Page 38 of Tangled Up In You

“No, don’t say that.” He squeezed his eyes shut, grimacing at what a mess he had made of things. There was nothing he could do but give her his honesty. He opened his eyes and said, “Last time … it was a mistake. My mistake, not yours. You didn’t do anything wrong. It kills me that I was such a bastard to you when that’s the very last thing I ever want. Let me apologize in person. I need to see you. I need it like oxygen, darlin’.”

With a glance, he saw Conor shaking his head. Their manager, James Kelly, was squeezed into a corner just beyond them and his face was flushed red, matching the color of his hair. The DJ was watching him with barely contained glee at the juiciness of it all. Let them gawk, Gavin thought. His need to connect with Sophie far outweighed any of their concerns.

“Look, I know I've got a slagging coming,” he continued. “And I’ll only welcome it. As long as you give it to me in person. Just let me get lost in your eyes while you do it. Say yes, Sophie.”

There was an uncomfortably long pause before she replied. “Um, I guess we won the VIP tickets to the Weenie Roast? I can see you there?”

“Is that the best you can do?” He hoped she would remember the expression. They had often used it to challenge each other, both playfully and during a row.

“It is.”

He nodded to himself, despite the disappointment of her response. “That’s grand, then. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

The connection was broken as the DJ told Sophie to hold the line so that she could give her information to a production assistant.

For the rest of their segment, Conor diligently pushed the conversation back to the band and their upcoming performance while Gavin retreated to his own thoughts. They were thoughts that mingled with music and lyrics as he tried to conjure up the right way to make amends with the girl he was sure he still loved.

18

GAVIN

Gavin stepped off the hotel elevator, feeling happily buzzed and on a mission to quickly retrieve his forgotten mobile from his room. Staying at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood had its perks, including the bar overlooking drinking age requirements. They’d quickly learned that the late 1920s hotel had a reputation for cultivating a celebrity clientele, carefully marketing the prospect of stargazing opportunities for other guests who craved proximity to fame. And now Rogue was staying there as both minor celebrities and tourists themselves. Management seemed to appreciate how much attention he and Conor could generate and the drinks were free-flowing.

But as soon as he rounded the corner toward his room he knew his evening plans had completely changed.

“Sophie,” he said, his smile wide and beyond his control.

It had taken him less than a second to recognize her.

She sat on the floor in front of his door, wearing a light summer dress with a cropped jean jacket. Startled, she looked up from her cell phone and scrambled to her feet at the same time.

“I’m sorry to bother you like this,” she said quickly. “I just didn’t want to meet again in the middle of a crowded room.”

“Come here,” he said. He reached out to hug her but she shook her head.

“I just wanted you to know I’m not coming tomorrow. In case it mattered.”

“In case it mattered? Of course, it matters. Darlin’, I meant it when I said I was desperate to see you.”

“You mean, just long enough to send me on my way? Like last year at the Palladium? I won’t do that again.”

“Jesus, Sophie.” He’d known he would have to atone for the shitty way he’d treated her, but he hadn’t realized how hurt she would still be. It sobered him up in the worst way, as he realized she was only here to tell him off. Dragging his hand through his unruly hair, he let out a sigh and decided his best hope was to remind her of their history. “So, that’s it then?”

“I—”

“You want nothing to do with me? After what we had? I mean, we had something real. I know I fucked up last time. But at least give me a chance. You can’t walk away like this.”

“Gavin, don’t?—”

“You can’t give up. You can’t?—”

“How can you not understand? You broke my heart! You broke it, Gavin.”

The raw pain in her voice froze him. When her eyes teared up and darkened, his threatened to do the same. It nearly did him in to see her this hurt. To see that he had caused this.

“Darlin’,” he said softly, “I didn’t mean it. Just?—”

A well-dressed couple in their thirties appeared at the end of the hall, hanging on to each other as they staggered and laughed drunkenly. They seemed to find it hilarious that they were having such a hard time getting their key to open the door to their room.

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