Page 98 of Heart Break Her

“Soyou’retellingmeyou’re some kind of psychopath?” I say to Sebastian as we walk toward Eloise’s house hand in hand.

“It’s just a puzzle.” Sebastian shrugs.

I shake my head. “A picture of something that’s been cut into a bunch of tiny little pieces is a puzzle. That thing is designed to make a person go mad.”

When I woke up this morning and made my way into Sebastian’s living room, I discovered that puzzles are actually a thing for him, not just something he does to pass time on the tour bus. And, apparently, it’s not just normal puzzles he tackles. It’s ones meant to drive people insane.

Spread out on the coffee table was a puzzle made entirely of white pieces. Nothing on them to differentiate one from the next. Completely blank and looking nearly impossible to put together.

Sebastian spins me toward him and holds my face in his palm. “Good thing you’re here keeping me sane then.”

He dips down for a kiss, and I’m tempted to drag him back to his house. I’d rather be buried in his eight hundred thread count sheets than headed to a barbeque with the band. But approaching footsteps stop us.

“Well, that’s one way to arrive at a party.”

I turn to see Eloise standing there, looking Sebastian and I up and down. Quickly, I take a step back and try to gain some composure.

She smiles at me, then Sebastian, with a knowing look on her face.

Eloise Kane. My idol.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to being around her. I’ve looked up to her since Enemy Muse hit the scene—for her talent and her fearless support of women’s rights. She’s the embodiment of a strong, powerful woman who has no problem telling the media exactly what she thinks. It’s no wonder she’s able to survive in a band with these guys for all these years. I’m pretty sure she’s the toughest of them all.

And right now, Eloise is standing a mere few feet away from me in front of her ridiculously oversized house, almost looking like the girl next door in a badass package. Her hair is up in a ponytail, and she’s wearing large, round sunglasses. She has on a blue, fitted tank, showing off her flower tattoo that covers one shoulder and runs down her arm. The perfect balance between delicacy and edge.

Maybe she’s not the girl next door. More like the girl who makes the girl next door cry, while simultaneously making her totally envious of how awesome she is.

“Hey, sis,” Sebastian walks forward and pulls Eloise’s ponytail. She swats at him and then hurries to fix it.

In this setting, I almost forget they’re rock stars.

Almost.

Maybe if Sebastian wasn’t wearing so much studded leather.

The way they act around each other is far from the untouchable figures displayed in the media. They pick at each other like any other brother and sister.

“This way,” Eloise waves for us to follow her. “Good to see you, Cassie.”

I smile at her because that’s about as warm as Eloise gets. Five words of acknowledgement might as well be a compliment.

We make our way to Eloise’s backyard, where there’s a mass of people and three barbecues cooking a variety of meats. Noah and Adrian are cooking, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the band so at ease.

From what Sebastian’s told me, the whole band owns property outside of Denver, and this is where they come in their down time to relax and record albums. Adrian has a studio in his basement, so, while they do have to head to LA sometimes for specialized productions, most of their songs are recorded right here in Colorado.

It strikes me how down to earth it all feels. How peaceful they all seem in this setting, no matter how unexpected it is. Looking around, I notice something else missing from the band’s usual scene—groupies.

Most of the people here are faces I recognize. The band and crew members. Anyone I don’t know is attached to someone and appears to have been explicitly invited. Even Rome’s lap is empty, which I’ve come to learn is a rare occurrence.

“Boys,” Eloise says, leading us over to where Noah and Adrian are barbecuing while Rome is propped up on a picnic table, drinking a beer.

“No shit, you dragged him out of his man cave,” Rome says, hopping down to slap Sebastian on the back before pulling him in for a one-armed hug. Rome’s eyes skim me head to toe. “Hey, Cass.”

Sebastian shoves Rome hard, and he stumbles back, laughing while Sebastian seems unamused. Rome is flirty, but Sebastian has nothing to worry about because I wouldn’t see anyone besides him if I tried.

“What are you assholes up to?” Sebastian asks, leaning against a picnic table and holding me close to his side.

Eloise tips her glasses down and rolls her eyes. “Ask these jerks.” She leans back and takes a drink.

---