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It just emphasized how lonely my life could be.
I slid on a pair of dark-wash jeans and a white T-shirt, falling back on my bed with my phone in my hand. I felt a tug to keep digging into Lena, but I knew I should ignore it.
She’s just an attractive woman, nothing more.
And I still had the firm belief that women never did anything other than come into your life, get settled, and then fucking leave, gutting everyone around them. It sounded harsh, maybe, but that was all I had ever experienced.
And that was why I never bothered with girlfriends.
My phone vibrated in my hand, and I glanced back down at it, my heart in my throat for some reason. Who did I think it was gonna be? Lena?
Ha.
I hit the green answer button beneath Eli’s smiling face. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Surprised you answered,” Eli chuckled on the other end of the phone. “I figured you’d be out partying or something already.”
“It’s not even six o’clock,” I reasoned, rolling my eyes. “I know you think my life is just nothing but one big party—and it is sometimes—but a man does need his rest.”
Though resting always seems to lead to me fantasizing about a woman I don’t even like.
“Yeah, that’s true. Must be hard being such a successful rock star.”
“So tough,” I joked, leaning back against the black headboard. “What’s up with you? Isn’t it kind of late over there? Ever since you got with what’s-her-face, you’ve been going to bed like you’re an old man. I think Dad even stays up later than you.”
“Ha ha,” Eli grunted. “Olivia is her name, and no, we don’t go to bed earlier than Dad—not usually anyway.”
“That’s what being serious does to a man…sucks the fun right out of ’em.”
“You know, you’re damn near a cynic when it comes to relationships.”
“I don’t think that’s news, bud. I’ve always been a cynic. That’s what makes my songs hits. It’s not the feel-good ones that top the charts. It’s the ones that people can relate to when they’re going through bad shit. At least for me, anyway.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Eli said, letting out a sigh. “But I still want you to be happy, Jackson. I swear sometimes you get so caught up in the past—and what happened to our family—that you might miss out on the opportunity to fall in love…and not be so alone.”
“I’m not alone,” I retorted. “I have my band, crew, friends, whatever.” I was lying right through my teeth, considering I was feeling fucking lonely in the moment. “Tyson met a girl though,” I added, hoping to direct the line of sight to someone else.
“Oh yeah? That’s good for him…but he seems to do that a lot. I saw the tabloids on the new one though. Seems serious.”
“Yeah, and he’s only known her for like two weeks.” I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “He’s already announced her to the world. It’s insane. Fastest one yet.”
“I guess when you know, you know,” Eli chuckled, a hue of sincerity in his voice that was startling.
“Do you…” I hesitated, my stomach flipping for some reason. “Do you think Olivia is the one?”
“Oh yeah,” he said without an ounce of hesitation. “I’ve never been so sure of something in my entire life.”
“That’s intense, bro.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “Must be nice to just fuckin’ know like that though. I don’t even have that kind of confidence about what I’m gonna eat for dinner.”
Though I wish it was Lena’s—nope. Nope. Nope. Redirecting my thoughts.
“You’ll find the right person one of these days,” Eli said.
All the while I’m sitting there just trying not to let my brain wander back to Lena.
Maybe I just need to get her out of my system.
“Yeah, maybe. Anyway, are you planning on taking a trip out here any time soon? It’s been ages since I last saw you.”
