Fallen Angel (22 page)

***

D
erek takes a seat beside me on the couch. “I owe you an apology.”

“No, you don’t.” I don’t need one. Never did.

“I gotta get this out, man. I was wrong. About you. Her. Everything.” He’s staring at his hands in his lap like he’s got notes written on them or something. “It’s just...after all the shit that went down with Sammy, I don’t think I was able to see the good in anyone for a minute there.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Yeah, dude. I kinda picked up on that. It’s okay. Really. I knew it wasn’t about me.”

But he’s still not ready to let this shit go. “That’s the thing though. I didn’t. Wasn’t until I saw the look on your face when we drove up here earlier and the place was crawling with cops...you were fucking terrified and that’s when I got it. That moment. And I’m such a fucking dick, Angel. Because I was here the whole fucking time. I saw you. Saw how happy she was making you. And I pretended not to. Because I was so Goddamned miserable with myself. And it was wrong.”

“Stop. You’re not telling me shit I don’t already know. You were here. You saw. Well, so did I. I’ve been watching the hell you’ve been going through for months. It’s all good. You and me, we’re all good.”

He nods, but I can tell he’s still beating himself up over it. That’s Derek though. He holds himself to impossible fucking standards. Yet another reason I’ll never understand how Sammy could do him the way she did.

“So, looks like we’re going to need a bigger tour bus,” Blaise says as he comes to sit in the recliner.

“More like two tour busses.” Royce drops down on the love seat, sprawling out since he’s probably picturing the cramped quarters we’re going to be living in come the next tour.

“Well, wait. How’s that gonna work? If Francis and Addison are technically team Nina, does that mean they won’t be bunking with us?” I won’t put up a fight if Francis has to sleep on a separate bus, but I’m gonna want to have full access to Addison. That’s part of the deal when you’re on tour. You’re always on top of each other. And now that there’s finally going to be someone around I want to be on top of all the time, I’m not about to have her traveling on a separate bus.

Blaise is laughing at me from across the coffee table. “Relax, dude. She’s going to be up your ass twenty-four/seven no matter where her designated bunk is.”

She better be. Because I’m going to love every fucking second of it.

“I guess that’s it then.” Royce glances around the table at all of us. “We’re all officially out of the game.” He chuckles. “Damn, there’s going to be some unhappy women lining up for nothing but rejection and disappointment next go around.”

“Maybe not,” Derek says quietly. “My divorce finalized last week. So, I’m back in.” He smiles half-heartedly. “Guess it’s my turn to take one for the team and sleep with all the groupies.”

Only I don’t really think it will come to that. And one look at the other two tells me they agree. If assholes like us can get lucky enough to find what we’ve found, there’s no way in hell Derek won’t find it too.

The conversation lulls and I can hear Addison laughing in the in kitchen. I love that sound. I remember hearing it that day at Royce’s wedding. Right before I tripped over my own two fucking feet...and fell. 

––––––––

The End.

Did you love
Fallen Angel
? Then you should read
Lost Avalon
by K.S. Thomas!

Fame, fortune and a future paved with rock 'n roll gold - Blaise Nolan has it all. With his brooding good looks, haunting voice and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost, it's no wonder his band Finding Nolan has been climbing the music charts with back to back hits. Only Blaise didn't wind up brooding, haunted and lost by accident...

Avalon Jennison has been the girl next door since she was five. The best friend since she was eight. The band manager since she was sixteen, and the keeper of his secrets always. Ava's been there every step of the way, helping Blaise live his dreams and keep his nightmares at bay. But the years of putting Blaise's needs above her own are about to be over.

However, Blaise has one secret even Ava doesn't know..and it could be the thing that breaks her heart completely, or finally puts it back together.

**CONTENT WARNING ~ ADULT LANGUAGE**

Read more at
K.S. Thomas’s site
.