Page 107 of Starstruck
Fuck.
“I’m so sorry, Lennon,” is all I’m able to get out, my voice cracking. It’s not enough, but at least it’s honest.
“Yeah,” she whispers, defeated. “Me, too.” She turns to the couch, collecting her bag. She doesn’t bother to touch the guitar I bought for her, instead leaving it in the open case on the floor next to mine. “I guess I was right when I said you were going to break my heart,” she spits as she turns around to look at me, andmy heart cracks.
She has every right to be furious with me. But what she doesn’t know is my heart is breaking just as much. Because when I told her I would never let anything hurt her again, I should’ve included myself in that. I’ve fucked up more times in my life than I can count, but this moment right here is the worst.
Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she says, “We’re through, Baxter. Whatever this was”—she motions between us, tears streaming down her face—“it’s done. It was always going to end, anyway. I just didn’t expect it to end like this.”
“Lennon, please—” I start, but when she looks at me again, her expression causes me to falter. I’ve been an unwilling participant in more fist-fights than I can count, and I have the scars covering my knuckles to prove it. Yet here I stand, in front of the woman who came out of nowhere and stole my goddamn heart, and Iwantto fight for her. I just can’t find the words to do it.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Bye, Baxter,” Lennon tells me as she moves toward the door. “Have a nice life.”
I flinch when the door slams shut behind her, my fists balled as I fight chasing after her. But I know it wouldn’t do any good. I just made the biggest mistake of my life, and there’s nothing I can do to fix it.
So I do nothing but stand there, frozen in time as I watch her leave, taking both my heart and my soul with her.
[48 ]
SCREAM FOR YOU
BAXTER
One Week Until the Concert
“SAVIN’ ME” BY NICKELBACK
“You fucked up,” Colt rasps. “Big time.”
I swig back my sixth shot as the words fall from his lips. My two best friends flank either side of me with drinks of their own, keeping me company while I drown my sorrows.
I lift my head and glare at him, my jaw clenched. “Watch your fucking mouth.”
He shakes his head. “No. You need to hear this. You knew nothing good would come from keeping Logan a secret. You knew she was bound to find out eventually. We’ve been telling you this for months. You should’ve told her when this all began. I’m not sure what you expected.”
“Dude,” Levi warns from over my shoulder. I can’t see him, but I’m sure he’s shaking his head.
I stand from my stool, getting in Colt’s face. He stands, too, refusing to cower from me. We may be best friends, but Colt has never been one to take shit from anyone. I’m only about an inch taller than him, so we’re pretty even for height, butas much as I hate to admit it, he’s bigger than me. Chances are, he’d kick my ass.
Except right now, I don’t really give a fuck.
“Watch. Your. Fucking. Mouth,” I grit out, our noses almost touching.
“Stop being a pussy and fix your damn mistake. Apologize until she forgives you. Tell her the truth. Fuckingfight for her.”
My jaw works as I ball my fists, his eyes catching the movement.
“You gonna hit me?” Colt sneers. “Fucking do it. You know I’m not saying anything that isn’t true. You just don’t want to hear it.”
I swallow roughly, brows furrowed as I ponder his words. I know he’s right, and that’s exactly what pisses me off.
As much as I want to, punching Colt wouldn’t do me any good. Everything he’s sayingistrue, and hitting him for being the only person willing to tell me what I’ve needed to hear would be a dick move. I’d be reverting back to the old Baxter.
The Baxter I wasbeforeLennon.
So I relent, turning back to the bar. “Whatever,” I scoff as I retake my seat. The bartender brought over another round of shots for us while we were having a pissing match, so I pick one up and swig it back, the burn of the liquor fuelling the fire inside of me.
