life. All this freedom is foreign to me.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he touches my cheek. “It looks like you’re going to cry.”
“Yes.” I smile as his fingers slip from my face. I turn and let the music and Nick’s voice take over as he sings Piper’s song about broken love. Closing my eyes, I let the music flow through my body and free my mind of everything. I don’t care when I feel Chad’s hands slide down my body and stop at my hips. He gently pulls me tighter as I lean my head against his shoulder. I feel his body under mine while we move in time with the music.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers into my ear. “Dangerously beautiful.”
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck and smile. I need this freedom. It’s not wrong. This is not wrong. I’m living my life.
“I haven’t seen you at the Gypsy lately. I was hoping to see you there,” he says as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’ve been really busy with classes and moving into my own place.”
“Well, that could do it.” He smiles. “I thought for a minute I scared you away.”
“I actually enjoyed talking to you that night.” I lift my eyes to his.
“I’m glad.” He grimaces.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I loosen my arms around his neck.
“God, it’s your eyes. There’s something about your eyes.” He smiles sheepishly and scratches his head. “I’d love to get you in front of the lens.”
“What?” I pull back slightly to get a clear view of his face.
“Photograph you. I’m a photographer,” he clarifies. “I’m attending the New England School of Photography in Boston. When I saw you for the first time, I was picturing all the ways I would pose you. You would be a great project.”
“Project?” I laugh.
“I would love for you to be my muse for an assignment I’m working on in class.” He looks away and then back to me. “Pretty please?” He pouts and my eyes are instantly drawn to his lips.
“I don’t know.” I look down, but that’s a bad idea because all I can focus on are the ripples of his abs through his T-shirt. Seriously, I’m pretty much being shackled by his looks. Damn. What a bad place to be, I laugh to myself.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, catching the soft smile on my face.
“Nothing.” I look up at him.
“First, the eyes. Now, the smile? You’re killing me,” he moans. “I definitely won’t and can’t take no for an answer.”
“Fine,” I concede. “But, I have one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Clothes on.”
“Deal,” he whispers. “I was resolved to the fact that I would never see you again. Plus, I would never ask you to do something like that. Well…” He trails off.
“Hey,” I reply as I jokingly push him away, but his hold on me makes that almost impossible.
“It’s your eyes. They tell your story. That’s the first thing that got me. Then it was…” he blushes as he continues talking, “the rest of you.”
Now it is my turn to blush.
“I’m sure you hear that from all the guys,” he finishes as we move to the music.
I don’t know what to say as I let the sound of the guitar and Nick’s voice relax me.
“Aren’t we getting a little cozy over here?” Piper sneaks up with two beers in hand. I look up and turn toward her voice. Chad’s hand rests on my waist as she passes me an ice cold beer.
“Just a dance to the fabulous song you wrote,” I say as I gently tug on her braid. “The lyrics are amazing.” I’m silently relieved that she interrupted when she did.
“How did you know?” She looks over in surprise as we walk off the dance floor.
“It’s the song you were writing when we met.”
“Ahh…you’re very observant.”
“Nothin’ gets past me.” I laugh as we find an empty booth.
“I’ll remember that,” Chad says as he winks at me and then turns to Piper. “Piper, you are talented.”
“Gee, thanks,” she says as she mockingly lowers her head. “I try not to toot my own horn. I let the music and words speak for themselves.”
“It definitely does,” Chad says.
“Hey, Elle, where’d you find this guy? I like him,” she chirps as she nudges Chad with her elbow.
I glance over and smile, noticing the way he seems to be soaking me in like he doesn’t want to see me go. I get the feeling he wants to know more about me. I can do that, but still keep some boundaries between us. Right? My life is different now, and I have to learn to navigate it by heeding the caution signs and stopping at the red lights. I can feel it in my heart that it is too soon to start something new. No matter how much I change the places and people around me, I’m still not over Reed.
“Wow! You guys rocked it tonight!” Piper bellows as Link throws his arm over her shoulder. Smiling down at her, he kisses her hard on the lips for a minute and tugs her close to his body.
“Damn, baby, your song,” he whispers. “That song. I want you to sing it to me...later.” He smacks her ass and winks.
She giggles and grabs his hand. “I’ll think about it.” I turn away and smile. They seem so right for each other and so happy together. Did I look that way with Reed? Did I just have to go there?
After pulling away from a couple of groupies, Nick walks over to us with his drummer and bassist flanking him. The drummer is striking. He knows it and struts, not walks. He’s lean and toned in a black wife beater that showcases his muscular arms and numerous tattoos. His slick, black hair is pulled back into a ponytail, but it’s his eyes that grab you. They’re green like emeralds, intense and brooding, without even trying. The bassist, who seems more interested in the groupies near the stage, has shaggy brown hair, brown eyes and full red lips. He’s a couple of inches shorter than the drummer and more muscular, wearing a well-worn AC/DC T-shirt and faded blue jeans with no visible tattoos. I glance over at Evelyn who’s already placed dibs on the drummer. Her claws are out while Mindy’s made eye contact with the bassist.
“Shit, Link, your girl may be a goldmine over here with her songwriting. We need to collaborate some more. Not only that, but I just spoke to Danny, the owner, and he wants us to play here on a regular basis. He said this was the biggest crowd he’s seen in a while,” Nick exclaims as he scans the group. His eyes rest on me while Chad stands off to the side. “Hey, I remember you.”
Yes, good old memories, I think to myself. I smile, recalling that night at Reed’s apartment. This night out is killing me with flashbacks. “Hi.”
“What did you think of the band?”
“Piper was right. You guys are great,” I affirm.
“What does your friend think?” Nick nods in Chad’s direction.
“Pretty good. I’ll definitely be checking you out again,” Chad answers while taking a step closer to me after seeing the way Nick is gawking at me.
“Thanks.
Anyways, we’ve got to pack it up and head out,” he says as he turns to his drummer and bassist who’ve made their move to Evelyn and Mindy. “Well, I guess my boys Bo and Lance haven’t wasted any time.” He laughs. “What’s the plan, guys?” Nick asks as he glances back toward the stage where a couple of groupies are waiting.
“Hey, so I saw what’s his name?” Nick turns to me, tapping his forehead. “Damn, what the hell was his name?” he mumbles under his breath as a groupie walks up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
I wonder what he was trying to tell me as I wait for him to finish, but doesn’t. He must be rambling. I blame it on the alcohol.
“You ready?” the groupie coos as Nick smiles devilishly.
“Don’t ask stupid questions, honey,” he growls, fisting some of her hair in his hand. “I’m ready whenever you assholes are.” He chuckles, flicking his chin at Bo and Lance.
“These two need a ride home tonight. Right, ladies?” Bo responds.
Mindy and Evelyn simultaneously smile in my direction and shrug their shoulders. “Yeah, we’re gonna hang out with these guys for a little while,” Evelyn responds as she traces a tattoo on the drummer’s arm.
“No worries. They’re in good hands,” Lance says as he plays with Mindy’s hair.
I chuckle and look over at Piper and Link, who have not been able to keep their hands off each other since Link got off the stage. This leaves me standing with Chad. I peek up at him and smile. Dropping my eyes, I grab my cell from my purse.
“What are you doing?” Chad asks.
“I’m calling a cab.”
“No,” he replies stubbornly as he gently takes away my phone. “I’ll take you home.”
Chad pulls up in a Black BMW as I wait out front. He gets out of the car and opens the door for me. The inside of his car smells like mint and cedar. I open the window since it reminds me of someone else. My mind is elsewhere the entire ride home, even though Chad is polite and easy to talk to. During the twenty-minute ride across town to my apartment, we chat about his photography work. He takes my number and plans to call me soon, so we can schedule a time for him to complete his class project. When he drops me off in front of my apartment, I feel awkward like I’m on a first date with someone.
“Hey.”
I lift my eyes to him and smile meekly.
“Nerves, huh?”
“Kind of.”
“Like one of those first-time things?”
Yep,” I say, clutching my purse in my lap. “It’s been nice seeing you again,” I say as I start to open the door to the car.
“Wait,” he says. Hopping out of the car, he comes around the passenger side to open my door for me. “Chivalry is not dead.”
“Thank you.”
He looks down at me and smiles. “I’m glad we crossed paths again.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll call you then? For those pictures, uh, my project?” he asks hesitantly like I’ve already changed my mind.
“Sure.”
“Great.” He leans down and kisses me on the cheek.
“Thanks for the ride.” I feel the heat of his kiss as the cool breeze blows around me.
No problem,” he says, holding my gaze and creasing his brow slightly. I clear my throat and slip past him. He takes my hand and turns me around. “Remember what I said about your eyes telling a story? You’re telling it to me now, and I can tell it hurts. So, if you ever need to talk.”
Is it really that obvious?
“Thanks,” I reply before I turn away. “Good night.”
“Night, Elle.”
I walk up the sidewalk, unlock my door and close it behind me. Chad doesn’t leave until I turn on the lights in my apartment.
I dreamt about her again. I hate mornings now. I hate waking up with this gutted feeling in my stomach, knowing she’s with someone else. I lie in bed for a few minutes with my eyes closed because she’s more vivid in my mind that way. I don’t know why the fuck I’m doing this. It hurts remembering her lying in my bed with me, touching her, feeling her, and listening to the sounds she made while I was satisfying her. How she moaned the words to take her and how her lush body squirmed under my touch and body. I can’t breathe thinking about her. I don’t want to move from where I am, but then I can’t lie still either. I want to rip off the sheets from my bed, but I can’t because her scent still lightly lingers. All of this is driving me insane. I’m hard as a fucking rock. It’s been weeks, and I’ve had to resort to this manual bullshit. I couldn’t even make myself sleep with Sierra the other night, which says how far I’ve come from how I used to be.
I can’t dwell on it. I need to take out this pent-up frustration on something. If I can’t fix whatever I had with Elle, then I need to get to the gym and train for tryouts in April. It will be here before I know it. Thank God my cast comes off today. I’ve gone six shitty weeks with this white, itchy trap. It’s going to be good to be back at one hundred percent.
I have a new distraction. Football season started, so I got to watch my team play against those fuckers the New York Giants this past Sunday. We won. I say it like I’m standing on the sidelines with the team. I’m only a fan for now, but I’m going to be out there soon. I can feel it. It may not be with the Cowboys, but right now any team will do. Beggars can’t be choosers. That’s another reason why I’m focused on this. I am going to have the world at my feet, like I did over a year ago. I fucking deserve it. I can make this right for everyone in my life, including me.
After my cast is removed, I call Coach on the way to class. The best way to train it is to schedule some practice time with a football team. What better way to do that than practice with the Boston College Eagles football team up the road from Boston University where I attend class? The coach from my alma mater pulled some strings and told the coach at BC about my situation. When he threw out my old name, Landon Hunter, it was a no-brainer for him. It’s nice to have friends who help out a low-life like me. That’s the way I feel right now, down and out, like I’m looking and scraping for handouts. I’ll take whatever works and gets me back to where I want to be. I’ve been in worst predicaments.
I haven’t heard anything from my fan club in Texas, which is good. I know Jerry will want a return on his investment and an update on things soon. Even though he said shit was in order since he got part of his money from me, he has never been one to keep his word and neither have I. This is a fucking endless chess game, and I hope I’m the one calling checkmate. I need to make sure I take care of that, so he doesn’t bring his roly poly ass up North to start trouble with me. The last thing I need is some pudgy loan shark from down South bringing his rag tag bunch of shitheads to mess with my life.
It’s the first week of September, and the weather is still hovering in the mid-seventies. Students refuse to let go of summer and continue to wear shorts and tank tops. I don’t want to let go either because it was the best summer of my life, the half I got to spend with Elle.
I hop into my Hummer and drive to the Yawkey Athletic Center to meet with the coach of the BC Eagles. I’m ready to take some hits and give some hits. I just need to be careful with my arm since it’s still a little sore.
I find Coach Steve Addazio’s office on the third floor. We go through all the introductions, and I receive a tour of the facilities, which is spread over four floors. They have everything I need on these floors. If things don’t work out with the NFL, maybe I can find a job in the sports medicine department. I’m not settling; I’m just making sure I have a backup plan.
He gives me the practice schedule, and lucky for me, it doesn’t conflict with my class schedule. I walk with a hop in my step to Alumni Stadium to meet all the players. Feeling the turf under my feet, I soak in the familiar feeling of how it felt to run onto the field before a big game with the fans cheering in the stands. Being here like this makes me determined more than ever to take my game to the next level.
The team on the field looks pumped and poised
after their win over Wake Forest this past weekend. I know I am no more than four years older than these guys, but they feel like kids to me. I can definitely teach them what I know.
The phrase “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all” sums up my life lately, and I how I feel when I turn around and see Jace coming from the tunnel. Holy shit. There’s nothing I can do. He saw me. He’s wearing a half-smirk, and his eyes are dark and cold. I can imagine what he’s feeling and thinking after what I did to his sister. Fuck. I would beat the living shit out of Tommy if he pulled anything on Juju like that. He’d be in the hospital with broken bones. I scratch my head and wait for the onslaught, but he doesn’t say anything right away as he jogs up and stops a few feet in front of me. He plays it off like we just met and extends his hand since the entire team is standing around.
“Landon Hunter?”
“No, Reed Austin,” I retort. “Coach here knows my story.”
“Well, whatever. We were all expecting you. Right, guys?” he says as he looks around the group as they all nod in agreement. “We’re all hyped to work out with one of the best wide receivers in college football.” He laughs. His voice drips with sarcasm as he throws a set of pads over his head, adjusting them on his shoulders.
“Yeah, Jace is a natural over here. He’s one of the reasons why we won that game with Wake Forest,” Coach says as he slaps Jace’s shoulder pad. Jace nods in Coach’s direction and smiles. “He’s a multi-talented athlete on top of being very knowledgeable about everything sports.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“What does your sister call you again? The Sports Almanac or something?”
“Encyclopedia. Sports Encyclopedia,” he states, mockingly staring right into my eyes as he clenches his jaw. “My sister hates that about me, but she got over it. Some things you can’t though.” He turns, looking back at me and heads out to the dummies on the field to take some drills with the rest of the team.
Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 Page 10