Don't Break My Heart (Straight from the Heart #3)

by Breigh Forstner

  “Well, what do you suggest I do then since you seem to have an opinion? Should I just go out to a bar and actually fuck a guy so I can get decent lyrics like you’ve done before with other girls?” I was intrigued by my own idea. One time, and maybe that’d get Pauly out of my system so we could go back to normal again.

  As if we ever really were normal.

  Pauly had a sour look on his face, his body stiffening up next to me just thinking about my suggestion. “That’s just trouble Lucy. You’re not the one-time kind of girl so please don’t go do that…”

  I got up, turned off the music, and snatched up the pen and notebook. I gave him my pissed off stare and said, “You’re a walking contradiction, Paul Donovan. You tell me not to have a one-night stand with a random guy, yet you have the freedom to do that shit on a daily basis. You did it to me too asshole. Except we have to be around each other. You make no sense at all.”

  Storming past him, walking back toward the cabin, I could hear him behind me.

  “Lucy, come on,” he yelled, but I sure as hell wasn’t stopping. “Lucy Rae Tomlinson, stop your fine ass right there.”

  I stayed put, not bothering to turn around. He was so close to me, I could feel him breathing on the back of my neck. As I stood there, I told myself that maybe I was overreacting to this whole situation. To him. Not once over the years I was with Cale did we get into spats like this, except when we argued over his addiction. What was it about Pauly that made me act this way?

  Slowly turning, I tipped my head back so I could look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry, I snapped at you,” I caved in. “I shouldn’t have said that stuff.”

  Pauly looked surprised. “Are you actually apologizing to me? The Lucy Tomlinson apologizing to me?” He chuckled and pulled me into a hug. Squeezing me tightly around the waist, he sighed. “Apology accepted by the way.”

  I enjoyed his friendly embrace, resting my head on his shoulder. “But I’m open for other suggestions because I feel like I have an early case of writers block coming on.”

  Letting go, Pauly winked at me, and linked his arm with mine as we walked back inside the cabin. “Don’t worry, babe. We’re going to write our best record to date and you’ll become queen of the bass once more.”

  I nudged his side hard. “I’m not your babe, you ass,” I scolded him. “That’s saved for my next boyfriend.” Pauly rolled his eyes at that comment.

  “Oh, spare me,” he pretended to gag.

  We spent the rest of the night hanging inside with everyone, playing a couple of games of Cards against Humanity and enjoying each other’s company. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life, but part of it was the alcohol in my system. Reading those dirty sayings on the cards wasn’t helping either.

  Around midnight, we all called it a night, heading up to our bedrooms. I changed into a thin black nightgown that fit loosely on me and brushed my hair so it draped over my shoulders. Before I got underneath the covers with my Kindle, there was a knock on the door.

  “Hey girl, can I come in?” I turned my head around and saw Emily standing in the doorway. It looked like she hadn’t changed yet; she was still wearing the same shorts and shirt from earlier.

  “Of course,” I waved her in, and she came over to sit next to me on the bed. “What’s up girly?”

  “What happened between you and Pauly earlier?” She questioned me, raising an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean… nothing ‘happened’ between us.”

  “I don’t care what he says. Even if he told you the two of you could only be friends, he still gives you that doughy eyed look like he loves you.” I wanted to say of course he loves me; we’re best friends. That was it. I had apologized for how I acted and was slowly going to move on. Just friends.

  Easier said than done.

  “Em, trust me he has no feelings towards me,” I laughed.

  “You lie so badly, Luce, but I give it by the 4th . He’ll finally admit his feelings. You’re too hot for him to pass up, friends or not.” Emily gave me a compliment, and I hugged her.

  “What about you and Alex? You guys were getting pretty cozy during the card game.”

  “Don’t get me going on that fine piece of rock star goodness. I would totally crawl into his bed right now and pull his boxers down if he even wears them to sleep…” Emily gave me a mischievous grin, and we started cracking up. “I’m serious, though! I had forgotten how good looking he’s gotten since the last time I saw him.”

  “Trust me, I see him every day. They don’t change to me,” I groaned, leaning back against my pillow. “But I’ll tell him he better take you out somewhere nice and do something besides screw you because it’s about time they all settle down anyway.”

  Emily patted my hair. “You’re like the mommy of the bunch.”

  I let out a hearty laugh. “Far from it. You saw how I was when Cale and I were together. I wasn’t mommy- like at all.” The memories Cale and I shared stayed fresh in my mind. He had been the person that made me feel the most comfortable in my skin. When he met me at a show, I was still trying to lose a bunch of weight; he told me I could weigh 300 pounds and he would still think I was beautiful. And I remember telling him I’d stick by his side no matter what.

  See how that turned out?

  “You’ve got a point there, Luce. But I think I’m going to take a shower and get some sleep. I’ll see ya in the morning.”

  “All right, night Emily,” I replied, turning my attention to the book I was about to start. I don’t know what time I fell asleep, but I was awakened to loud music playing from downstairs. I shot straight up in the bed, realizing I still had the Kindle in my hand. Slipping out from under the covers, I changed into a pair of Bermuda jean shorts and a halter-top that tied behind my neck. Putting my hair into low pigtails, I headed downstairs to see what the hell was going on.

  “Good morning, sleepy head!” Damon shouted from the kitchen, where he was starting a pot of coffee. “I would have made breakfast, too, but all we have is shit for the grill and nothing that sounded good.”

  “Loving the pigtails, sis,” Mike joked with me as he came in the front door. He gave one of the pigtails a tug, and I slapped him on the chest.

  “What are we doing today?” I asked, sitting on a stool at the island.

  “Well, Mikey here had a few ideas for a guitar line for a new song. He wanted Pauly to test it out later, and we’ll fill in the rest,” Damon explained, pouring me a cup of coffee and handing it to me. I mouthed ‘thank you,’ and I took a sip.

  “You forgot to mention the house party we’re having tonight, too, dude.” Alex butted in. Noticing my ‘what the hell’ expression, Alex clarified. “We just thought of it this morning. Kind of a ‘Let’s welcome Ignite the Flames to Alpena’ party. Mike was out putting flyers in front of all the bars and restaurants nearby.”

  “Jeez it’s like eight in the morning and you’re out passing flyers? You’d be better off going when all the bars open later and kind of making an appearance. Girls see you and everyone else will follow,” I suggested. I didn’t understand how these guys worked sometimes. They weren’t like normal guys like the ones we went to school with, ones that actually slept in past sunrise.

  “Well, I already met a few lady friends at the breakfast place nearby who said they’d stop over after their shift,” Mike gloated.

  “Are they under the age of 30?” Damon teased Mike, shoving him playfully into the wall.

  “Sure as hell looked like it to me, they had big tits, that’s what I cared about, dude,” Mike replied, and the guys started cackling and laughing while Emily and I stood there rolling our eyes. “Sorry, I forgot you ladies were in the room.”

  “No, you didn’t, jackass,” I smiled. “You treat me like I’m one of the guys so I get stuck with hearing that shit.”

  They all put their hands up, giving me their cheesiest grins. “It won’t happen again, tommy girl.” Pauly gave me a wink and turned on the TV. The rest of the
morning Damon and Mike made up a list of things to get for the big party tonight along with some things we would need for our stay.

  By mid-afternoon, Emily and I were sent off to the local store.

  “Did you see all the shit on this list, Luce?” Emily eye’s bugged out as she surveyed the shopping list in front of us. “I mean these employees are going to think we’re opening up our own bar with all of this alcohol.”

  “That’s why they sent us,” I explained to Emily. “Because they would live on that if they absolutely had to. We’ll have to get some steaks and burgers, though. The grill at the cabin works wonders.”

  “Now we’re talking!” Emily high-fived me as we each grabbed a shopping cart and, as quickly as we could, found everything on our list.

  “I’m going to start lugging this cart to the checkout.” Emily said, pushing her heaping shopping cart away from me.

  “Sounds good; I’ll grab the rest of this stuff in this aisle and meet you up there,” I told her. As I was reaching for the last item on our list, which was of course on the top shelf, I heard a loud crashing sound. I had accidentally knocked down a few bottles of wine, and they spilled all over the floor around me.

  Shit, I cursed under my breath as I looked down at the mess I’d just created.

  “Need some help?”

  I spun around and saw a gorgeous man standing in front of me. He looked like he was an inch of two shorter than Pauly, probably 6’2”, with curly blond hair that stopped a few inches above his shoulders. However, my gaze was immediately drawn to his piercing green eyes. They were so light, almost like a mint green, and I found myself staring for a little too long.

  “Sorry,” I managed to get out. “I should probably find someone to clean this…”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Mystery man said, almost like an order. And from the look on his face, he really meant that.

  “Yes I should, I have to pay for this since there’s a few broken bottles.” I spat back, and he chuckled.

  “So insistent, huh? Like I said, don’t worry. This happens more than you think.”

  “What are you, like the frickin store manager or something?” I questioned him. He surely didn’t look like it to me. He was wearing a loose fitting navy T-shirt and tan cargo shorts with all white tennis shoes. Yup, definitely not a manager.

  “If I was I probably would stand here and laugh at.” His eyes trailed to my chest where a crashing bottle had stained my shirt. Then he glanced over at my shopping cart. “ Just kidding. Are you buying enough alcohol and food for an army or something?”

  I shook my head. “My friends and I have a cabin on the lake and we’re having a party tonight.”

  He let out an ‘ahhh’ as if my explanation made complete sense. “Well, from the looks of it, you and your friends have good taste.” I really wanted to say ‘I’d love to taste you’. NO, stop thinking that way, Lucy and find someone to tell them about the mess.

  “I suppose; why don’t you come by?” I offered before I realized I hadn’t even asked him his name. Now I was inviting a complete stranger to the house? Even though Mike had invited random people over, telling them about the party all morning.

  “Damn, it’s hard to pass up an offer from such a beautiful girl.” I couldn’t stop grinning. “But I don’t even know your name, so how am I supposed to find the place?”

  Very true.

  “I’m Lucy,” I replied, offering him my hand. I didn’t want to tell him my last name because I was sure he’d put two and two together, and realize who I was, if he hadn’t yet. Maybe not.

  Mystery man took my hand and firmly shook it, sending electricity through my bones. Before I could react, he leaned down and whispered “My name’s Liam.”

  “Well, Lucy. Are you sure you don’t need any help pushing that cart at all?” Liam asked me again.

  “I’ve pushed heavier things before; I can handle it, but thank you.” I smiled at him.

  “Anytime. That’s what a guy’s supposed to do.” He winked at me. “Let me get your number and you can text me the address to the place.”

  He handed me his phone, and I typed in my number under ‘The only Lucy you know’ and when he saw it, we both started laughing.

  “I better get going,” I told him, remembering Emily was waiting for me up front. “But if you have any trouble finding the place, call me. It’s hard to miss, though.”

  “Yeah, it won’t be a problem. Born and raised around here, so I pretty much know every road in town,” Liam teased. “It was nice meeting you, Lucy.”

  “You, too,” I smiled a little too brightly. I was actually looking forward to tonight and getting to know this guy.

  Watch out, Pauly.

  Chapter 4: Party Time

  Lucy

  By the time the party was in full swing, there had to have been at least a hundred people in and outside of the house. If not more. Some girls were dressed more sensibly in shorts and a T-shirt, but a few had come in tiny bikinis. I changed into a pair of my jean shorts and halter- top, braiding my hair to the side.

  I was watching the guys in their element. The majority of this crowd was girls. Yeah, there were some guys in the mix, too, none of whom I even knew, and they surely weren’t Liam. I had no idea if he was coming or not, but a part of me wished he would. I couldn’t get past his minty green eyes and that smile. Emily noticed the same thing too after he passed us in the store parking lot. She’d started to say that she’d fight me for him, but I told her Alex might get jealous and that shut her up.

  “Look at him,” Emily groaned, pointing over to Pauly who was sitting on one of the couches with at least three women around him. They were listening intently to whatever story he was telling. “Fucking schmoozer.”

  It wasn’t anything that I hadn’t seen before. Girls flocked to the guys because they were rock stars. In addition, they had the good looks to go with that, and the two together made for a lethal combination. Me, on the other hand, I’d had girls come up to me one too many times telling me there were going to steal my boyfriend away because I was too ugly for Cale Pelton. But guys always came up to me and wanted my autograph, saying it was hot that a girl could play bass guitar and rock the different hair color.

  “He can have those girls,” I lied. “We’re just friends anyway…”

  Emily raised an eyebrow. “For now! He’ll come to his senses at some point.”

  “Wishful thinking, Em. But let’s not worry about that and actually have fun tonight,” I said, changing the subject as we started dancing to the music blaring from the speakers outside. We started mingling with a few people who had asked for my autograph after finding out who I was. I was talking to one girl who had come with her boyfriend when I felt a shiver run through my body.

  Turning around, I saw Liam walk through the front door with a few friends behind him. He looked as gorgeous as he had earlier, except now he was wearing a striped polo shirt and blue jeans. He locked eyes with me and I waved him and his friends over to where Emily and I were standing.

  “Good to see you again.” Liam outstretched his hand, and I shook it, hardly containing my smile now. Then he pointed to his two friends. “This is Evan and Zach. Guys, this is the girl I was telling you about earlier.”

  “Nice to meet you guys.” I gave a small wave to Evan and Zach and they grinned. “This is my best friend from back home Emily.” Emily shook hands with them all, and we stood around the entrance to the back, making friendly conversation.

  “You look really familiar.” Evan, the shortest of the three, pointed at me after they had gotten something to drink.

  “Yeah, do you play in a band or something? I know I’ve seen you before…” Zach tagged in, both studying me now. I shrugged, noticing Liam didn’t seem to know what either guy was talking about.

  “Now I know where she’s from! She plays in Ignite the Flames! You didn’t see the other guys in the band over there scoring some chicks?” Evan nudged Zach. Liam didn’t bother to look ove
r, his eyes on mine. “You’re an amazing bass player. And for a girl. Damn, I can’t believe I met you…”

  “That’s enough being star struck, you dicks,” Liam scolded them. “Leave it alone or I’ll call you two a cab.”

  I giggled, not offended by them recognizing me. It happened more often than not. “Thank you,” was all I managed to say.

  Eric and Zach maneuvered their way through the rest of the crowd to talk to some girls that were standing alone, and Emily made up an excuse that she had to check on Alex, leaving Liam and I standing alone.

  “So you play bass, huh?” Liam gave me a quizzical look, and I nodded. “How long have you been playing with the band?”

  “Ever since we were teenagers not that long ago,” I explained. “We met our lead singer while we were at a summer music camp and the rest is history, I guess you could say. Alex, Mike, Pauly and I grew up on the west side of the state while Damon was from up north here.”

  “It’s awesome that you guys have played together for that much time and haven’t broken up or anything.” Liam said, sounding amazed. “I know I’ve heard of you guys, I just never saw you before.”

  I laughed, gently touching the free hand that was dangling at his side. It was refreshing to talk to someone that didn’t follow the band constantly. He was just a normal guy.

  “Why don’t we go outside?” I suggested, pointing to the open door to the enormous back patio. “There’s also a walkway that leads you down toward the lake.”

  “That sounds perfect. I’m going to get another drink first. Do you want anything?”

  “Just water,” I said, opting for the good choice. “Thank you.”

  His hand cupped my shoulder before he walked over to the drinks in the kitchen.

  “So you are going to ignore my advice?” I heard a husky voice whisper form behind me. “He seems like a winner…”

  I turned around and Pauly was standing with his arms crossed, a crooked grin across his face.

  “What are you talking about Pauly?” I asked.