Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I turn down the music as she hits accept. It’s a video call, so her mother’s face takes over the screen. “Kendall Naomi Blackwood…”
“Oh, shit. All three names, Mom? Am I in trouble?” She sounds so adorable and apologetic, I want to pull her into my arms and comfort her, but I stay quiet, letting her talk to her mom.
Her mom sighs. “Of course, you’re not, Sunshine. Are you okay?”
“I am,” Kendall tells her with a soft smile. “I just couldn’t… Dad told me to follow my heart and…” She sniffles. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” her mom says. “Your dad was right. You should always follow your heart. Where are you going?”
“I just need to get away for a bit. Clear my head.”
“Okay, sweetheart. But please keep in touch so we know you’re okay. I don’t care how old you are, you’re still our little girl, and we’re always going to worry about you.”
“I know. I’m sorry I left that mess for you to clean up.”
“It’s okay. Your dad handled it.”
“And, uh… Kyle?”
“He’s not too happy. I’m sure his ego is bruised, but he’ll be okay.”
Kendall nods. “I love you, Mom. Talk soon.”
“Love you too.”
She hangs up, and her phone goes off several times in quick succession. To give her some space, I turn the music up and drive while she texts everyone.
She sets her phone down a little while later and glances at me. “So, where are we going first?”
“The Jersey Shore.”
She grins. “Nice.” Then she looks down at her dress and frowns. “I don’t have any clothes.”
“We can pick some up once we get there.”
“And where’s there?”
“Not really sure. I didn’t book any rooms, not wanting to be tied down to an agenda. I get enough of that with the tours.”
“I feel that deep,” she says, pulling something out of her clutch. It’s a small silver flask.
I laugh as she opens it and raises it up into the air. “To road trips and freedom.” She toasts the air and takes a quick sip before offering it to me.
“I’m driving.” I shake my head.
“Just take a quick sip. It’s like a contract. You have to drink to the road trip.”
I do as she says, taking a sip of the vodka in it, and then hand it back to her. “To road trips and freedom.”
She takes the flask back. “And whatever trouble we shall find along the way.” After downing some more, she screws the top back on and drops it into her clutch. Then she turns up the music. “This is going to be epic.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KENDALL
The two-hour drive to Jersey flies by. Thankfully, Declan drives in silence, giving me time to process what the hell just happened, and doesn’t ask any questions. When my phone doesn’t stop vibrating, and I turn it off, then turn up the music and sing the songs on his playlist at the top of my lungs, he only smiles, letting me let go.
At some point, I know I’ll have to deal with what I’ve done. At the very least, I owe Kyle an explanation and apology, and I’m aware that running away is immature as hell, but right now, it’s what I need to do. My dad told me to follow my heart, and I don’t find it a coincidence that as I stumbled out the window, the person standing there was Declan. The guy I wrote my one and only love song with. The same guy I’ve been thinking about since I woke up in the hospital.
I’ve known him for years—he’s been my brother’s best friend for over a decade—and in recent years, we’ve gotten closer, hence us writing music together, but for some reason, it feels like more than that. There’s an attraction there. A feeling I know I can’t act on because he’s too close to my family, too close to my brother, and I always fuck up the relationships I’m in. But maybe he’s who I need right now. He was heading out on a road trip, and I was running away, so maybe in some crazy way, we were meant to be on this journey together.
We pull up to a gorgeous modern-looking resort, and when we step out of the car so the valet can take over, I inhale the salty ocean breeze.
“It’s oceanfront,” Declan says, taking my hand in his. “Let’s go get our sun on.” He waggles his brows playfully, and I can’t help but laugh at how adorable he is. Don’t get me wrong, he’s sexy as hell, but he’s also lowkey adorable, which is something you rarely see with rock stars. They’re usually dark and broody and covered in tattoos. Braxton and Gage are the perfect example. My brother is more of a dark pretty boy. He’s mastered the brooding, but his wife, Layla, brings out the softness in him. But Declan… he’s always happy and smiling.