Music of the Heart (23 page)

“I’m sorry if I’m keeping you from something.”

His head whirled around to pin me with his stare. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I’m

exactly
where
I want to be at the moment and with
who
I want to be.”

“Oh,” I murmured.

“You don’t sound like you believe me.”

“No, it’s just I’m surprised that’s all.”

He arched his brows at me. “That I want to eat pancakes with you over hooking up with some

random bimbo?”

I drew in a sharp breath at his summation. “Yeah, pretty much.”

Jake grinned. “Well, believe it, Angel because it’s the truth. You’re all I want or need at the

moment.”

Turning my head, I tried to hide the goofy grin that spread across my cheeks. Jake Slater wanted to

be with me over groupies. That was a pretty amazing feeling.

***

Even though I fought hard against it, the next four days moved at warped speed with back-to-back

shows. I would have given anything to have stopped the clock, so my time with Abby could have been

savored and lasted longer. She was everything I could ever want or need in a girl, and the longer we

spent together, the more I realized I hadn’t been shitting Abby when I told her I’d never met someone

like her.

I mean, what other girl would just sit around with me, talking all hours of the night about music,

life, and family? She was the only girl I had ever been able to drag to an IHOP after a show and then

go back to the bus for a jam session. We sang duets to crazy songs like Conway Twitty and Loretta

Lynn’s
Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man
and then Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford’s
If I Close My

Eyes Forever
.

When Abby managed to one-up me by learning and singing some of our songs, I swore to her that I

would drag her on stage with me at the next show. “Oh hell no!” she had replied.

For her last night on the bus, I’d asked Abby to sleep with me again, but this time we had the bed

to ourselves. Nothing happened more than spooning, but I was glad to have her by my side.

But all too soon it was Sunday—the day she had to finally meet back up with the boys. We stopped

for a somber breakfast at Cracker Barrel—Abby’s favorite place to eat. She barely ate though.

Instead, she pushed her food around while looking between us and tearing up.

With a frustrated grunt, I dropped my fork, and it clattered noisily onto my plate. “Would you stop

that? These people are going to think we’ve abducted you or are abusing you or something because of

how sad you look.”

She sniffled and swiped her nose with her napkin. “I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you guys.”

Although she said “you guys”, she stared pointedly at me.

“We’regonnamissyoutoo,” AJ muttered through a mouthful of pancakes. At her disgusted

expression, he poked his lip out. “What can I say? I’m feeling your loss, Angel. I just gotta pack it in

because I’m an emotional eater.”

His comment brought a fleeting smile to her face, but all too soon it was gone. Once we finished

eating, Abby called a cab to come pick her up.

“We can take you to the hotel.”

“It’s out of your way. I’ve imposed enough already,” she argued.

With a grin, I replied, “Yeah, but you’re an awfully cute imposition.”

She laughed. “Thanks.”

It was then that I hung back and watched Abby go through her goodbyes with the guys. Rhys went

first. He hugged her and whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. When Brayden stepped

forward, tears shone in Abby’s eyes. Taking her hands in his, he spoke softly to her to which she

bobbed her head in agreement. She leaned up and kissed his cheek before he pulled her into his arms.

He rubbed wide circles over her back as she sniffled. When she finally pulled away, Bray kissed

Abby’s cheek.

As AJ stepped up to her, Abby couldn’t stop the grin that formed on her lips. In a low and tender

voice, he started speaking to her in Spanish. She tilted her head and listened to him, sometimes

laughing, sometimes tearing up. When he finished, he wrapped her in his arms and squeezed her tight.

The longer Abby lingered in AJ’s arms the harder I had to fight the jealousy that ricocheted through

me. When he finally released her, he kissed both her cheeks. Then Abby turned to me with tears

shimmering in her eyes, and I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut.

This was it. The moment I’d been dreading for days—the moment I actually had to say goodbye to

my Angel. Taking her hand, I walked her away from the bus, so we could have a little privacy. When

we’d put enough distance between us and the guys, I turned around. Dark circles formed under

Abby’s eyes, and last night I had felt her sobs even though she thought I was asleep.

Rocking back and forth on my heels, I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my faded and

holey jeans. “So…”

“So,” Abby repeated lamely.

I cocked my head at her. “It’s kinda stupid saying good-bye because it’s not like we’re not ever

going to see or talk to each other again. I’ve got your number, and you’ve got mine.”

“Yes. Regardless of what happens with us, we’ll always be friends.”

“Exactly. It’s not all ending just because you’re getting off the bus. Hell, we’re even song

collaborators now.”

She bit down on her lip to keep the tears that pooled in her eyes from escaping. “Sure.”

I took a tentative step toward her. “Angel, what the hell is going on in that head of yours?”

Gazing up at me, Abby gave me a half-hearted smile. “It’s just I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t

the line you use with all the other girls. ‘Hey babe, it’s not good-bye’. Not to mention your epically

loaded statement of ‘I’ve got your number’. Kinda thinking there’s been a string of girls agonizingly

staring at their phones just waiting for a call from you that never came.”

My brows creased in anger. “First of all, I’m not giving you some line. When I say I’ll see you

again and that I’ll call, I fucking mean it. And second, there may have been a string of girls leaving

this bus like you, but I sure as hell didn’t get their numbers.”

“You didn’t?”

“No, Angel, I didn’t.” I brushed the silky, blonde strands of hair away from Abby’s face to

tenderly rub my thumb across her cheek. “Whatever it is that’s started between us, I sure as hell don’t

want it to end.”

She sucked in a harsh breath. “So you feel it that strongly too?”

I smiled. “Of course I do. It’s like being zapped by a fucking lightning bolt each and every time

you’re near me. You make me think things…
feel
things I never have before.”

“So have you,” she whispered softly. Her palms flattened against my chest. “Jake, I’m sorry for

what I said earlier. I don’t know what to do with all I’m feeling, especially since I have no

experience with men.”

“And I could argue that we’re in the same boat here on being totally fucking clueless about what to

do.”

Bringing her hand up, she covered mine that was cupping her face. “I know people would tell me

that because I’m inexperienced with guys, I’m wrong about what I’m feeling for you.” She shook her

head. “But I know without a shadow of a doubt the intensity of what I feel for you is real.”

I feathered kisses along her hand and fingers. “Mmm, do you now?”

“I’ve fallen for you, Jake.”

For a brief instant, it felt like she had nailed me in the balls again. Her words hit me that hard.

After a few calming breaths, I managed to grin. “Well, that’s good because I’ve fallen head over

fucking heels for you, Angel.”

She laughed. “You have such a way with words.”

“What can I say? You bring out the romantic in me.”

The taxi pulled up to the bus, and I winced. My chest caved in at the prospect of her leaving me,

and I had to fight to breathe. I felt like a complete and total pussy. Dammit, when had I become

reduced to a codependent dude who needed a woman to survive? But as much as I hated to admit it,

the truth was I needed Abby. She was living and breathing peace to my troubled soul—an angel sent

straight out of Heaven. Just a look from her could calm me instantly. With everything happening with

my mom, I didn’t know how I would make it without her.

Since she could read me so well, Abby threw her arms around my neck, and she pressed herself

tight against me. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you. I need you desperately, but I know you need me

more.”

“You’re just a phone call away, right?” I asked, hating the way my voice broke with emotion.

“Yes of course. Day or night. If anything happens with your mom or upsets you or if you can’t

sleep, you can just call me, okay?”

I groaned. “You make me sound like an utter pussy.”

She giggled, causing her warm breath to heat my neck. “You just have an amazing, tender heart,

baby. Because of that, you’re always going to feel more and hurt more than other people.” Pulling

away, she stared up at me. “Besides, it isn’t a sign of weakness to need other people.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“So you’ll call me?”

“Oh hell yes, I will.” I leaned over to kiss her. Even though I wanted to press her up against the

bus and ravage her mouth while running my hands over her amazing tits, I knew I couldn’t do that. Not

only because I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting my girl by giving the cab driver or the guys such a

raunchy show, but because I didn’t want to move too fast with her. It wasn’t just her lack of

experience—it was because I wanted to make everything perfect for her…and for me.

So with all the restraint I could muster, I brushed my lips chastely against hers. When she sighed in

frustration, I pulled away. At her disappointed expression, I couldn’t help laughing. Cupping her

cheeks in my hands, I asked, “What was your first part of the duet we sang, Angel?”

“Um, it was about not moving too fast and making it last?”

“Nice rhyming, but yeah, that line.” When her brows furrowed, I grinned. “I haven’t had a

relationship with a girl since the band hit big. I’m used to loving in the fast lane, and well, you’re the

emergency lane at best.”

“Hey now,” she giggled, smacking my arm playfully.

“So we gotta take this slow. I want to savor what I’m feeling and not ruin it with getting too