Page 112 of Broken Bridges

I was such a fool.

An idiot.

A complete FUCKING moron.

Just past nine o’clock, a group of college-aged guys ran onto the beach, ripped off their shirts, and played football near the water’s edge. Hot bodies. Nice tans. Toned arms to die for. Mmm. Not a bad view.

But they weren’t Tia.

Five minutes later, a bunch of girls rushed across the sand to join them. In their skimpy bikinis, sun hats, and sunglasses, I didn’t give them a second glance.

They weren’t Tia.

Fuck.

We’d had our fun. I’d fallen in love. But now it was time to move on.

I had no idea where I’d go. I had nowhere to live. My best option was to head back to New York. I’d crash with Hayden or Reg for a few weeks, then head to Europe like I’d planned as a backup all those months ago. Or maybe Hayden could give me some session work at Everhide’s record label until I found a new band to play with. I had options. They just weren’t what I wanted.

After walking the beach for hours, and having a coffee and lunch, I couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer.

I headed back to LA. To Flint’s. The guys should be there practicing.

I pulled into the driveway, but Slip’s and Cole’s cars weren’t there. I used my key and code and let myself inside. “Flint? Sutton?”

No answer. No one was there at four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon.

Shit! Were they at Cole’s, consoling Tia? Talking to Blake, working out a plan to let me go?

Fuck.

I headed into the music studio to pack my basses and my belongings. But as I sat on the floor, rolling up a cable, I glanced around the room. Jamming with the guys, working on songs for the album, and the ton of laughs and ups and downs we’d had rattled my brain. I’d tried to fill Phil’s shoes but had failed. Before I left, I wanted to hear this room hum with music one last time.

Taking to the digital piano, I tinkered with the keys. With each note I played, my chest grew heavier and heavier. I’d loved being part of this band. The guys had considered me as one of them from the moment we’d met. I’d learned so much. For that, I’d be forever grateful.

I’d leaped. I’d fallen. I was broken. Again.

Shit.

Why had I let someone mess with my head and heart? Easily. Because I fucking loved her.

I couldn’t remember meeting anyone else who made me laugh so much. She put everyone around her first. Even me. Seeing her face light up when she did something she loved, and being by her side when that rush of adrenaline and zest for life hit her soul, had become my daily addiction. I wanted those things to become everyday occurrences. I wanted to see her smile, live, follow her newfound passion.

Falling for her had been unexpected. Mind blowing. She made me feel like no one had before. Not even Emilio had ignited my soul like Tia did. Together, we were complete. Bound by some unexplainable force. But we hadn’t been strong enough to survive. Our fire had burned us to the ground.

As my hands flew over the keys, the tune morphed into a song. Words I’d wanted to say to Tia...should’ve said to her...pummeled my head.

You stole my breath the moment we met,

You owned my heart the moment we kissed.

Loving you was what I was meant to do,

I never wanted my past to hurt you.

Don’t walk away from me,

What we have is too rare.

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