Black Falcon: Complete Series Collection (60 page)

I kiss the top of her gray head. “It’s nothing.”

“Sounded serious according to Trip. He’s done filled me in all about this Aubrey girl when I made supper last night.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course he did.”

“So tell me, sugar. You think this ‘en is the one?”

I sigh and sling my bag over my shoulder. “I think she is, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt her in the end, so I left before things get to serious.”

Eve frowns, deepening the wrinkles around her mouth. “Baby, you can’t let things like that hold you back from true love. If I’d been afraid of love, I would’ve never had forty long years with my Bernie. God rest his soul.”

I know she’s trying to make me feel better, but right now all I want to do is sleep. I place my hand on her shoulder and give it a gentle pat. “I’m going to hit the hay, Eve. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I walk back to my room and glance around. It’s just as I left it. My king-sized bed sits in the middle with a gray comforter and matching pillows. All my books and records neatly line the bookcase on the far end of the room by my computer. I don’t spend much time in here, so I haven’t really personalized it too much. The only picture I have in here is on my nightstand of Hailey and Mom. Up until now, they were the only people that mattered to me other than my bandmates. Aubrey has done a number of fucking with my head and stirring up emotions in me that I don’t like facing.

I flop onto my bed and close my eyes and let sleep take me away from everything.

T
rip kicks the edge of my bed. “Get up, jackass. I’m tired of you mopping around her like a lazy alcoholic. Eve’s says she’s not going to bring your meals in here anymore, so you better get up and get ready to be fucking social.”

I toss a pillow at him and pull the blankets over my head. “Fuck you, dude. Leave me alone.”

He yanks my covers off. “You’ve been locked up in here three days now drinking yourself into oblivion. You need to fix this shit.”

“I can’t!” Why doesn’t he let me be?

“You can! Here.” He tosses my cell onto the bed next to me. “Call her.”

“No.”

He folds his arms. “Do it or I’m dragging your ass into the shower myself and hosing that stink off you.”

“God!” I snatch the phone up and search out her number. “You’re annoying as fuck.”

Trip smirks but doesn’t make a move to leave until he hears Aubrey answer.

“Hey,” I say. “It’s me.”

Satisfied with himself, Trip laughs as he shuts my door on his way out and I flip him the finger.

“What happened to you? Did you leave because of what I said in the bar?”

“Yes,” I answer honestly. “I’m not ready for that.”

She sighs into the phone. “I get that. I really do, but you should’ve told me that instead of sneaking out in the middle of the night so you didn’t have to face me like a coward.”

She’s right. Leaving like that was the biggest pussy move in the world to pull. If I were man enough, I would’ve stayed and told her how I felt instead of doing what I did.

“You’re right and I’m sorry for that. You deserve better. Actually you deserve better than me period. That’s why I left.”

“When you say shit like that it’s crazy. I hate when you talk down about yourself like this. Your parents fucked you up. You are capable of love, Zach. You have to open up and let me in. You can’t keep blaming yourself for your mom and sister’s death.”

“They have nothing to do with the way I feel about you,” I growl. “I’m no good for you.”

“Don’t say that,” she cries.

“I’m not, Aubrey. I always ruin everything and hurt the people I love most. If I let myself love you, I’ll let you down. I know it, and that will fucking kill me. I’m barely holding on to a string as it is. I can’t take one more person that I love hating me. I don’t think I’ll make it.”

“That’ll never happen.”

I rub my forehead. She’s not going to give up unless I make her. “It already has.”

“What do you mean?” she questions.

“I’ve moved on, okay. I found a couple chicks last night and brought them back to my place so I can forget about you and how you fucked with my head.”

She’s quiet for a moment and then I hear her sniff on the other line. I pull the phone away from my mouth and stare up at the ceiling cursing myself for being an evil bastard and making her cry.

“So, like I said. I’m no good. It’s best we split now before I actually feel something for you. We’re no good for each other.”

“Okay,” she answers with a shaky voice before she hangs up on me. I throw my cell against the wall, watching it shatter into a million tiny pieces, and hating every inch of myself.

T
he last few days I’ve thrown myself into my work. With Lanie gone I find myself working and sleeping with not much else in between.

I have nothing else here in the city. Not even my long-distance rocker any more. I should’ve listened to my head instead of following my dumbass heart and falling in love with a man I knew was trouble right from the start.

The phone on my desk rings and I glance down to see Isaac’s name. “Yes, sir?”

“Do you have lunch plans?” he asks.

“No. Why?”

“I want to take you to lunch. We’ll leave at noon. I have a few things to discuss with you.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll be ready.” It’s not uncommon for us to eat lunch together to work on a project that needs out right away, but it is kind of odd that he wants to take me out.

Nearly the second we hang up my cell in the desk drawer rings. I really need to remember to start silencing this stupid thing while I’m at work. “Hello?”

“Hey, girl!” Lanie says. “How are you?”

I sigh. “I’ve been better, but you sound downright chipper.”

“Aw, Sweetie. What’s wrong?” she asks concern thick in her voice.

“Riff’s done with me.” A tear falls down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away so my coworkers don’t see it. It’s harder than I thought to admit that out loud.

“What? I’ve seen the way he is with you. I find it hard to believe he can move on so quickly.”

I sniff. “He told me he brought two girls home last night so he can move on.”

She lets a heavy breath waft into the phone. “Why would he do that?”

“Because I told him I loved him and he wasn’t ready to be that serious with me.”

“So he goes and fucks two random groupies?” Lanie shrieks. “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it. He told me so himself.” I pause and take a deep breath. “We’re over.”

Lanie sighs. “That’s too bad, because you two still have to walk down the aisle together in my wedding.”

My eyes widen. “You and Noel are getting married?”

She giggles. “We are, and sooner rather than later. I’m flying you down this weekend for a dress fitting.”

“Wow. In four days? That’s soon. So when is this wedding?”

“In the weekend after this one.”

“What’s the rush?”

“No rush. We want to do this. It’s the right thing for us, you know.”

I smile, completely happy that my best friend is finally marrying the man she’s loved for so long. “Where’s the wedding going to be?”

“Here at Mom’s house—out on the dock.”

“Awww. That’s so romantic. It’s almost like bringing your love full circle.”

“It totally is,” she answers and I can hear the smile in her voice.

We talk a little while longer about wedding plans and my flight arrangements for the weekend before Isaac pops out of his office. I glance down at the clock. It’s time for lunch already.

“I have to go. I’ll see you Friday night,” I say into the phone.

“See you soon. And Aubrey, don’t worry about Riff. He’ll come around.”

“Okay,” is all I can say because while I understand love is a new thing for him and something that probably scares the shit out of him, I don’t think I can forget that he slept with other women so soon after being with me. The best thing to do is forget about him like he has me.

I grab my purse and follow Isaac into the elevator.

He presses the lobby button and glances at my face. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answer with a smile.

Isaac steps toward me and tentatively touches my cheek. “Is it him that you’re shedding tears for? If it is, you shouldn’t. He doesn’t deserve you.”

Even though I know it’s wrong, I lean into his palm and close my eyes. It’s nice to have comfort from someone.

He cradles my head in his hands. “I would never wrong you. Ever.”

I open my eyes and stare into his clear blue eyes. There’s sympathy and caring in them, which is something in my current state I desperately want. I grab the back of his head and bring his lips down to mine trying to block out the pain Zach left in his wake.

Isaac freezes at first and then starts moving his lips with mine while we ride the elevator down. He gives me one final peck and then pulls back. “I’ve been waiting on that for a long time. You’ll be happy with me, Aubrey. I swear it.”

I smile. I don’t exactly feel the same way, but maybe eventually I will.

T
he plane touches down in Houston and I quickly make my way through the airport looking for Lanie in baggage claim as we planned. I stop dead in my tracks when my gaze lands on Zach holding a small sign that reads “Kitten.”

I roll my eyes and grab my bag off the carousel before I approach him. “What are you doing here?”

He smiles. “No hello? You mean, you aren’t happy to see me?”

I shake my head. “Are you really that dense? Where’s Lanie?”

He shrugs his broad shoulders. “She was busy.”

“Of course she was,” I mumble. Lanie always wants to fix things or play matchmaker, which is the exact reason I didn’t tell her about my very first kiss with Zach in the first place.

He grabs the suitcase out of my hand. “Let me carry that.”

I jerk it away. “I’ve got it. I don’t need your help.”

Zach narrows his eyes and takes the bag out of my hand with force. “Can’t we be friends at least?”

I yank back, refusing to let go. “No we can’t. There’s no such thing as
just
friends between us Zach and I refuse to be another slut you can toss away after you’re done.”

He opens his mouth to say something but quickly shuts it and shakes his head. “You’re right. Maybe it’s best we not even talk.”

I stumble back a bit after he releases the handle of my luggage and gives me full control. “Fine by me.”

He turns and calls over his shoulder, “Come on, then. Our new bodyguard, Kyle, is waiting in the loading area.”

Without any more words I follow him outside to the black Escalade. He loads my bag into the back and I hop into the back seat and slide over, leaving the door open. Zach comes by and shuts my door with a little more force than necessary before taking the passenger seat next to Kyle.

I bite my lip. Now, I’m the one who is getting the cold shoulder? I didn’t do a damn thing to him. What gives him the right to treat me this way?

The entire trip to Lanie’s family home, Zach and Kyle talk amongst themselves up front, completely ignoring me, which is exactly what I asked for. So why do I feel this crushing weight sitting on my chest?

This is going to be a long weekend if this is how it’s going to be.

Lanie scrambles out the door the moment we pull in and jumps into the SUV. Her slender arms wrap me into a hug as she tackles me into the seat. “Easy, there!”

She pulls away and flicks her gaze towards Zach. “Why are you back here by yourself?”

I frown. “I think it’s better this way.”

Zach snorts and gets out, slamming the door behind him.

She shoves my hair over my shoulders and shakes her head. “You two are some of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met.”

After a long day of getting fitted for my bridesmaid dress, the entire group loads up to head to a local club for some drinks. Who knew so much went into planning a fifteen minute ceremony. We need to blow off a little steam and relax.

The club is packed. Bodies gyrate on the dance floor beneath spinning lights while the hypnotic beats the most recent top forty hits assaults my ears.

Trip elbows Tyke as a group of girls walk by and smile at them. They instantly take off after the girls in short skirts as Lanie and I slide into a round booth with Noel and Zach.