Page 67 of Whirlwind

Boy, Ladd knew how to hit home. He’d discussed my “disappearance” with my father. Did he know that Dad had tracking on my phone because it was on the company business plan? Or was he hoping to shame me in my father’s eyes? Show me who’s boss? Bastard.

My head pressed against the cold airplane window. Guess I shouldn’t have turned on my phone to call Tara. I had my phone off because I didn’t want Dad to check in on me, and I didn’t want to talk to Ladd if he’d call and then I’d have to lie to him.

Lies, eh?

Jerking up up in my narrow seat, I turned to Ladd. “Why did you say we’re engaged? We’re not engaged.”

“We’re having this conversation now?”

“Yes, we are.”

“I was pissed.” He leaned into me. “When we got back together, you said you’d broken up with me because you’d been in a mood. Was this another mood? But this one took planning and lying to fuck some guy in another state.”

“Shut up.”

“I know who he is. He’s in Freefall, right? Shit, I actually like a few of their songs.” He shook his head, a smirk on his face.

“Boycott ahead, huh?”

“I was actually worried about you, Violet. And the whole time you were spreading your legs like some cheap groupie.” His seat creaked and bent as he adjusted himself in the narrow airplane seat. We were stuck, both of us. On this plane, on this…

He rubbed a hand across his chin. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I don’t want to talk, period. Just the thought of you with another guy…how long has this been going on anyhow?”

I crossed my arms. I didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t feel proud of it, but I didn’t feel guilty. The only thing I felt guilty about was hurting Beck.

“Ladd, don’t talk to me about your thoughts. I saw you at the Tingle getting a lap dance and loving it. I get it’s part of your and Dad’s business model, but don’t you dare take the moral high ground with me.”

“I didn’t fuck any of them, Violet. Not yet.”

I only laughed.

“So is this payback for that?” He glared at me. “I never thought you’d be so dramatic and childish.”

“It’s not payback.”

“So what the hell is it?”

It’s BECK, my insides screamed.

Beck. Beck. Beck.

I’d wanted to be with Beck again. Had to be.

I slid back against the crappy seat. My face heated, my legs moved to cross, but there was no goddamn leg room. I twisted to the side again, facing the window once more, the patch of cloudy sky, sour sloshing in my stomach. I jammed my jaw shut against the influx of images of disappointed Beck welling inside me, and I squirmed in my seat.

Ever since I’d heard Beck sing that song for his mom at Pete’s that night, I’d been hooked. Hooked on a boy with gorgeous eyes, a shy smile and a knowing grin and a powerful, velvet voice with a rough growl on the edge of it. A quiet boy who exuded a confidence and shocking sureness on a public stage sharing his heart and soul with the world without restraint, without doubt. A young man of instinctual wisdom and a good heart.

A month ago, on a night when I was free and wanted to enjoy that freedom, he’d appeared out of nowhere, grabbing me in a crowd. The universe had grinned upon me, showered me with gold. And I’d said,yes please, thank you.

I’d given Beck my all that night, and it had been explosive between us. Unforgettable. I knew it was a once in a lifetime moment. I was free, he was free and we’d connected and really, really wanted each other.

And it had been glorious.

Meeting up with him in Nashville had been brazen, daring, and oh so selfish. I’d almost cancelled the whole thing. But when he’d opened the door of his loft for me, and those clear aqua green eyes met mine, suddenly there was no wrong, no doubt. Only a sheer strong YES pulling me to him.

In Nashville I’d danced with Beck until the clock had struck midnight. But there was no glass slipper I’d left behind. I still had both my leather boots that Beck loved so much, I hadn’t lost one in my escape from the ball. I rolled my eyes at myself. They certainly weren’t dainty glass slippers, and this was no damned fairy tale. There was no prince trying to track me down to whisk me away to his happy ever after kingdom.

I was a woman, an adult, and I had knowingly made my own mess.

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