Page 58 of The Twisted Beats

Bren winces. “Shit, I’m high as a kite right now and forgot you two are an item. Sorry, Liv. I just thought Cash would want to know what he passed on.”

A picture of some girl Bren’s been screwing all day and Callum flirting with her invades my mind. My insides set ablaze and I drop the dish down on the counter.

“Fuck you, Bren.” I spin toward Callum. “And fuck you, too.”

I storm out of the kitchen. I overhear Callum telling Bren to use his brains. Bren tries to defend himself, but I’m halfway up the back stairs that lead to my room and can’t make out what he’s saying.

I can’t win. If I’m not around, girls will throw themselves at Callum. He’ll always want them. He’s a guy. Of course he’s going to check her out, but I don’t want to admit that to myself.

Tears form in my eyes. I’m about to cry and that’s the lastthing I want to do. I jump in the shower and let the water wash them away.

This sucks. I’m falling in love with a gorgeous rockstar. Situations like that will happen all the time. Wherever he goes, he’ll be faced with temptation. I’ve got to find a way to prevent him from cheating on me.

Once my tears have dried up, I slip into a Linkin Park T-shirt I sleep in and prepare to moisturize my face. I sit at a vanity table in my cream-and-rose-gold-colored decorated en suite with an ache in my heart, and I hate it.

I decide to pluck my eyebrows before I go to bed to distract myself. It’s a sting I can choose, control in a life that’s never been mine.

Callum enters my bathroom with a plate full of food and a glass of water. “I thought you might wanna eat your dinner in your room while we talk. That way Guns won’t be a dick and say shit that means nothing.”

I peek at Callum through the reflection of the mirror. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry anymore.”

He places my food down on the granite counter and watches me as I rip hair from my brows.

A strange look floats across his face. “Doesn’t that hurt?”

“Plucking my eyebrows?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes.” I pull another one out and wince.

“Then why are you doing it?” He leans his butt against the sink, resting on his palms. “Why not just get them waxed and over with in one quick shot?”

“It’s a better kind of pain than the kind I have in my chest, so why not?”

“Lily, don’t listen to Guns.”

“You were thinking about being with that girl before you handed her over to him, so how can I ignore what he said?”

“I wasn’t considering being with her.” Callum strides overto me, turns my chair, and kneels before me. “Did I take a peek at her when she walked away? Yes. That’s it.”

I gaze into his sexy blue eyes. “Promise?”

“Yes. I only want you.” He takes my hands in his. “If you want this to work out between us, then you need to trust me.”

My stomach knots. “But you’re going to be out on the road. How will I know you won’t hook up with some groupie?”

“Because I’m giving you my word. You’re my girlfriend now. Soon enough, the world will know it.” He sends me a warm grin.

I lean down and give him a quick kiss. “You know what that means.”

“What?”

“You’re taking me out on a date. In public.”

“I’m already ahead of you.” His eyes shine my way. “I was gonna ask you if you’re free Friday night.”

A huge smile spreads across my face. “I am.”