Page 10 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
When I move to stand this time, he doesn’t try to stop me, but he does stand with me. It’s not until he’s towering over me that I remember just how overwhelming his presence is. He’s so tall. He’s so imposing. His head is tilted toward me like he’s studying me, and I can’t handle it. It makes me even more eager to leave.
“You look...”
He trails off, his brow knitting, and I narrow my eyes. I look sweaty? I look angry? I look like I might have a concussion? Or worse...I lookfamiliar? When he doesn’t finish his thought and the silence starts to feel awkward, I shake my head.
“Look, I really have to go.”
He takes a step back, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Right. Of course. I’m sorry my security mistook you for a crazed fan.”
I wince at his comment, but there’s no recognition in it. I take a deepbreath and let myself look at him head-on, grateful for once that he’s wearing the sunglasses, so his green eyes don’t steal my nerve.
I’m not sure at first if I want him to remember me, but when there’s not a single sign on his face that he knows who I am, my stupid heart sinks and my anger flares.
He doesn’t.
He has absolutely no idea who I am.
And damn it if it doesn’t hurt even four years later.
4
CALLIE
PAST, ArtFusion Day One
Becket slides openthe back door of the van, and I take deep gulps of the dry, hot air into my lungs.
It’s fucking hot outside, but it’s hotter in the van. Our AC cut out three states ago.
“Everyone out,” Becket says. “We got one hour to make camp before it gets really nasty.”
It’s already stifling. I can’t even imagine what noon will bring. I shield my eyes from the harsh sun and step out of the van, peering at the people around us. Tents are being erected everywhere, and I’ve already spotted license plates from thirty different states just from vehicle check-in to our assigned campsite. The nervous energy I’ve been harboring for a month starts to bubble up inside me, prickling my skin and forcing a smile to my lips.
“Fucking cool.” Rocky’s deep voice interrupts my visual exploration of our surroundings, and he throws his lanky, tattooed arm over my shoulders. “Does this mean we’ve made it?”
I grin up at him. “I think it means we’re one step closer.”
He laughs and gives me a squeeze before loping off to help Pike and Becket with the tents. I turn and look back into the van where Ezra is still sleeping. I punch his leg, jolting him awake, and laugh at his shocked expression.
“C’mon. We’re here. Can’t sleep the day away.”
He groans and stretches, but I skip off before he can hurl groggy verbal abuse at me. Ezra is an asshole when he wakes up. He’d probably cuss out Jesus Christ himself if the poor guy disturbed one of his naps. Messiah or not, no one is safe from the wrath of a sleepy Ezra.
I help Pike, Becket, and Rocky set up the tents. Ezra, conveniently, doesn’t show up until we’re almost finished.
“I’m bunking with Rock?” Ezra grins at Rocky. “We get to be snuggle buddies.”
Rocky rolls his eyes. “I swear to god, if you snore like you did in the van on the way here, Iwillsmother you with your pillow.”
“Then who will you get to play drums?”
“Drummers are everywhere, man. We could get a fucking chimp to play drums, and he’d probably be better than your sorry ass.”
Ezra fakes a punch but gets pissed when Rocky doesn’t flinch, so then he launches himself at him. Rocky barks out a loud laugh and takes off running with Ezra chasing him, and I watch until they disappear behind rows of tents and cars.
Pike shakes his head. “Those two are idiots.”
“Yep,” I say in agreement, popping the P.
