didn’t. He’s the strongest person I know, and he believes that life is good. His grief never broke him like it did me.” I looked at my twitching hands. “He left home at eighteen, forged his own way and has managed his band ever since. He moved here for two reasons: to make a movie with you and get his friend and bandmate Spider off the road for a while. Spider is irresponsible and maybe even an alcoholic, but Sebastian is determined to take care of him. Sebastian’s a lot like you. He sees what he wants and he goes and gets it any way he can. Not many twenty-three-year-olds can claim that.”
“I see.”
I shook my head. “No, you don’t. He does whatever it takes. And maybe that means dating a starlet who promised him if he did, she’d get the part for him.”
A smile worked his lips. “I’m never surprised by the things people in Hollywood will do to get what they want. I’m just as guilty as the next person. But, I guess you haven’t heard yet since it was just announced by the movie company, but I went in another direction with my movie. Blair Storm did not get the movie. The producers wanted younger.”
My body tingled in fear. “Does she know?” The loss would make Blair even crazier.
He nodded. “Yes, and Sebastian was a close contender—excellent screen test—but to be honest, I don’t like rock stars-turned-actors no matter who they date. Never have. They’re unpredictable.”
I stood, anger flaring. “He’s more than a stereotype. He’s the happiest person I know—or he was until I fell in love with him. He made me realize I don’t have to lose music along with everything else. I’m a fighter too, and we found each other. He’s always going to be the guy who rides up on a white horse to save the girl—or a dog. He has the heart of a giver.”
He smiled broadly and adjusted his glasses. “Damn, I like you, V. When you speak, all I can think is what a great line that would make in a movie.”
“If I ever sell my words, it will be to someone who doesn’t jump to conclusions about a person just because they’re a musician. I’m a musician, Mr. Hing. And my whole story … it’s still unwritten. As Sebastian once told me, I have a long way to go before I’m done.”
His face softened into an understanding smile. The first genuine one. “I see. You have values—which I also like.” He paused. “Maybe we can learn from each other, V.”
I nodded and left.
But somehow I didn’t think the conversation with Hing was entirely over.
“We were over before we even began.”
—Sebastian Tate
I PACED AROUND on my patio, binoculars in hand as I watched V get in her Maserati and drive off, seemingly headed to Wilson’s since the exit for the neighborhood was in the opposite direction.
I shoved them away from me when she was out of sight and reached for my glass of bourbon. Fuck.
She’d pushed me away.
Did I blame her?
Hell, I’d walked away.
I’d let her down by letting Blair get this far. Maybe I should have been easier with Blair at the jewelry store. I’d seen how crazy she was getting, but really my head had been too caught up in V and our relationship.
How was I going to save her?
I had to stop these pictures from ever seeing the light of day.
I’d left V’s earlier and driven to Blair’s house and beat on the door. I’d called her and left voicemails, some angry and then toward the end I was bargaining with her, promising her that I’d serve myself up to her on a silver platter if only she’d call off the photos. God, I was willing to do anything to get her to see reason.
I was desperate, willing to compromise with a selfish lunatic.
Because of V.
I was scared of the way I felt about her. Scared that I couldn’t exist in a world without her.
She was everything I wanted.
Everything I needed.
Everything.
I got weak in the legs and sat. This was not a normal reaction to a girl dumping my ass. No, this was more, and I could finally own up to what had been plain as day to me for days yet I’d refused to say it.
Our souls were one. They always had been and never in a million years would I find another girl like V. I loved her.
Down on my knees, wanting to beg her to