by Hilary Storm
“I didn’t even consider another girl when she was with me. Hell I can’t even get with a girl since she left me. Fuck my life.”
“Like I said, you need to go find her. Life is too short not to go after what you want in life. You have to fight for her if she means this much to you.”
“Yea, she is going to be in New York City tomorrow at the same time that we are there. Maybe I need to go see her. Kylee, I’m sorry that you had to deal with my moodiness. I really didn’t mean for this to play out like this.”
“It’s all good! I got to make out with a rock star. You can message me anytime you need to talk. I’m just happy to get to see you. Your band is really amazing and you're kind of cool too!"
“Well, thanks. I’ll make sure security gets you home safely.” I lean over and give this perfect piece of ass a hug goodbye. I don’t regret pulling away from her before it went anywhere. Maybe tomorrow I can get through to Ivy and see if she has really moved on.
We hit New York and the rush of playing here has everyone else pumped. It’s just another show for me. This is just another day that I’ll do the rocker thing without the rocker sex.
Holden sent a text saying he’s bringing her to New York today for some girlie shit. My plan is to see her. I want to see her face and then I’ll know if she’s happy. Maybe then I can get her out of my head and she can quit cock blocking me every night.
We are setting up for tonight’s show and my mind keeps drifting to her. I pull out my phone and scroll to her picture. The picture that has haunted me every fucking day. What I would give to be back in that moment in time. I would do so many things differently.
Talon walks up behind me and catches a glimpse of the picture. “Go see her, man.”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Ev headed out about thirty minutes ago. I have security with her, so I can get you an address.”
“Yea, get me the address.” He smiles a huge grin and pulls out his phone in the process of sending the text he starts to harass me. “To use your own words against you, it’s nice to see you pussy whipped for a change.”
“Shut the fuck up. I’m not whipped.”
“You are! Nothing wrong with it. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love when Ev pussy whips me.”
It’s awesome that Talon is so happy. To see him smile again is such a relief. He deserves to find someone as great as Ev. She pulled him out of his personal hell and continues to build him up everyday. I’m fucking jealous of their connection, but happy for them.
“She’d kick your ass if she heard you say that.”
“I’d let her,” he says through the shit eating grin that I mastered a long time ago.
He shows me the address as soon as the text comes through. I don’t waste time talking to anyone as I head out to the dress shop. A couple of months ago the thought of being near a wedding dress would have shriveled my shit up, but now I don’t care where she is. I just want to see for myself that she’s happy.
I enter the shop and the brightness of all of the white dresses practically blinds me. I’m approached by two women as soon as I enter. “Can we help you, sir?”
“Just looking for someone.”
“Can you tell me who you’re looking for and we’ll see if we can get them for you.”
“Nah it’s ok.”
“Sir, we can’t let you go back there. We’re doing a fitting that is highly secured. You will need to wait here, or let me know who you want.”
“Ivy Adams,” I say defeated by these prissy bitches.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be right back.” I wait only for the lady to return with Dave from our security team on her heel.
“What up, Taron?”
“Nothing man! Just want to see Ivy.”
“Eaven said Ivy doesn’t want to see you.”
“It isn’t a question. I’m not asking to see her. I’m here to fucking see her. You’re my security and you’re here because we sent you here. Get the fuck out of my way or I’ll have you fired.”
“Taron, sorry man, but Eaven said to send you away until they are finished in there.”
“I don’t give a shit what anyone says. Step back before I fucking obliterate you among all of these white fucked up dresses.” I leave him and hear the sales lady ask if she should call the police. I don’t wait to find out what they decide to do. I move through curtain after curtain and seem to know where I need to go. I know I’m where I need to be when I see Eaven with a huge white dress on, looking in a mirror.
Eaven’s eyes meet mine the second I come through the curtain. I begin to search for Ivy and Ev steps down from a block to move toward me. She begins to whisper. “What are you doing?”
“I need to see her.”
“Taron, don’t mess up my day with her. I haven’t seen my best friend in weeks.”
“I won’t.” I look down at her dress and I can’t even pretend to like it.
“Don’t chose that one. It makes your ass look big.” She slugs me on the shoulder.
“I know, you ass. I’m trying to get my sales lady to listen to me. I want simple, she’s looking for a sale.”
“Do you want me to handle her?”
“No! Please don’t!”
“Eaven what are you doing out there?” I listen to the voice that I wanted to hear come from a dressing room further down.
“Which one, Ev?”
“Taron, don’t!”
“Now, or I’ll figure out which one on my own.”
“Damn you. Fourth one from the mirror.” I start to move when Ev grabs my arm to pull me back.
“I’m on your side. I want you both happy, and it seems like neither of you are there. I’m going to raise hell about this dress in the shop. It’ll just be you two in here.”
I nod at her and compose myself during my short walk to the curtain that shields me from my girl.
“Ev, what the hell? This dress sucks. I’m not wearing…” She stops talking when she sees me. I don’t look at the dress. I don’t care what she’s wearing. I stare into the mirror at her Caribbean blue eyes. I keep my eyes locked with hers until I reach her. She doesn’t move. She watches me the entire time until I inhale her scent. Her eyes drop closed and I see a tear fall.
“I miss you.” My whisper into her hair causes her to shiver, and I’m dying to put my hands on her. To bump up against her and show her how much I miss her. I move my hand to her face and brush across her cheek to stop the tear from falling any further. When I do, her eyes open slowly and I see sadness. Nothing but sadness.
I run my hands down both of her arms, but never take my eyes away from hers in the mirror. She closes her lids slowly and inhales when my hands travel down to her hands. I lock a few fingers in each of her hands and watch her take all of this in.
“Let me in, Ivy.” Her eyes open as I talk.
“Let me in and don’t push me away. My life is fucked up with you gone. I need you to feel this everyday. I need to feel the way you affect me just being near. You’re driving me crazy and I can’t do it anymore. Please Ivy, let me in.” I stop there because her tears are falling a lot faster. She inhales sharply and lets out a small sob. I watch her go from sad and vulnerable to mad and ready for the kill in a matter of seconds.
“Taron, I told you I can’t. Get out! I can’t be with you.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I already told you.”
“Oh because you love cowboy.” She turns quickly to face me and tries to lie.
“Yes.”
“If you love him, then I wouldn’t affect you. Can you tell me you’re not feeling this?” I move my hand between us pointing out the connection I know she feels.
“Can you tell me you haven’t missed me?” I pull her hand into mine and move it against my chest.
I move in close as I continue to speak. My lips bump hers as I say. “Can you tell me you aren’t fucking dripping wet right now?”
I use my free hand to pull her close. I r
un my hand along the edge of her short dress and let my fingers slide under the material. I continue sliding upward until I find her bare ass. I fill my palm with her firmness and moan because of what this does to me. She isn’t pushing me away. I’m watching her eyes and waiting for her to pull away, but she isn’t. She buries her head against my chest and I start to pray that I’ve gotten through. Please let this be the moment that she finally lets me in.
~Fifteen~
Ivy
Oh. My. God. I miss him so much. I know I just made a huge mistake leaning into his chest and letting him touch me, but I need this. I miss this. I wish with everything inside of me that I could let him in and not drag him down.
He’ll be famous one day. I know he will. I love him enough to push him away from a life that will ruin his career. He’s not ready to be a father and I’m still dealing with Dylan. He doesn’t need all of that in his life.
I let myself feel alive a few more minutes and get goose bumps when his hand moves up my back and into my hair. His gentle caress is relaxing me, and for a moment I feel the world lift off my shoulders. I forget about my troubles just long enough to fuck with our minds. I shouldn’t have let him touch me. I knew better that to let him near me, but he’s a determined pain in the ass.
“Don’t touch me.” I push back from him. His face drops and his hands go straight to his hair. He’s frustrated.
“Get out!”
“No.”
“Yes, NOW.”
“No.”
“I’m going to scream if you don’t get the fuck out, Taron. I’m done. Get out. Get OUT. GET OUT. GET OUT. Get. The. Fuck. Out.” He stares at me the entire time I’m acting hysterical. He opens his mouth to say something and I scream even louder. “GET. OUT. NOW. Leave me alone.” He turns to leave and I lose it. My emotions come crashing down around me. I’m fucking crying again.
I crouch to the floor and fold my legs against my chest. I can’t have the man I love, and it’s going to kill me. I start to feel the walls closing in on me, so I push up and open the curtain. I see Eaven and she runs up to help me pick up the pieces, because that’s what we do for each other.
“Let’s go. Take the dress off and let’s get out of here.” She’s already pushing hers down when she tells me to get it off. I don’t waste time. We are out of there in record time and she pulls me through a door in the backroom.
“He’s still up front. Dave is talking to him and there are four sales people with a police officer. Let’s catch a cab and go back to your hotel.” I don’t say anything and the rush of escaping is a nice feeling. I’m on the run with my best friend, just like old times. One of us was always saving the other.
“I missed you,” I say, just as we hit the curb to wave down a taxicab. The first cab pulls over and we begin the route to my hotel.
“I missed you too! You look like shit though! Tell me what’s going on with you!”
“Just worrying about my stalker.” A ping of guilt crosses my face and I know that I’m busted. She sees through me and is immediately worried.
“What else?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Yes, but I know you. This is me you’re talking to.”
“I know you know me, but that’s it. I’m scared he’ll find me.” She looks at me with with a skeptical look.
“How’s Aiden?”
“He’s good. He had to go home for a few days.”
“You still pretending to love him?”
“No.” I can at least give her this.
“You should give him a chance. He loves you. I’ve seen him in the past couple of weeks and he’s a mess.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll ruin his life.”
“What?”
“He can’t stay focused on the tour when I’m around.”
“Honey, I hate to tell you, but he isn’t focused at all when you’re gone. He at least has purpose when you’re around.” I take this information in, but she doesn’t understand my entire situation because I’m holding back telling her. I need to keep it to myself a little longer. Once I get on my feet and get settled in somewhere, I’ll tell her that she’s going to be an aunt. Until then, I’ll just remain quiet.
“Sorry that he’s a mess, but I can’t trust him. I don’t need to be worried about who his nightly fuck is when I’m not there.”
“Are you kidding me? He doesn’t even stay around for fans anymore. He leaves for the bus as soon as the last song is finished.” Her words hit me in the heart. He isn’t the type to walk away from anyone giving it away, and I know the girls are ready and willing to give it up to him.
We pull into the hotel before we have the chance to call Holden. He should be nearby, so I text him hoping he can hurry back. He went to see his brothers since Dave was with us. He’ll be madder than hell that we left without security.
We pay our cab driver and hurry into the lobby.
I get a weird feeling almost instantly and I start to look around frantically. Eaven sees me and starts to panic with me. I search everywhere, but I don’t see him. I can feel him though, so I know he’s watching me. We move quickly to the elevators and rush to close the doors.
Right before the door closes my heart stops. My life flashes before my eyes. His hand stops the door from closing. The gun is the first thing I see, his face is the second. My instinct to scream is overtaken by the fear running through my body that he’ll shoot. The gun is aimed at my stomach and I wonder if he knows my secret. He’s pointing the gun at the only thing in my life that I can hold on to. The only person I can claim as mine.
“Don’t make a sound.” Eaven and I both begin to move closer together when he gets on the elevator. I feel her hand squeeze mine.
“Dylan, let her go. You can have me. Just let her go!”
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, but I’ll go with you willingly. Just let her go.”
“I’ll handle her soon enough. You don’t call the shots anymore, Ivy. This is my game. Your game ended.”
“This isn’t a game, Dylan. How did you find me?”
“I knew your little friend here would lead me to you. I have my resources. Lets just say I got an ear full of information every time you two talked.”
“Please let her go.”
“Shut up! You fucking ruined my life by going to the police.”
“Because you’re a sick bastard,” Eaven spits out with obvious disgust in her tone. I grip her hand tight and beg her not to encourage him.
“Who asked you? Shut up, before I silence you permanently.”
I’m frantically running through my options. I could refuse to get off the elevator, and die. I could take him to the wrong room and piss him off, then die. Or I could take him to our room and become a victim again when he tortures us. My options are shit.
Maybe if I give him what he wants, we can walk away with our lives.
The elevator reaches our floor. “What room?” He sounds impatient and psychotic right now. I’m scared to death he’s going to kill us, so I tell him.
“1712”
“If you’re lying, she’s dead.” He points the gun at Eaven and I’m so glad I told him the correct room number.
Taron
The bridal bitch did call the police. After I convince the police that I have no plans to ever enter this fucking dress shop again, I’m released. They officially ban me from the shop for the rest of my life. That’s just perfect. I’ve been banned from a place that sells wedding dresses. My friends will have a damn hay day with that shit. I see a text come in from Holden.
Holden: You with Ivy?
Taron: No
Holden: Shit
Taron: What?
Holden: She fucking left the shop without cover.
Taron: Where’s she going?
Holden: Hotel. I’m all the way across town.
Taron: I’m going.
I run to get a cab. I yell at the driver to
drive as fast as fucking possible. I throw cash on the seat when I’m stepping out of the car while its still rolling. A bad feeling over-takes me the closer I get. I stop at the lobby to get a room card.
“I left my key at the restaurant. Can I get a new one?
“Name, please.”
“Walker.”
“Room number?” Shit I have no idea.
“I can’t remember.”
“ID, please.”
“We don’t have Taron Walker registered.”
“It’s Holden Walker.” My patience is gone. Hurry. The. Hell. Up.
Ivy
We get to the room without a single soul seeing us in the hall. I wanted someone to see us. I use the card to open the door and stop to plead with him one more time.
“Please let her go. I’ll do everything you ask.” He shoves both of us inside the room once it’s open, ignoring my plea yet again.
“You’ll do what I ask anyway. Now sit on the couch.” He opens his backpack and pulls out the rope.
“Please, don’t do this.”
“You’ve ruined my life, so I may as well continue to ruin yours. I think I’ll enjoy you both, and the fact that you want me to let her go so badly reminds me just how close you two are. Tonight you’re gonna get real close. Now tie her hands behind her back.” He throws a bundle of rope at me.