Page 162 of The Twisted Beats

Fuck!

She’s a girl who got under my skin. I’m sickened with myself. The blood drains from my limbs. Waves of nausea pulse through me.

Greg places his hand on my shoulder. “Stop beating yourself up, Jaxon. She’s a handful. Any man could fall into her web.”

“I would’ve put my life down, swearing she was twenty-five.”

“Just be smart while you’re out there dating and make sure you demand a woman show you her identification to prove she’s of age. Otherwise, you’re bound to run into another one just like Livianna.”

“Thanks for the advice, but why do you say that?”

“They seem to be everywhere these days.” He wipes his sweaty forehead with a pocket handkerchief. “I’ve even had to explain that to Brendan. He’s eighteen now and one of the most sexually active people I’ve ever met. If he’s not careful, he’s going to find himself in a terrible situation.”

I nod and let that sink in. If I didn’t know and met Livianna somewhere else, there’s no doubt I would’ve hit on her.

I shift to release my tense muscles. “Does Livianna try to date older men?”

“No, but she loves toying with them.” His shoulders fall in defeat. “She’s been seeing the same boy for about a year.”

“Then why does she need to mess with older guys?”

“It’s the male species in general. I think she does it as a power trip. She has no say in the situation with her boyfriend, so all other men are the target. It’s like she believes if she can control them, maybe she’ll gain whatever she’s missing with her boyfriend.”

“Why doesn’t she have a say in their relationship?” I lean forward with genuine interest.

“They’re both in the entertainment industry. He’s constantly working and so is she. They’re always told when and where to be. They get limited time together. And when they do, the tabloids love to prey on them.”

“That sounds pretty unfair given her age.” A new awareness of understanding sets in. “What’s your thought about him?”

“I love him as my own.” Greg sighs heavily. “He’s had a rough go at life. He tries hard to be a good kid. Specifically with being honest with me.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I believe he really loves Livianna, but they can never catch a break. One of them is frequently in the news with a scandal. Most of which aren’t even true, but that doesn’t mean the damage isn’t done. I worry for the two of them and their future.”

“They’re young. It probably won’t work out.”

He huffs a laugh. “I wouldn’t be too sure.”

“Why?”

“Because he just gave her a promise ring for her sixteenthbirthday. They may be young, but he’s determined to marry her. And it only intensified when he found out Lorna and I started dating when we were their age.”

“Well, then. You can only hope their future together is as bright as yours and Lorna’s has been.”

“If it were only that easy.”

Jaxon

Seven Years Later

NOW

Glass Hearts & Jetstream Vows

Love doesn’t wait at the gate. It hunts you through the storm, dragging your name like a curse etched in bone.

Andrew eyes my bag as I enter the lobby. “So you’re leaving me to sort out this mess?”