Love Struck (18 page)

“Let’s get a table. What’s taking the hostess so long?” Dad looks around impatiently.

“I’m actually not that hungry,” I say. Star squeezes my upper arm, encouraging me. I’m so nervous, my body quivers.

“What?” Mom’s eyes widen.

“I thought we were having breakfast,” Dad says, a sour look cloaking his face.

A couple pushes past us, a toddler in tow. “Um…no, actually I just stopped by to say something to you before you headed back home.” I pause, swallowing hard. “Ryker told me what happened last night, Dad.”

“Oh, did he now?” Dad wears a smug expression. “Well, he must not have told you everything if you’re still calling him
Ryker.”

“I know he was born with the name Ryan, Dad,” I speak through gritted teeth. Star still hangs on to me
, and I’m so appreciative. I feel like I might fall over at any second. “I know all about his dad too. But his name was legally changed to Ryker Collins, and that’s who he is. Ryker is the most loving, kind, loyal man I have ever known. He treats me so much better than any of my previous boyfriends, especially Nolan. But you don’t care about any of that, do you? All you care about is the fact that he’s a struggling musician.”

“You’re making a scene, Lola. Keep your voice down,” Dad hisses, glancing around.

“Yes, Lola, you’re being awfully dramatic,” Mom adds, clucking her tongue in disapproval.

I snort. “Oh, are you two worried that everyone will figure out what horrible parents you are?
Too late. I think most people know. You don’t care about me. You have no idea the stress you have put me under. Ryker is the best thing in my life. He and Star are the only people I can count on. So stay the hell away from both of them. And don’t ever threaten Ryker again. I’m going to be with him whether you like it or not. He’s good to me, and he makes me happy.”

Star nods
, pride evident in her eyes. It gives me strength to hold my head high, to continue on regardless of the consequences.

29

Ryker

I let out an audible sigh of relief when Lola texts to say that breakfast with her parents ended and she’s on her way over. I’ve been worried about her all morning. Now that I’ve met them I see just how formidable they can be. I should’ve insisted on going. I shouldn’t have taken no for an answer. Then again, I don’t want her to think that I don’t trust her or that I don’t believe she is capable of doing anything on her own. It’s important to me that she knows she has me in her corner, since clearly her parents don’t give her the support she needs. Although it does give me some relief to know that Star is with her. At least she’s not alone.

When she arrives, she wears a giant grin on her face, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are bright with excitement. Honestly, it’s not what I was expecting
, and it throws me a little.

“I did it,
Ryker. I did it,” she says in a rush of breathless words as she flies into my arms. “I totally stood up to them. You should’ve seen me.”

When I release her, she starts untying the belt on her thick black jacket. After peeling it off she discards it haphazardly on the couch. I’m amazed at the whole display. This is a new side of Lola. Definitely one I haven’t seen before.

“Hey, you two.” Pierce emerges from his room, still in his pajama pants and wrinkled t-shirt he wears to bed. His hair is messy and kinked.

“Hey, man,” I say with a subtle bob of my head.

“Hi, Pierce.” Lola is still smiling.

“So, what are you two all excited about?” Pierce asks, looking from Lola to me curiously.

I raise a brow at Lola, letting her choose if she wants to share in front of him. “I told Pierce about what happened,” I add, knowing it will play a part in her decision.

She nods, the smile remaining. “I just stood up to my parents for probably the first time ever!” Lola still hasn’t sat down
, and nervous energy is radiating from her. “They took me to breakfast this morning and I told my dad that I know what he did to you.” She points to me. “And he had this smug expression like he didn’t really think you told me everything. But then I was like, ‘I know all about his dad, and I don’t care. It doesn’t change who is now.’ Dad was totally shocked. He tried to tell me I was making a big mistake, but I just told him that I’m in love with you and that no matter what he says I’m going to be with you.”

“And?”
I ask. “How did they take it?” When I glance over at Pierce his eyebrows are raised, and I can tell he’s wondering as well.

“Well.” She bites her lip, and fidgets with the bottom of her shirt. “Not so great.”

“What happened?” I step closer.

“They sort of cut me off.”

“What?” I reel back.

“Oh, shit,” Pierce says. “You gave up their money for this guy?
Seriously?” He looks at Lola incredulously.

“Shut up, man.” I roll my eyes, and then look at Lola. “But really, you shouldn’t have done that, beautiful. I don’t want you to have to do that for me. You should call them and apologize. We can just see each other behind their backs. It’s not like they live here.”

Lola waves away my words. “No. I don’t want to live like this anymore, Ryker. My parents have controlled every aspect of my life for years. Do you know why I chose to move to Seattle, Ryker?”

I shake my head. Pierce bangs around in the kitchen. Clearly he’s bored with this conversation already. Not that I’m surprised. Pierce doesn’t even have a long attention span when it’s something that does interest him.

“It was because this was one of the few places my parents weren’t pushing me to go. I moved here to be rebellious. I chose a college they didn’t want me to go to and moved to a town I knew nothing about just to show them that I could make my own choice; one that didn’t include their input. I want to live my own life. I want to make my own decisions, whether good or bad.”

“So
, do you consider me a good or bad decision?”

“A bad one of course,” she jokes, a light laugh under her words.

“Hey.” I throw up my arms in exasperation. “You’re the bad influence here. You’re the one who turned me into an addict.”

Lola throws back her head in laughter. Her hair swishes around her face, and I realize that she really does look happy; lighter somehow. It’s funny
, actually. I mean, I always thought that Lola needed financial security to be happy. However, she just gave all that up and yet she appears to not have a care in the world. Hope stirs in my heart. Perhaps there is a real future for us.

Holding out her arms, Lola gives me a devilish look. Rolling one of her index fingers she motions me forward. “Well, come and get your fix then.”

I walk slowly toward her as if in a trance. When I reach her, she throws her arms around my neck, drawing me to her. I inhale her coconut scent, and savor the way her soft lips feel on mine.

“Dude, get a room,” Pierce calls out. His footsteps retreat down the hall a minute later.

Holding Lola tightly in my arms, I look down at her. “You don’t seem worried.”

“I’m not.” She grins. “My parents are just doing this because they think it will force me to go back to California.”

My stomach constricts. I hadn’t even thought about that.
Is it possible that she will have to leave Seattle now?

Lola touches my face. “But I’m not leaving, don’t worry.”

She knows me so well.

“When they see that they can’t manipulate me like that they’ll
come around,” she says assuredly. From the corner of my eye I see Pierce exit his room and race across the hall to the bathroom. A second later the shower turns on.

Her words alarm me a little. “And what if they don’t?”

Lola cocks her head to the side. “I’m not worried. In case you didn’t know this, I’m the manager of the hottest band in Seattle.”

I chuckle. “Ah, yes, I had heard that.”

“And I have the most supportive boyfriend in the world.” Lola leans into me, her hands caressing my chest through my shirt. “I’ll be fine.”

“I still can’t believe you got us a gig at the hottest club in LA. The guys are gonna freak.” I pull my car out of the parking lot of the pub Lola and I just ate in.

“I don’t know why you’re so surprised. You’re the one who hired me.” Lola holds her chin high, a teasing lilt in her voice.

“That’s true.” Reaching over, I place my hand on her thigh. My thumb rubs over the bare pale skin that peeks out from her skirt. “I knew you’d be great at it.”

“Thank you,
Ryker.” Lola glances over at me. Light from the streetlamps cast over her face. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“Of course.”

Lola rubs her stomach. “I haven’t gotten the urge in over a month. That’s all thanks to you.”

“Well, I think your therapy has something to do with it as well.”

“Yeah.”
She shrugs. “You’re right. But never underestimate how much you’ve helped me, Ryker. You’ve been a godsend.”

My face warms. Unsure of what to say, I just wordlessly squeeze her leg.

“Hey, pull over,” Lola calls out unexpectedly.

Obediently, I swerve the wheel and find an empty space along the curb to park my car.

“C’mon.” She opens the car door and steps out onto the curb. Cold air smacks me in the face as I step out to follow her. Her skirt billows around her bare legs, and her hair swirls her face reminding me of a shampoo commercial. She grabs my hand and starts walking swiftly down the street, her high heels clicking with each step.

“Where are we going?” I scour the street, trying to figure out why she stopped me here.

“You’ll see.” She winks and keeps walking, tugging on my arm.

When she stops, I glance up at the restaurant where we ate dinner with her parents. My stomach drops. “What are we doing here?”

“We’re going inside.” There is a mischievous look in her eyes.

“But we just ate dinner.”

“We’re not eating here,” she says, stupefied. Without waiting for me to answer, she grabs my hand and pulls me forward. When we enter the stuffy restaurant the hostess looks up at us, her eyebrows raised. She wears a fancy black dress, her hair pulled back in a severe bun. A few men in suits push past us. Memories of last time we were here surface, making it difficult to breath. I swallow hard.

Lola doesn’t say a word to the hostess, just keeps pushing her way inside.
What is going on?
The hostess gives us a puzzled look as we pass.

My heart stutters when I realize that Lola is walking straight to the table we dined at last time. We walk past a waiter ca
rrying a tray of food and a busboy with a water pitcher in his hand. The room is dimly lit and candles flicker around us like a million little ghosts haunting the place.

A family sits at the table. The Mom and Dad are sipping wine while the teenage children are stuffing their faces with bread and butter. Lola stands next to the table, grabs me until I’m facing her and then crushes her lips to mine. I’m stunned
, and at first my whole body stiffens. Then her tongue gently licks over my lips, forcing them open. It feels so good that for a minute I forget where I am, and I respond to her with vigor. My arms come up around her waist, skimming her middle.

“Hey, what is going on here?”  A male voice cuts in, and the moment is broken.

Lola giggles against my mouth, and we separate.

“That’s our cue,” she says
, still laughing. Grabbing my hand, she starts running for the door. Together we hurry out of the restaurant, both laughing. We don’t stop until we get to the car. Lola leans her back on the car, smothering her giggles with her hand.

Once I catch my breath, I lean over her. “What was that about?”

Lola forces her laughter down, her eyes still crinkling at the corners. Her hands fall to her sides. “I was just erasing our bad memory. Now when we pass that restaurant we won’t think about it being the place where we had a terrible dinner with my parents. We will remember it as the place we got kicked out of for making out in the middle of it.”

“But we’ll probably never be able to go back.”

“Did you want to?”

Point taken.
“No, I guess not.” I kiss her cheek. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“You wouldn’t be just trying to butter me up so you can have a fix, would you?”

“I thought I made it clear that I will never be satisfied with a fix, beautiful.” Our gazes collide. “I want you. Forever.”

Epilogue

Lola

Five years later

“Lola, you look beautiful,” Ryker says, coming up behind me.

I stare at my reflection, at my designer gown and simple jewelry. My hair spills over my shoulders in large black curls
, and my makeup is immaculate. “I can’t believe your band has been nominated for a music award.”

“It’s all thanks to our amazing manager.”

I scoff at his words, whirling around to face him. He’s wearing a fitted tux, his hair is slightly tousled, and I marvel at how he still has the ability to make my heart flip in my chest. “Oh, I think it’s more because of the sexy electric guitarist.” I drag a lacquered nail up his chest.

Ry
ker smiles. “Yes, because that’s what everyone talks about – the electric guitarist, not the lead singers who have been dubbed the hottest duo of our time.”

I laugh. It’s true that Beckett and Star have sure captured the hearts of
America. And really I’m not surprised. There is something magical about those two when they sing together. “I still stick by my statement. In my opinion you are the sexiest guy in the history of rock n’ roll.”

“Then again, I may be the only guy you know of in the history of rock n’ roll,”
Ryker teases.

“Hey, that’s not fair. I listen to more music now than I did when we met.”

“Just barely,” Ryker says with a grin. “But that’s okay. I love you anyway.”

“You better. I’m your wife. I’m not going anywhere.” I’m about to kiss him when the pitter patter of little feet arouse my attention. I spin around toward the doorway, just as
Rayna runs inside. Her short black hair curls softly around her chubby cheeks, and her large dark eyes are filled with innocence, despite the red lipstick that frames her lips. In her fat fist, she holds the offending tube of lipstick. It’s smearing all down the side of the tube and running down her hand.

“Hey, silly girl.”
I chuckle, amused. “Did you get into mommy’s lipstick again?”

Ryker
scoops her up. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re too young to be wearing your mommy’s lipstick.” A fit of giggles burst out of Rayna’s mouth.

“I’ll get some toilet paper or something to wipe it off.” I
cringe, glancing over at Ryker to make sure the lipstick hasn’t already stain his tux. Luckily it hasn’t.

“It’s okay. I got it.” Dana sweeps in, a wet rag in her hand.

Ryker hands Rayna over to his mom. While Dana wipes off all traces of lipstick from my daughter, Ryker turns to me. “I’m not okay with her wearing your lipstick. She’s only two.”

I give him a knowing smile. “I have a feeling you’re never going to be okay with
Rayna wearing lipstick.”

“Definitely not red lipstick.
I don’t want some guy to get the wrong idea about my little girl.”

“Oh
, really? What if the guy is like you?” I ask.

“Even worse.”
Ryker glances over at his daughter with so much love in his eyes it almost breaks me open.

I rest a hand on his shoulder. “You’re such a great dad, you know that?”

“Thanks,” he says softly. I know what he’s thinking about as he watches his mom care for her granddaughter. When we first decided to get pregnant he worried so much about continuing on with the cycle his dad started. Not that he worried about joining a gang and committing murder, but he worried about not being there for his children; of not being the father they deserve. I totally understood, because I had my own concerns. Like would I be distant the way my parents were? Would I put undue expectations on them? And worse yet, would the stress of being a mom bring up all my old problems?

But everything’s been just perfect, and I find myself worrying less and less with each passing day.

“Ready?” Ryker turns to me. “Beckett and Star are already there.”

I nod, rubbing my palms together. “I’m so excited. I’ve never been to an awards show before.”

“It won’t be our last, beautiful.” Ryker takes my hand.

As we walk out of the room, I stop to kiss
Rayna. Her thick hair sticks to my lips. “Good night, sweetie. Be good for Grandma.”

Rayna
throws her arms around my neck. She smells like coconut, and I drink in the familiar scent. “I will, mama.”

I give Dana a quick kiss too. “Thanks for watching her.”

“Of course. I love spending time with my granddaughter.” Dana juts out her hand and runs it over my stomach. “Just like I can’t wait to spend time with this little guy.”

As if on cue, my son kicks out at my belly. I jolt.

“He’s gonna come out playing drums, huh?” Ryker says.

I raise an eyebrow.
“Or maybe soccer.”

Ryker
touches my stomach gently, splaying his fingers over it. As if in response there is another kick. “I’ll be happy with whatever he chooses,” Ryker says, and I know this is true.

“Good night, my princess.”
Ryker kisses his daughter and she holds on like she’ll never let go.  She is definitely a daddy’s girl. My heart swells.

As
Ryker and I head down the stairs, I think about how my life turned out nothing like I’d planned. It turned out so much better.