Staring up at the ceiling, arm thrown over his pounding head, JR made a silent pact with himself. Partying every once in a while with friends was one thing, but trying to drown his troubles every single day wasn’t helping. Marcus, the asshat, was right. He needed to straighten the hell up. He might not ever get her back but if he wanted there to be any hope, any chance at all, he was going to have to take a different path than the self-destructive one that he was currently traveling.
A more constructive outlet was what was needed. Lifting his swollen hand to his face, he grimaced. Though, he could wiggle his fingers a bit more, he suspected his hand was a long way from being fully healed. He’d just have to improvise. It was time to get back into the studio, to get lost in the rhythm, the movement and the pounding of the drums.
Sliding his legs over to the side of the bed, he stood unsteadily as the floor shifted beneath him. Crap. He wasn’t ready. He stumbled into the bathroom and rejected the remaining contents of his stomach. Afterward, he wiped his mouth off and brushed his teeth. Gripping the edge of the counter, he stared at his bloodshot eyes in the mirror and set his jaw before stepping into the shower.
One shower, two aspirin, and three ibuprofen tablets later, JR strode down the hall of Black Cat Records. With determination, he pulled his sticks from his pocket and entered practice room three which contained his favorite drum set. He gave the equipment a visual once over, and then took a deep cleansing breath. Twisting his head in a circle, he loosened his neck muscles before sitting. He ran his fingers carefully around the rim of the snare and tightened the screw on the cymbal. Giving the bass drum a kick, he nodded his head in satisfaction.
Time to play.
JR lost track of time, releasing his anger and frustration in the music. It spilled out of his heart, down his arms, and onto the resistant surface of the drums. With taped up fingers, again and again he pounded away on the equipment. Sweat began to drip down his forehead and slide down his back, soaking into the waistband of his jeans. He peeled off his over shirt and the wife beater he’d worn underneath. Like most drummers, he found the seams on a shirt confining anyway.
Popping back in his ear buds, he scrolled the volume up more and resumed playing. Several times he had to pause to wipe down sweaty hands and blood from the abrasions on his knuckles. About the fifth time he did this, his sticks slid off his lap and onto the floor. “Shit.” Bending over to pick them up, a subtle flash of movement in the doorway drew his gaze. His eyes widened.
“Sam,” he breathed in a reverential whisper, afraid he’d wishfully conjured up her avatar.
“John,” she replied just as softly taking a small, hesitant step into the room.
JR stood, moving quickly across the room, stopping a foot in front of her. His eyes cherished the chestnut curls, sweet heart shaped face, and parted lips. Her eyes were glistening like molten silver.
She took a step closer. His heart leapt at the proximity and soared when she reached out to him. Examining his bloodied hands, she frowned. “What have you done?” For a while she didn’t say anything else as she ran her fingers softly over his knuckles. When she finally looked up, a tear spilled out of her eye and tracked down her still bruised cheek.
“Don’t cry, baby.” Using his free hand, JR gently brushed the tear aside.
Sam closed her eyes, and leaned her face into his hand. “We’re a banged up pair, aren’t we?”
“Yeah,” he replied, his voice sounding husky and raw. “I’ve missed you so much, Sam.”
Her eyes fluttered open and she pulled away. His hand dropped to his side. Gaze frozen on her, he waited uncertainly as more tears spilled from her eyes.
“John,” she tried again and then stopped, looking down at her feet. “I want…” Her bottom lip quivered. She took a deep breath and when she glanced back at him, for the first time since the breakup, he began to hope. Her gaze was steady and he caught a glimpse of something that he’d never thought to see again in her eyes.
The force of it hit him in the chest like an avalanche, making it hard for him to breathe. His eyes burned and tears blurred his vision. Taking a step closer, he carefully reached out, his hand trembling, and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “What is it that you want?” he asked carefully.
She took his hand again and pressed it back to her face. “I want to try again… to start over.”
A smile like the sun rising at dawn spread slowly across JR’s face. “Oh thank God.” He caressed her cheek with his free hand, ghosting his thumb softly across her bottom lip. His eyes searched hers. “I don’t deserve it though. I don’t deserve you.” He swallowed. “Without you, I’m lost, without any direction or purpose. My life was dark and empty before you came into it. You, Sam, are my star. You set my world ablaze from the moment I met you. I will gladly spend every minute of the rest of my life proving how much I love you.”
Sam’s silver eyes sparkled. She stood up on her tiptoes, closed her eyes and tilted her face up toward his. Heart thudding, JR leaned down and laid his lips softly against hers. It was not a passionate kiss, yet the feel of it… of her… rocked him to the core. Words of love clamored to get out and it was a struggle to push them back down. Now was not the time. She wouldn’t accept them. Later. Another day. Hopefully, soon. Sam was giving him another chance. He wanted to shout his happiness from a stadium stage. He wasn’t going to screw it up this time.
Avery pulled Marcus away from the doorway. “Leave them alone, you lurker.”
He smiled. “Hey, do I need to remind you again just who’s in charge here?”
She threaded her fingers with his. “Yeah, why don’t you do that?” She raised an auburn brow. “Would that be something we’d need to go back to the apartment to take care of?”
He nodded. “Hell yeah.” He took a couple of long strides down the hall, tugging on her hand before veering off. “Apartment’s too far,” he said with darkened eyes. “In here.” He twisted the door handle on an empty practice room. Turning back to Avery with a wicked grin, he said in a low voice, “Good. There’s a lock.”
Avery’s face had drained of color. Her emerald eyes were huge as she stared at something down the hallway.
“What the hell?” Marcus said, looking that way while drawing her protectively close to his side.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped.
Husband—Stylistic editing and lyrics and music to my tone deaf ears
Beta reading—Lisa Paul from Lisa Reads…Oh. My. Gosh! Do you have an eye for relationship details or what? I wrote you a hottie in the story. Do you recognize who he is?
Jenny Aspinal—Totally Booked… My ganache girl. Story flow and chapter 33 ;)
Michelle Warren—Author of Wanderdust and Protecting Truth. Intelligent, creative and beautiful. Your input was invaluable.
Nina Torres—How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?
Mary Humphrey—I love you always…cough, cough Ms. Timmons!
Ashley Ferguson—Thanks for believing in both stories.
Demi Anastasopoulou—A friend and fan from Goodreads
Diane Klein, MD—editor “the closer” makes my words shine
Advance readers & cheerleaders extraordinaire—Tressa Sager, Jamie Hall, Wendy Wilken, and Deanna Prophet-Pyles, Jennifer Roberts-Hall, Rita Jinkins Knits, Beth Maresh-Ehemann, and Addi Footit
Advance book bloggers—Fred LeBaron of Stillseekingallies.blogspot.com
Mollie Harper of Tough Critic Book Reviews
Denise Tung of Flirty & Dirty Book Blog
Holly Malgieri of I love Indie books…
Kimberly Schaaf, Derinda Love, and Jodie O-Brien of YA and Teen Readers
The Indie Bookshelf
Lisa Kinzel—Bff, agent, soul sister, proof reader, and forever friend
Bookaholics Anonymous and 50 Authors and an owl—My internet family and support network. My muses, heroes, and inspirational writing pixie dust.
Sargeant Major Wayne of the Squamish RCMP
&n
bsp; Ron Roberts—Canadian law enforcement advice
Formatting—Julie Titus.
Michelle Mankin is a young/new adult author, as well as self proclaimed giant… inside her own mind!
For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn’t kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.
Love Revolution is the second novel in The Black Cat Record’s Shakespeare Inspired Series (Love Evolution, based on Twelfth Night, is the first). Love Resolution will be the finale (May 2013). All three novels use the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare, combined with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock ‘n roll industry.
When she is not putting her daydreams down on paper, you can find her traveling the world with her family, some-times for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.
To read more about Michelle, please visit:
http://www.michellemankin.com/
You can also reach Michelle via e-mail at,
[email protected]
Or via the below social networks:
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http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5835506.Michelle_Mankin
If you enjoyed this book, please support the author by posting your review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.
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Table Of Contents
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Other Books By Jillian
About the Author
that boy
By Jillian Dodd
Copyright 2011 by Jillian Dodd
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
bandit publishing
Flower Mound, TX
Illustrations by Jillian Dodd
To my bandit, my angel, and my very own prince charming,
your support means the world to me.
“You arrogant son of a bitch,” I say.
Well, maybe I growl it. It’s hard to say for certain. But I can tell you this. I am fuming, smoke-flying-out-of-my-ears mad as I take the engagement ring off my finger, shove it into his hand, and march toward the stage. The march to the stage feels like it takes forever, because there are a million thoughts running through my mind.
Did all these people come here because they really thought I’d say yes?
Or did they come for the fireworks of me saying no?
Do they wish us well?
Or hope to see us fail?
I reach the stage and tentatively walk out on it. One of the band members hands me a microphone, and I know I really need to say something to all these people.
I may die of embarrassment.
Actually, I wish it were possible to die of embarrassment—then I could drop dead right now, and I wouldn’t have to do what I am about to do.
Part of me wonders how in the world I got here to begin with.
We have been friends for a really long time and only decided to have a real relationship all of a week ago.
And, well, it has been really incredible.
I mean, he is incredible in ways I hadn’t even imagined!
Okay, so I might have imagined a little.
Anyway, as of about six minutes ago, we were out on a romantic first date.
Then he had to go and blow the whole thing all to hell by asking me to marry him.
Can you believe that?
Me neither.
And, as if it isn’t unbelievable enough that he asked me to marry him on our first date, he was so damned sure I’d say yes, he planned this huge, surprise engagement party.
Tonight. On our first date. Like, right now!
I shudder and mentally prepare myself for what I am about to do.
I have to tell everyone who came here tonight that there is no way I’m going to marry that boy!
Before I say the words, I glance at him, and my mind is transported back to the memory of my first kiss.
It’s where this all began, really.
Phillip was the first boy to ever kiss me. We were swinging sideways on the swings out behind school, when out of the blue, he reached over, grabbed my swing, and kissed me right on the lips. Then he jumped off his swing and ran home. It was one of those perfect sunny afternoons when school was almost out for the summer. I thought it was the best day of my life.
I was in love.
Phillip must have told someone what he did, because today at school everyone was singing.
Phillip and JJ sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G . . .
I couldn’t take it.
I was being tortured.
It’s the worstest day of my life!
It was such a letdown because the day before was a GREAT day. I got my first kiss from a boy!
I know it was just Phillip, but still, I was very surprised.
And I was so excited to come to school, until I got there, and everyone started torturing me with those stupid, stupid songs. Even my friend, Lisa, was singing them.
That traitor.
And very quickly, I went from loving that boy to hating him.
At least that’s what I had to tell all my friends, so they would stop singing those ridiculous songs.
Phillip must have started a trend, because later that day, Joey kissed Katie and everyone forgot about Phillip and me.
They had someone new to torture endlessly.
I noticed that Phillip didn’t tease Joey and Katie.
Neither did I.
Phillip Mackenzie lives across the street from me. We have been friends forever.
I mean it. Since birth.
Our dads are fraternity brothers and best friends. Phillip is five months older than me, and our parents think it is just hilarious to show embarrassing photos of us together as babies.
And we are naked!
It's just so gross. I can’t even describe it! Phillip and I want to hide, and usually do, whenever they get out those stupid baby books.
Our parents hope that Phillip and I will get married when we grow up. I totally laugh at that. I have told them so many times that I can’t marry Phillip, because I’m marrying a prince.
I blame my obsession with wanting to marry a prince on Disney and Phillip’s sister, Ashley. Ever since I can remember, our parents have been getting together to play cards on Friday nights. We ha
ve pizza, which I love, and I get to play with Phillip. Unfortunately, that also means I have to play with Ashley. Ashley is four years older than Phillip and me and a pain in the rear. (I would say butt, except I’m not supposed to say that b word.)
Speaking of b words, Ashley is very bossy. And she’s always played the Queen. Which means she gives me the choice of being either her servant or her daughter, and who in their right mind would sign up to be her servant?
I told you how bossy she is. It would’ve been unbearable!
So I’ve always played the princess.
Important Things I have learned in my life so far:
1. Always be the princess. Princesses have much more fun and not so much responsibility. Plus you get to marry the prince.
2. Never be the queen. Queens are old and bossy and sometimes even evil. (Remember Snow White?) Queens think they are in charge of everything. Queens are responsible.
3. Responsibility makes you crabby and no fun.
4. When you have the choice, play with a boy. Boys are easy to get along with. They don’t care if your clothes match or if your hair is a mess. Boys don’t talk behind your back or make up stories about you to try to hurt your feelings. They are too busy playing sports or video games.
5. Always trust your Daddy. Daddies are incredibly smart and handsome, and they always smell very good.
6. Never kiss and tell. You will get tortured by people who you thought were your friends.
7. Never, ever, ever trust Mary Beth Parker. Even if she says she is your best friend.
Last week, Mary Beth Parker told me I could be her best friend. She got me to play with her on the playground and Lisa, who is my best friend, got mad at me. The very next day, Mary Beth Parker told everyone not to play with me.
I didn’t do anything to her. That’s just how she is.
She is very mean.
Phillip was the only person who played with me. He didn’t care what that bossy girl said. He acted like a prince that day.
I told him so and ever since, when it’s just us, he calls me Princess.
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