Shit. Shit. “We’re over,” I said firmly to Saber, though reiterating it brought tears to my eyes. “You know as well as I do that we’ve been going nowhere for a long time. You didn’t even remember my birthday.”
“I remembered. I’m here right now because it’s your birthday. As soon as we finished the single, I drove straight here from the cabin to see you. Took for-fucking-ever. Traffic was terrible. Shield whined the whole time about the detour.”
“It’s a nice gesture, you coming here,” I whispered. “But it doesn’t change anything.”
It was too little too late.
I was proud of myself for sticking to my decision, knowing in the past I might have caved and taken him back. Pre-Journey, almost certainly. Saber was practically a perfect boyfriend, and Cork adored him.
“It changes everything if you let it. If you come talk to me, we can fix this.” Saber blew out a breath. “Are you with someone right now?”
“Yes, I’m—”
I gasped as Journey suddenly snatched my phone out of my hand. My jaw dropping, I stared at him as he hit the mute button.
“Do not tell him you’re with someone.” He glared at me, his brows forming a deep crease between his eyes.
“But we—”
“There is no we here, darlin’. You got off. I got off. But playtime is over. It’s time for you to go, understand? I don’t want any part of the drama you’ve got going on.”
He thrust the phone back into my hands, his words and the sharp look in his eyes severing the tiny shoot of hope that had pushed its way upward through all the heavy shit that had buried it before, that had buried me.
“Lotus,” Saber said, his voice blasting into the heavy silence in the room.
Belatedly, I realized Journey had unmuted the call and put it on speaker mode. Why did he want to hear this?
“Please give me another chance. I love you. You love me.”
A crash followed that declaration. I spun around, a hand to my throat where my pulse raced beneath my skin. One of the macramé planters swung back and forth, but it was empty now. The pot that had held the violets was shattered. Jagged terracotta pieces scattered on the floor amid clumps of dirt.
“Okay, I’ll come back,” I said abruptly and ended the call.
Tears burning behind my eyes, I avoided Journey’s gaze as I went straight to the corner. Most of the pretty purple blooms were separated from their roots. It was probably hopeless, but I had to at least try to fix the damage.
You only fail if you stop trying.
Remembering Storm’s words, I scraped all the potting soil I could find into my hands. Violets that had roots attached came next. Hands full, I shifted, looking for a container, but before I could find anything, Journey raked the dirt and the flowers from my hands.
“Why—”
“Leave it,” he said curtly, and a tear spilled down my cheek as I glanced down at the remains on the floor. “It’s not salvageable.”
“Maybe I can—”
Shaking his head, he said sharply, “I don’t want you messing with it.”
“Journey,” I whispered, lifting my head only to see his entire body jerk like I’d struck him.
“Not Journey. I mean, this wasn’t right, what we did here.”
I jolted like he’d struck me. That hurt.
“It was a mistake,” he said, softer this time. “You’re with someone.”
Forcing my words out around the big ball of emotion stuck in my throat, I said, “I’m not. I can explain.”
“No explanation necessary, darlin’.”
Journey’s expression was completely closed off. It was like what we’d done, the things we’d shared hadn’t mattered.
Had I been so desperate that I’d imagined it all? His thoughtfulness? Our connection? The caring?
“We had a moment,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “That moment is over. I told you how it would be before we started. You’re a big girl. You get that, yeah?”
Pressing my trembling lips together, I managed a nod, and he turned away.
Stupid. I was so stupidly naive. Journey was only a stranger that I’d cast in a leading-man role.
No matter how beautiful what we’d done had felt to me, it was only an illusion. Like a really good song, the emotions it evoked didn’t last once the music was over.
THANK YOU for reading STORM. I hope you enjoyed the preview. The story in its entirety will be released into Kindleunlimited on Amazon on November 10.
For a release alert text delivered straight to your phone, text ROCK BOOK to 33777.
For exclusive teasers and graphics leading up to the release, sign up for my newsletter.
For other fun stuff including paperback giveaways and a chance at an advanced copy of Storm for review, join my reader group.
IF you are in the mood for more beach surfing rockstar romance, I recommend my completed Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances Series box set. This series like STORM is set in Ocean Beach. Only it features the Dirt Dogs band. There is a happily ever after for each couple: Linc and Simone, Ramon and Karen, Ash and Fanny,
Diesel and Holly. Take me to the surf box set.
IF you are in the mood for rockstar enemies to lovers romance, I recommend my completed Tempest Rock Star Series.
There is a box set of books 1-6, and a #1 Best Seller full length prequel SOUTHSIDE HIGH that should be read first. Take me to SOUTHSIDE HIGH to start the completed Tempest series.
IF you like your rockstar romance super-hot, I recommend my completed Girls Ranking the Rock Stars Series. There is a box set of books 1-5, and the conclusion is book 6. Take me to the super-hot box set.
MICHELLE MANKIN. Fall in Love with a Rock Star. All my books are free to read in Kindleunlimited.
Link to my author page to see all my books on Amazon.
Michelle Mankin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Fall in love with a rock star.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series.
Get swept away by temptation in the ROCK STARS, SURF AND SECOND CHANCES series.
Romance and self-discovery, the FINDING ME series is a Tempest spin off with a more experienced but familiar cast of characters.
The ROCK F*CK CLUB series is a girl-power fueled reality show with the girls ranking the rock stars.
The ONCE UPON A ROCK STAR series is sexy modern-day fairytale retellings.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock or NOLA funk music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend.