AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Except he had the woman I wanted.
What the fuck does she see in him?
“So, on average—and I’m asking a genuine question here, okay? Don’t bullshit me—how many groupies have you boinked?”
Then, there was Lennon’s brother, Connor, who was a world-class awesome guy with zero filters to speak of. He reminded me of my friends, and I had known from the second I met him that we could be buddies.
“So classy, Connor. As always,” Tarryn muttered dryly, making a show of her eye roll.
I snorted at the question and scrubbed a hand over my mouth. “Christ, man, I really don’t think—”
“No, no, come on. Humor me,” he said, slinging his arm around my shoulders. “I’ve never talked to a real rock star before, okay? I’ve always wondered how much action you guys really get.”
He hadn’t intended for it to be one, but it was a loaded question. Across from me, Lennon watched intently. Her jaw clenched and tight, her eyes narrowed and fiery. Tarryn sat beside her, keeping her eyes not on me, but on Connor.
She had it bad for the guy. She made no secret of that with the mask of makeup she wore and the quick-witted quips she threw his way anytime the dude spoke. I wondered how long she’d had the hots for him and if Lennon had any clue her bestie was into her big bro.
Then, there was Peter, the douchebag, pulling out his phone for the millionth time to check whatever it was that couldn’t wait.
“Oh, Connor,” Mrs. Jacobs scolded with heavy distaste from the end of the table. “We don’t need to know that. It’s none of our business.”
“I mean,” Steven, the husband of Lennon’s friend Cassie, said, “I gotta be honest; I’m kinda curious too.”
Groaning, I scratched at the back of my head. If I gave a truthful answer, Lennon was going to be upset. She wouldn’t admit she was; she’d play it off like it didn’t matter, for the sake of her relationship. But deep down, it would eat away at her until she felt sick. I wouldn’t do that to her, especially not on her birthday. But being on the spot like this, I felt I had to give them something.
“It happened more often when I was younger,” I replied, which was entirely the truth. “Chicks threw themselves at us left and right when we were new on the scene, but not so much anymore. Hell, in the past few years, I’ve basically become a monk.”
Connor laughed like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Oh, stop it, man. For real. You probably get a new chick every night.”
“Is thisreallysomething we need to talk about at the dinner table?” Mrs. Jacobs groaned. “It's Lennon's birthday, for Pete’s sake.”
“Seriously,” Lennon agreed, her steely gaze pointed directly at me.
Her chest lifted and dropped heavily with every breath, her cheeks flushed in the dim light. White knuckles gripped the fork in her hand, still beside the plate of half-eaten chicken Française. She was clearly upset despite my effort to avoid it happening, and for maybe the first time in my life, I felt guilty for even hinting at the conquests of my past.
Clearing my throat, I dropped my gaze from hers and turned to Connor. “Really, man,” I said, my voice low and gruff. “I don't do that shit anymore.”
It wasn’t a lie. Since meeting Lennon, I had been with her and only her, and she was the first in years. After having the experience with her, I knew with confidence that anything else would more than likely pale in comparison to our passion and spiritual connection.
If I was ever going to jump in bed with another woman, I hoped she at least came close to sparking the level of intuition I felt with Lennon.
Which was too bad. Because when I thought about it, I wasn't all that confident in such a woman existing.
I glanced at her to check if her hand had loosened its grip from her fork. It had, and with her eyes momentarily closed, she released a weighted breath through open lips. It was the look of relief, and wasn't that interesting?
Why should I be completely fine with her sleeping with this asshole, who was still staring at his phone, but she couldn't handle if I'd been with anyone else?
Because she wants a normal life and he can give that to her.
But that doesn't mean she's given up the dream of being with you.
***
“It's been awesome, hanging out with you, man,” Connor said, clapping his palm against mine before pulling me in for a one-armed hug.
Our little group was standing outside, beneath branches draped in light and a crescent moon, hiding behind a cloud as big as the one encasing my aching heart as Peter pressed his lips to Lennon’s temple. This feeling was bullshit—the one I got when I saw him show any semblance of affection toward her. I wished it would go away. I wished wishing were enough, but it wasn't. It lingered, settling deeper and deeper into my chest until it sat against my lungs and made it hard to catch my breath.
“Yeah, right back at ya,” I said, keeping my eyes on Lennon's hand, holding tight to Peter's. “Next time I'm in Connecticut, I'll hit you up.”
