but avoided beautiful talented Peter as long as possible. Finaly, she let her eyes meet his.
Pity. She puled back and crawled away from him. She hated it when others felt pity for her.
“Libby wait.”
She crawled faster. Peter grabbed her leg and roled her over in the fal leaves. He lay next to her on the ground.
“Libby, stop. It’s okay.” His eyes were a deep river of concern.
“Don’t you dare feel sorry for me. I don’t need that. I’m fine.” Her jaw set in defiance, but her watering eyes betrayed.
“Look at me.” He held her by the shoulders.
She looked up at him, her rock, her only friend, her whole world.
“It’s okay. I don’t care about that.” He shook his head. “No, I do care about that, but it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. You are who you are and I am who I am. Nothing’s changed.” He locked eyes with her and looked deep into her soul.
“You’re life sucks right now, and mine, wel, it doesn’t, except that I can’t be with you al the time.”
He wouldn’t let go of her and she felt so safe. He accepted her past.
“I wish you would have told me before. Why have you held this in?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to know.” Her voice began to quiver.
“Of course I want to know.” He puled her to him and wrapped his famous, talented arms around her.
“It’s okay, Lib, I love you, I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere.”
His words made her feel she might survive after al. She relaxed against him. A rare breath of mourning and pain escaped, and then a single tear. Peter held her tightly, his body enveloping her in a warm embrace of love and understanding.
For the first time in many months, she cried.
# # #
Peter held Libby crying in his arms. He didn’t move, afraid he might frighten her back to her stoic façade. He never understood before this moment what loss meant. Here, in his arms, was a fragile, quivering girl who’d lost everything in her world. She put on such a strong act, pretending her life was normal, when it was everything but.
But today she opened up. After al these weeks of pretending, she lowered her guard and let him into her world. He imagined she rarely shared her story, and it explained a lot. No wonder she thought his family so perfect. How could he ever complain about them again when Libby longed for the family she lost.
Peter kissed her tears away. The taste of salt reached his tongue. Her breath warmed his chest as he held her close. He’d known for a while he was in love with her. She never treated him like a famous rocker. It was always real with her. Libby’s confession amped up his determination to protect her and keep her safe. He didn’t care about the press or the tabloids or their age.
He’d been living the life of an adult for years and apparently she had too. Things were about to change.
Chapter 10
That night they cruised down the highway toward Rockvile in a sporty jeep. “Nice wheels,” Libby ran her fingertips over the butter soft leather seat.
“It’s a rental.” Peter grinned.
He pushed his hair to the side unaware of how great he looked. He held the steering wheel casualy, the seatbelt snug across his narrow hips. Damn he was gorgeous, and he was only driving.
“If you’re hoping to keep a low profile, I don’t think this is the best way.” The flashy red jeep would stand out in smal town Rockvile. The country roads led to the heart of historic downtown.
“I couldn’t resist. I can park in a dark aley, if you want,” Peter said.
“I’m not worried about me, I just figured you wanted to keep things quiet.”
“Fans expect to see Jamieson as a group, not one of us out alone wandering middle America. Plus, I brought a hat.” Libby shifted comfortably in her seat. Tonight was just them, flying under the radar. She managed to avoid Aunt Marge this afternoon. With any luck, the woman would be strung out and oblivious to Libby’s whereabouts. If not, wel, Libby didn’t care anymore. She’d turn seventeen in a few months and that was practicaly eighteen.
“Turn right at the stop sign, that’s Fourth Street. It takes you straight to Main.” Her breath caught in her throat at the thought of driving into the heart of town with Peter Jamieson. She felt the need to pinch herself.
They drove down the quiet