Page 113 of Beautiful Distraction

His band mates begin to guffaw.

I peer at Kellan, who’s watching me intently, analyzing myevery move.

“The women just soak it up, huh?” Derrick says to Rock.“Remember that chick, Kellan’s last girl? She kept stalking him.”

The words sting. They only confirm that I was just anotherconquest in a long list of them. That I was only a good fuck.

Isn’t that what he called me?

“I’m sorry. I should go.” I get up and turn, dashing pasttables, through the door, heedless of the people rushing to get out of my way,until I’m outside.

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CHAPTER THIRTY

Above me, the moon and billions of stars are shining, theirpresence my only company as I head down the dark road. I’m walking fast, feetpounding, trying hard not to think or analyze the last week of my life.

I need the solitude and the detachment to keep myself from goingcrazy.

I don’t ever do crazy. I forbid myself from doing it.

It happened once, and it made me obsessive. It made me loveand swear off relationships for good.

Fucking a rock star with all the fans, the drama, and theemotional entanglements that come with it—that’s a whole new level ofcrazy.

It tops all the charts.

A cold gust of wind seeps through my clothes, sending ashudder through me. I wrap my jacket tighter around me, cursing the fact thatJosh was nowhere to be found when I left the bar. I would have liked him todrive me to Kellan’s place to get my car, but I couldn’t wait for him. Icouldn’t ask around, go looking for him. The chance of bumping into Kellan wastoo great.

It was either risk having to face Kellan again or head backwithout Josh driving me.

I chose to walk.

Now, I’m freezing my butt off.

I’m far past the point where I even care if Mandy’s joiningme. She’ll be fine with Josh. I know she will. She made it pretty clear whenshe left me alone with Kellan on his ranch.

It’s all her fault.

If it weren’t for Mandy, I wouldn’t have to deal with myemotions.

If it were not for her, I would have sold the tickets andnever met someone like Kellan. Someone so sexy, he’s every woman’s dream.

But that’s exactly what he is.

A dream.

Not realistic.

The sooner I grasp the facts the better, before my stupidheart wants to confess that I have fallen in love with him.

Somewhere in the distance, a car’s approaching. I turn andsee the headlights. For a moment, I consider signaling it to hitchhike to Kellan’splace, then realize it’s Kellan’s truck.

Even though I know that I’m being ridiculous, I turn my backto it and hasten my steps.

The truck pulls up next to me, and the window rolls down.

“Ava?”

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