Page 69 of Sexy Dirty Fun

“Hey, you,” he said before leaning in to kiss me.

“Hey,” I replied after the kiss. We went inside and sat on the couch.

“What’s up, Lindsey?” He asked. “Have you thought more about us living together?”

I nodded slowly. God, this was so hard.

“I did.” I looked down at my hands folded in my lap. “Zach,” I started, looking up at him. “You’re great and care a lot about you.”

The smile disappeared from his face. “I had a feeling this was coming,” he mumbled.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Lindsey, the fact that you weren’t jumping to move in with me was a clue that you weren’t as into this relationship as I was.” He stood up and ran his hands through his damp hair. “Are you moving back to LA?” He asked.

“Probably,” I admitted.

“That’s why I was so nervous about you going to LA and why I wanted to go with you. I was worried you would miss that life and I wouldn’t be enough for you here. Rebecca pointed out Cane to me when you were off talking to someone and I could see him watching you all night. Did you talk to him?”

I silently cursed Rebecca. Why didn’t she tell me Zach saw Cane? “I did,” I said softly. “He found me by the bathrooms.”

Silence filled the tiny apartment. I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t think Zach wanted me to touch him right now.

“What did he say?” He asked quietly. “He still loves you, doesn’t he?”

“It doesn’t matter, Zach,” I replied. I didn’t want to hurt him any more than he already was.

“Does he?” He asked louder.

“He does.” I stood up and went over to him. “But I’m not going back to LA to be with him. We have a lot of pain and history between us.”

“I would never hurt you, Lindsey,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“I know,” I replied, my eyes filling with tears. “That’s why this is so hard. You’re perfect Zach, but you deserve someone that is dying to live with you.”

“I don’t suppose I could change your mind, could I?” He asked, a small smile on his face.

He bit his lip and nodded. “Good luck to you, Lindsey.”

So this was it. “Thanks,” I said and rushed out of the apartment. I almost ran to my car, holding my emotions in check until I got out of the parking lot.

I had to pull over to the side of the road when the sobs started to rack my body. I hated hurting Zach and the look on his face when I left killed me. When I finally calmed down, I took out my phone and called Rebecca.

“Hello,” she answered the phone.

“Hey girl, can I crash with you for a while. I’m coming back to LA.”

33

CANE

Iknocked on the door at Diesel and Tracy’s house. We were about to head to the release party for the first album our little record label released. I was nervous and excited. I had agreed to go to Diesel’s and we would take a care from there. I was wearing my signature black jeans but this time with a white button-down dress shirt and a suite coat over the top.

I didn’t have a date. After seeing Lindsey at the Rolling Stone party, I started dating vigorously. I let Tracy set me up with all of her single friends and even met a few girls on my own. No one made it past the first date. As much as I tried not to, I compared every woman to Lindsey and no one measured up. I was starting to think I was doomed to a life alone.

Diesel opened the door with a smile on his face. He was wearing black leather pants and a suit coat. His hair was slicked back into a ponytail. “Hey man,” he reached out and shook my hand. “Ready for tonight?”

I walked inside. “Yes. Although I think I’m more nervous about how this album is received than I ever was about one of ours. Or even going on stage.”