Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (124 page)

Blue stands up. “You don’t miss him, Melonie? You can just push it away. Just like that? And we
are
your friends!”

Whirling on her, I scream out. “No, of course I miss him. I can’t breathe sometimes it hurts so bad and I miss him so much. But I don’t care! He doesn’t trust me!
Do you get that!?
I fell in love with him even though I told myself not to and he punched me in the gut and walked out on me, not once, not twice, but three times. Screw that!” Tears are running down my face as they all watch me. “Screw him!”

I see Bradi look over my shoulder with apprehension, toward the door and my blood runs cold.

Turning, I know what I’ll see…

Dade

H
ell. I’m in hell. We got a call two days ago to head to Dallas to check out Cowboys Stadium or AT&T Stadium, since everyone wants to sell their shit to whoever wants to pay for it now, for the upcoming arena tour. So, here we are. In Dallas where it’s rivaling the temperature of the fucking sun and I’m having to smile and take photos and act like I give a shit about any of this.

I don’t.

Thank God, we’re almost done and it was a day trip. We’re about to head home. The drive is about seven and half hours with a couple of stops. It’s about two in the afternoon and I’m starving and can’t wait to load into the damn car and sleep the whole way home. Sleeping means I don’t have to talk to anyone. That works for me…

The guys decide to stop in Orange, Texas for something to eat before we head on home. The tour starts in September and we’re finalizing the arenas now. Cowboy Stadium was just added and the label demanded we come out to see it and do a photo op for press so they could promote it. What the hell ever.

We’re finishing up our fast food since everyone is ready to get home and my cell goes off. I glance down and see it’s Clove.

Immediately I think something’s wrong, yet Liam’s phone is silent and she’s his wife. I swipe the screen and check the text.

“Clove:

Melonie is at my house. She’s staying the night with us. Girl’s night. Don’t be an idiot!”

My palms sweat and I read through the text again to make sure I understood it. Melonie,
my Melonie
is with my sister. At her house. All night. She’ll have to listen to me.

Rushing everyone, I take the keys and we break a lot of laws as I race back to Baton Rouge.

She’s talking to me tonight. I can’t go on like this.

I’m out of the car before it’s even parked and the guys are all screaming at me to chill the fuck out and think before I storm the house. I ignore them and mount the steps. The door is unlocked, so wrenching it open, I follow her voice down the hall.

Her tear soaked voice as she rages at Blue makes my heart stop. “No, of course I miss him. I can’t breathe sometimes it hurts so bad and I miss him so much. But I don’t care! He doesn’t trust me!
Do you get that!?
I fell in love with him even though I told myself not to and he punched me in the gut and walked out on me, not once, not twice, but three times. Screw that! Screw him!”

She loves me?! She just said she loves me.

Yeah, she also said “screw you”.

Not important, I can work with that.

Bradi sees me and her face drops. Her mouth hangs open and dread crosses her features as she looks toward Melonie. I know the instant Melonie realizes I’m here, because her back goes ramrod straight and she turns slowly. Her tear streaked face is looking right at me.

I implore her to let me talk.

The color drains from her face as she whirls away from me. Grabbing her purse, she tries to get past me. She’s wobbly on her feet. I reach out. I can’t stop myself. As my hand touches her arm, she wrenches it back from me and loses her balance. She falls, but I catch her before she hits the ground.

She struggles as I hold her tightly to me. Everyone is staring at us. The girls are all standing with open mouths and the guys are watching us as they hold their breath. Shaking her slightly, I grunt out, “Stop trying to get away. Stop.”

She glares at me and turns her head to make sure she captures everyone in her frigid gaze. “You set me up.” Then looking at me with rage, she mutters,
“Fucking. Let. Me. Go.”

Jesus. She’s furious. But she’s so beautiful. Don’t let her go. Don’t you dare let her go.

I don’t.

Standing up, I lift her with me. Setting her on her feet, but holding onto her shoulders, I whisper, “I’ve missed you, Mel.”

She closes her eyes and holds her stiff posture. “Let me go, Dade.” Her voice is flat and emotionless. It scares the shit out of me.

Yet, she just said she loves me.

Taking a risk and preparing to hurt, I lean down and kiss her. She struggles, but I hold her firmly while my mouth gently persuades her lips to open. She clamps them tight and screams with her mouth closed, yet I’m relentless. My lips brush over hers again and again until I feel her soften. Victory is not yet mine. Her mouth is still closed, but it’s not tight anymore. Running my tongue slowly along the seam of her mouth I stay diligent. Finally, she moans and opens for me. Her tongue meets mine and her head slants to allow us both better access.

Yes!

She goes limp in my arms. What the hell?

Leaning back, she stares at me flatly. “Don’t do this, Melonie.” I brush another kiss whisper soft against her mouth. Her eyes track my every movement with distrust. “Don’t throw me away. You love me. You just said you love me.”

She shoves me. I let her go. “So what? I love you. So fucking what?!”

Dropping my hands in utter defeat, I say as clearly as I can, “So, I love you, too.”

Her eyes go luminous, before I see the shutters fall over them. “So what? You love me. Ok. So what? You don’t
trust
me, Dade. I don’t care how much you love me. It’s not enough.”

If she walks away, this is really it. She can’t walk away. It is enough. I fucked up. I know that. But it’s enough.

“It is enough. I love you. You love me. I fucked up. I know that. Everyone knows that. I’m admitting it. In front of everyone. I fucked up. I was jealous and I fucked up. I assumed things I shouldn’t have instead of doing what I always do and finding out the facts.

I am sorry. I will apologize for the rest of my life if you want me to, but don’t push me away.

I love you.

I’ve only said that to one other woman, ever. She’s right there and she’s my baby sister.

I’m asking you not to do this, Melonie. We have something. It started as a fling, but it’s so much more now. It’s real. You infatuated me for a short time, but more than that, you made me open my eyes about everything. You made me take stock. You invaded my heart and now you’re in there. There’s no room for anyone else. Just you.

You can leave. You can really end this. But if you do that… if you do that, you end me, too.” I walk over to her and take her hand and place it on my chest, right over my pounding, terrified heart. “This… this is yours. All of my faults, all of my goodness, everything I am is yours… If you want it. If it’s not too late. Please accept it.”

I’ve said my piece. I laid it on the line. It’s up to her now.

She says nothing as she stares at me.

Sighing, she steps back from me and her hand drops. The room is quiet except for the country music blaring through the speakers. I refuse to look away from Melonie, though I can see everyone else staring at the two of us, too.

She turns and my entire world crashes. It’s too late. She’s really leaving. We’re done.

Bradi gasps and says, “Are you fucking serious?! Don’t be stupid, Melonie. He just poured his heart out to you and you
love
him. Don’t be an idiot.”

I hear the zipper on her purse open, but I can’t look up from the floor. I start as she stops right in front of me. She holds out her hand.
What?
I raise mine and she places something in my palm and closes my hand around it. Then… she steps back.

I open my hand… and grin. My eyes fly up to meet hers and she slowly smiles at me.

Blue screeches. “What is that? What the hell did she give you?”

Holding my hand out, palm up, I show them my treasure. It’s a clam shell we found on the beaches of St. John. It was the second day we were together on the island. Melonie was so excited because it was perfectly formed into the shape of a heart.

Lexi clutches her throat and Clove leans back into Liam’s arms as he hugs her.

A song comes on and they all start singing. Everyone takes a part. At just the right moment, I sing as I stare at her. Her face lights up.

As the song ends, everyone stops singing and we wait. Melonie laughs and launches herself at me. I catch her, but lose my balance and roll. She’s on top of me.

Bradi chuckles. “Always on top! Hold onto the power, sista!”

Looking around at my friends, I mutter, “Nosey bunch of people. This is private. Go away.”

Liam winks and calls out, “Make good choices,” as he leads Clove from the room.

Jessie and Blue exclaim at the same time, “This is how we roll.”

Everyone laughs.

I look up and Melonie is looking down at me, “You had to sing me Luke Bryan, didn’t you?!”

Grinning, I exclaim, “Whatever works.” And pull her down to my face as I kiss her.

She kisses me back.

When we’re done, we look around. We’re alone in the room and she pulls off of me and sits up.

I sit up too and tuck her hair behind her ear before kissing her softly. “I love you, Melonie Rayne Bird.”

She leans back and her green eyes sparkle with merriment. “I love you too, Dade Rodrigue. You’re not off the hook, but I love you.”

I groan, “I’ve been miserable without you. Don’t ever leave me again.”

She chuckles before looking at me sternly. “Don’t ever distrust me again. You have no reason to.”

Nodding, I agree. “I know that. I think I always knew that. It was more me than you. I’m so sorry.”

Leaning up, she kisses me again and then stands and offers me her hands. “Ok. But one more thing…”

I smirk. Taking her hands, I stand with her. I know what’s coming. “What’s that?”

“You have to sing me Luke Bryan.”

I throw my head back and laugh. Leaning down, I kiss her again, “Deal. Can we go home now? To my house. Where you’re going to live too?”

She smirks as she cups my face and then laughs. “I thought you’d never ask.” Leaning in, she presses her mouth to mine.

As we break the kiss, I take her hand and we join the rest of the gang before heading
home
…

Jason Derulo –
It Girl

Breaking Benjamin –
Breath

Scorpions –
Rock You Like A Hurricane

Zedd –
Stay The Night
 – featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore

12 Stones –
Lie To Me

Katy Perry –
Walking On Air

Linkin Park –
In The End

Radiohead –
High And Dry

Rascal Flatts –
Rewind

David Guetta –
Titanium (feat. Sia)

Maroon 5 –
Get Back In My Life

Nickelback –
S.E.X.

Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch –
Good Vibrations

Puddle Of Mudd –
Famous

Christopher Cross –
Sailing

Lenny Kravitz –
Again

Pam Tillis –
Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)

Warrant –
Cherry Pie

Daughtry –
High Above the Ground

Florida Georgia Line –
This Is How We Roll

Hunter Hayes –
Nothing Like Starting Over

Darius Rucker –
Radio

Heart –
What About Love?

Saving Abel –
18 Days

Luke Bryan –
Play It Again

Three Days Grace –
Never Too Late

Trapt –
These Walls

Sia –
Chandelier

Rihanna –
Stay

Eric Church –
Give Me Back My Hometown

Lady Antebellum –
Bartender

The Gillis Silo –
She’s My Hurricane