Page 100 of Cherry Beats

I gripped Dex’s wrist automatically, asking him to stop. He did, leaving the engine running while I stared at the madness ahead, illuminated by the streetlights above each and every one of them. Dad was sitting on the small bricked wall outside their home, his hands gripping a can of lager, like always, and his eyes narrowed at Mum. He looked miserable while she looked happier than I’d ever seen her in my entire life.

Both their joy and misery were because of me.

Whoever I tried to please, I’d disappoint the other.

They’d never agree to help me now. I was on my own with only Molly and Bourbon in my corner.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said to Dex quietly, blinking back the unshed tears, determined not to let a single one slip free. “Turn around, Dex.”

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t look away from me, and he didn’t move the steering wheel.

As if noticing the gleaming pair of headlights that were paused on her street, Mum slowed down her dance, brushed some stray strands of hair away from her face, and she turned to face the out of place Range Rover. A slow, insidious smile spread across her face, and even though I knew she couldn’t see me, it felt like she knew who was sitting in this car.

“Please, Dex. Turn around. I want to go home.”

“Home?” he whispered.

I looked at him. “To Presley.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Icouldn’t change my family.

Icouldchange the way I reacted to them.

I could also take charge of my own happiness for the first time in my life.

I text Molly to let her know of Freddie’s antics, only to receive a GIF response of a cartoon cat flashing its claws. Such a simple reply. Such a powerful statement from a woman I couldn’t ever imagine living without.

Presley was standing in the main suite with the other members of the band around him when we returned. There were no partiers there that night. No rock chicks hanging on their arms or wannabe porn stars trying to get close. It was just the guys, but something about the atmosphere when I walked into the suite made my spine tense.

They’d been drinking. At least, I assumed that’s what they’d been doing until I looked at Rhett who shifted in his seat on the sofa, running his hand under his nose before he crossed his legs and looked out of the window across London. The other men didn’t glance my way. Presley was standing there wearing nothing more than jeans that hung perfectly off his hips, and a black vest that hung low under his armpits and showed off way more skin than it covered.

“Hi,” I said with a soft smile the moment he turned my way.

Presley’s eyes narrowed like he could sense something bad had happened, but he didn’t focus on me for long before he was glancing behind me and staring at Uncle Dex. With a raise of his brow, he questioned him. Dex simply placed my bags down by my feet, groaning as he straightened up.

“I think she’s got enough here to see her through for a few weeks,” Dex told Presley.

“Everything go okay?” Presley asked, his footing off when he turned to face us fully.

“Sure.” I was too high pitched, and it immediately made it sound like a lie.

“When do you need me again, kid? I’ve got a few things going on over the next couple of days.” Dex stood taller, pushing his thumbs into the belt on his jeans as he looked up at his nephew.

“You got a woman on the scene, Uncle Dex?”

“You think you’re the only lothario around here? Where do you think you got your charm from? It sure as shit wasn’t your old man,” Dex said through a warm smile.

Presley’s face fell for just a moment before he ran the back of his hand over his forehead and laughed. “Guess not.”

“So, do you need me?”

“Nope. We’re good. Go, get yourself laid.” Presley winked, moving closer to me before he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and tugged me against his warm body.

“Mind your manners,” Uncle Dex hit back. “You have fun, Tess. Don’t let his ego ruin you.”

Too late for that,I thought, although Presley’s ego hadn’t been the thing to ruin me at all. As far as I could see, Presley didn’t even have one. It was everything else about him that had destroyed me for anyone else. The memories, the connection, his body, those kisses… them piercing blue eyes and the way he looked at me like I was the greatest thing he could hold in his hands besides a pair of drumsticks.

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