Page 107 of Broken Bridges

“Do you want to get back together?”

“No.” I softened my voice. “Absolutely not.”

“Are you still in love with him?”

The sadness in her tone tore at the scars on my heart. God, I wasn’t Rhett. “I’m not. I swear I’m not.”

“This is how it started with Rhett and Michaela. First, the texts. Then, the calls. Followed by the we’re-just-friends bullshit.” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “I can’t go through that again.”

Um...she was the one who’d wanted me to call him. And I was glad I had. It was over.

I slid my hand up her bare thigh then snaked my hand around her naked waist. It was too early for this kind of conversation. I did my best to focus. “You have nothing to worry about. We’re not getting back together. Not ever.” I brushed my lips against hers, but she didn’t return the gesture. Shit. “But babe, right now, I have to go. I’ll come back once Cole leaves. Promise.” I yanked off the sheet. Where the hell are my clothes? Searching the covers, I found Tia’s T-shirt and panties and tossed them to her.

“Thanks,” she grumbled, kicking back the sheets and straightening her sore leg. Her strapped ankle had swollen to the size of a baseball. A bluish-black tinge radiated outward from the bandaging. It needed more ice.

“How’s the foot?” I asked.

“Painful.” She ripped on her clothes and flicked her long hair out of the collar. The setback of possible surgery and a long recovery had played on her mind last night. But like always, she’d shoved it aside with some crazy talk and sexy seduction rather than discussing the pros and cons. But I’d given in. Damn. I had it bad for her.

As I searched the covers again for my boxer shorts, my blood pressure spiked. I swore I’d left my pajamas by my feet. I looked under the pillows, over the edge of the bed, and through the sheets once more. Fuck. I’d grab her towel and head back to my room.

But just as I was about to jump out of bed, Tia caught my arm. Trouble etched her brow. My chest ached. I didn’t want her to worry about my ex. Or surgery. What could I do to put her mind at ease?

Nothing right then.

I had to get my ass out of there.

“Lewis? Do you miss being with men?” Her pained voice was barely audible.

My head ached. This was not the conversation we should’ve been having at five o’clock in the morning. But the text from my ex had obviously rattled her.

I rolled toward her. Hooking my finger beneath her chin, I turned her face toward me. Damn, she was beautiful. “No. I haven’t missed being with men. Needing time to process us was about accepting change and committing to someone new. Was I ready to let someone in? Are you my last first kiss, my last first time, my future? I want to find out.” I brushed my thumb across her smooth jawline. “I get blown away every time we’re in the same room together. You make me laugh. The sex we have is phenomenal. I’m into you. Falling for you. I want to see where this goes. I’ve been waiting for and wanting you to feel the same way.”

She half-turned away from me and stared out of the window.

My heart cinched, and my skin prickled all over. “Tee? What’s going on? We’re good, aren’t we?” What had I missed? I scooped her hair back over her shoulder, letting it cascade in waves down her back. “Talk to me.”

“I should’ve seen this coming. I’m stuck on repeat. I may be out of action for months if I have surgery. The band is taking off, taking all your time. Your ex is texting. My future career path has changed.”

I kissed the tip of her shoulder. “Hey? I’m not going anywhere.”

Tears welled on the rims of her eyes. “You can’t be certain about that. What if Cole and the guys hate us being together and kick you out?”

My stomach clenched. The scars on my heart ached. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone has rejected me for who I am or who I want to be with. I’d get another job. I’d find another band to play with. I’ve done that before—I can do it again.” But God, I didn’t want to. My love of music had been restored. I’ve found a great band. I’d found her.

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to do that. You love playing with the guys. You’re so good. The perfect fit. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”

“You’re not. I came to LA for them. You’re an unexpected bonus.”

“Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan. We fought our feelings for so long, gave in to them, took a chance and explored them.”

We certainly have. A saucy smile slid across my lips as I ran my hooked finger down her sexy arm. “Hmmm, think of all the exploring we could do if we stopped sneaking around, and you ditched school and worked with us instead.”

She winced, hugging the sheet to her chest. “I don’t want to work for you guys.”

“I want to change your mind.” I edged closer, kissing my way toward the small of her neck. But I got no playful flinch or smile, only a cold shoulder.

“You won’t.” She swiveled toward me. “I‘ve found what I want to do with my life and something that makes me happy. I have you to thank for that. But I can’t work with the band. Not ever.”

---