Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Well, we knew that,” Owen said. “But seriously, man, why would you tell her to go if you wanted her to stay?”
I heaved a loud sigh and shook my head. “I thought it was the right thing to do. At least that’s what I told myself at the time. But maybe I was just too much of a chicken shit to tell her how I really felt and ask her to stay and be with me. Deep down, I don’t feel like I deserve her. She’s so smart and beautiful and…unspoiled. Part of me feels like she should be with Warren.”
“Jesus Christ.” Colby shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“That I fell in love?”
“No. The day that your egotistical ass had your confidence rocked. When you were eighteen, you thought you could score our super-hot, thirty-year-old English teacher.”
I smiled halfheartedly. “Ms. Renzo put her hand on my thigh. She wanted me.”
Colby pointed. “You see? Never once have you doubted yourself with a woman. Do you think I feel good enough for Billie? Of course not. But you gotta get over that shit. When you’re in love with someone, you don’t push them away because you’re not worthy. You spend the rest of your life trying to become the man who’s good enough to be by her side.”
I wanted to believe I could be a man worthy of Lala. But I wasn’t sure it was true. “What if I fuck up?”
Brayden motioned to the three of them. “Then we’re going to kick your ass. We owe that to Ryan.”
Owen caught my eye. “If you hurt Lala, you’re definitely getting a beating. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say something I never thought I’d say… I think if Ryan were here listening to how you feel about his little sister, he’d give you his blessing. So you have mine.”
Colby nodded. “Mine, too.”
Brayden shrugged. “Same. So stop being a pussy and tell the woman how you feel. And maybe we can also quit talking about feelings and manscaping now and play some cards?”
I smiled. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
I wasn’t sure I’d actually solved anything, but it was good to know the guys thought maybe things could work out with Lala. Now I only had to convince myself…
***
The following morning, I was lying in bed, kicking around the idea of driving up to Philly this weekend to lay my heart on the line with Lala, when my phone buzzed from the end table. It was our manager, Daisy. I read the message in preview and frowned.
Daisy: Hope no one has any plans for the weekend…
Lately, her timing had really sucked.
Though if that wasn’t fate telling me not to profess my love to Lala, I wasn’t sure what was. I sighed and went to type back. But when I unlocked my phone and it opened to the full text, I realized there was more to the message.
Daisy: Hope no one has any plans for the weekend. There’s a new club owned by a group of celebrities that’s impossible to get booked at. One of the owner’s daughters saw you play recently and told her father he needs to get you guys on stage.
Before I could respond, my bandmates typed back.
Dylan: I’m in. Where we heading?
Monroe: Could be Pluto for all I care. I’m in.
Our manager responded.
Daisy: It’s a little more convenient than Pluto. It’s in Philadelphia.
I sat up, feeling adrenaline pump through my veins. Maybe fate had other plans after all…
Holden: Definitely in.
Once we’d all responded, Daisy sent through the details for the Saturday-night gig. Still feeling the high of the coincidence, I couldn’t wait to text Lala.
Holden: Hey. We just booked a show for Saturday night in Philly. I’m stoked to play back home, but even more stoked to see you. We’re the first act, so we should be on by nine and done by ten or ten thirty. Come to the show, and we can skirt out.
I didn’t even put down my phone as I waited for her to respond.
Lala: Oh that’s great. I’ll try to make it.
Try?
It felt like I’d been listening to the theme song from Rocky, ready to run up the stairs to grab my girl at the top, when suddenly the needle screeched to a sudden halt.
I typed back.
Holden: Do you already have plans?
I watched the dots jump around, then stop for a minute or two, before finally starting again.
Lala: Just some work I need to catch up on.
At nine o’clock on Saturday night, which was four days away? She couldn’t even figure out a way to free up a few hours with that much notice? Whatever optimism I’d felt sank like lead to the bottom of my stomach.
This is it. The beginning of the end.
She might as well have told me she had to wash her hair. Though something inside of me was afraid to call her out on it, for fear she’d just end things now. I needed to at least see her one last time if this was where it was heading. So I sucked it up.