STONED (Wrecked Book 1) (19 page)

“Joaquin. Good to see you again. It’s been a couple years.”

“Lawson! I didn’t recognize you. You let your hair grow. Good to see you,” Joaquin says, taking Law’s hand and simultaneously tucking Willow into his side.

My gaze fixed on her, I watch as she shifts, fidgeting and unwilling to meet my eyes. How the fuck did this happen? This is on me. But seriously, Joaquin Danjou? The fuck? Fine. He isn’t a bad guy. I actually like him, respect him as an artist. That shit ends now though.

Unable to keep it in any longer I bite out, “This guy? Really, Wills? You run nearly two thousand fucking miles away and end up with someone I fucking know?” I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest.

Shattering. My world is fucking spiraling out of control. The tenuous hold I have shattering into a million pieces and I just want to lash out. She’s not to blame. I know it. But I don’t care. I want to hurt them both. Him physically.

Willow pins me with a narrow eyed glare. “I didn’t run, Stone. I left. I—”

“Leave it,
chèrie
. You owe him nothing. Let’s go and get Lyric,” Joaquin coaxes, trying to lead her away. And that’s when I lose my fucking mind. For the first time I’m numb with emotion instead of some kind of drug. Here he stands, hands on my Wills, talking about my baby and telling her she owes me nothing. Fuck him. She promised me everything. Everything. Long before this French motherfucker came into the picture.

I can feel the pain of this fucked up situation breaking through the numb and turning into something ugly. Fuck if I can stop it though. With a sneer curling my lip I take my eyes off Willow and glare at the asshole next to her. “You have a pierced cock, Joaquin?”

He sputters and then on a quiet laugh says, “Umm, no. No, I don't.” I smile over at Wills as she shoots daggers at me.

“That's a real shame; Willow loves a pierced cock. One of her most favorite things in the world, I believe she said.” Tilting my head at her as if in thought, my smile widens. “I bet you really miss it, huh, Birdie?” I can feel the bile rising at the back of my throat at the thought of him touching her. At the thought of my words hurting her. They are. It’s written all over her face. All that hurt mixed in with hate and disappointment. This isn’t the reunion I envisioned.

“Okay, man. That’s enough,” Law says with an arm across my chest, pulling me back a bit. Judge and Arrow standing from their seats to flank me. Most likely ready to beat my ass.

“Go home, Stone. For once, think of someone other than yourself and just go home,” Willow says to me coldly. Calmly.

Taking Joaquin’s arm she turns and walks away, his hand on the small of her back, his lips pressed to her hair. The pieces of my shattered fucking heart falling like a ton of bricks around me.

“Fuck. What the motherfuck just happened? Fuck,” I curse through gritted teeth.

Law drops his arm and reaches into his pocket for his wallet dropping about two hundred dollars more than we owe on the table.

“Let’s get the hell out of here. I’m not sure what the fuck that shit was, Stone, but it’s time to call it a night. We’re drawing a crowd,” Judge says, ushering me forward.

I take a second to look around me and he’s right. People are watching curiously. I’m sure this shit will be all over the internet in about a minute flat. Just what the fuck I need. I’ll be able to watch my epic meltdown on YouTube. Been in Canada for less than seventy-two hours and already I’ve overstayed my welcome. Too bad I couldn’t give a fuck less. I’m not leaving here without Wills. If this is where she wants to fight this out, then this is where I’ll be. The gloves are off when your girl is playing house with another man.

The minute we walk past a wicked pissed off Bear and step foot outside, I turn to Judge, “I want to buy a house here.” They all stop and look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Tomorrow.”

They can look at me crazy all they fucking want. I need her, to be me. Gotta find my rhythm and right now that rhythm is singing “O Canada.”

Willow

“DAMN IT! DAMN HIM! JD
, I am so sorry. He’s such an ass when he’s angry,” I apologize as I unlock my Jeep. I used to love that bad boy side of him, the one that said whatever, wherever without apologies. I want to scream I’m so frustrated. I should have left the moment I walked off the stage, but it was so good to see the boys, and I let myself get swept away in the familiarity of being with them.

“When did he show up, Willow? Has he been here the whole time I’ve been away?” he asks a little tightly. He has every right to ask and be irritated with the situation, but I’m not sure I like what he’s implying.

“No. He was at the school the other day after class. We spoke briefly. I told him that I wanted nothing to do with him and that was it. I left, and I thought he had too. I should’ve known better though.”

“How long has it been since you’ve spoken to him?”

“A year and a half. I left and came here and used my aunt’s last name for work so that I could stay off the radar and away from the paps,” I huff, “Lot of good that did since he found me anyway.”

“Were you hiding from him? Did he hurt you?” Joaquin asks, anger inching into his tone.

“I wasn’t hiding from him necessarily. I was just running from my life and the people in it. If I didn’t . . .” I trail off not sure how honest he wants me to be right now.

“If you didn’t you would have gone back to him,” he says quietly.

Looking away from him I nod. I’m sure that’s not the answer he wants to hear and I don’t want to see his reaction to it.

“You didn’t answer me. Did he hurt you, Willow?”

“Physically Stone would never hurt me. It’s the emotional damage and the things that have happened because of it that have devastated me.” God, I don’t want to be talking to him about this right now. “I owe you an explanation, but I just want to go home right now. I’m ready for this whole night to just be over. I’m sorry.” I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face against his warm sweater, my forehead pressed to him. “Can we talk about all of this tomorrow when I’m not so aggravated?” I murmur into his chest.

With gentle hands he smoothes back my hair and tilts my head back to look at him. His eyes travel over my face, looking . . . for answers? For truths? And in typical Joaquin fashion, my wish is his command. “Of course,
chèrie
. Do you want me to follow you home?”

“No. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you as soon as I get Lyric put to bed.” He nods and I can see the wheels turning. “What? Go ahead and ask. I won’t lie to you. Not ever,” I promise.

Cringing he asks, “Does he really have it pierced?”

I can’t help but laugh. “You are a wonderful man, JD. I’m not sure what I did to deserve you, but I’m happy I did whatever it was.” Reaching up on tiptoes, I kiss him softly, letting my mouth linger just a bit before pulling away reluctantly. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“
Oui
.” With another peck he puts me in the car and I drive away while he stands and watches.

As JD disappears from my rearview mirror, I let out the breath I’ve been holding. If I thought I was confused before Stone got here, I was dreaming. My emotions are such a damn mess right now I don’t know how I’ll ever wade through. I’m sure about two things though—Joaquin didn’t deserve what Stone said to him, and two, he’s not going to stop there. He showed his ass because he feels threatened and that steely resolve of his shone through his pissed off, possessive, don’t-give-a-fuck demeanor in a big way. Stone is going to make life impossible. And I’m so torn about that. I’m disgusted with the part of me that can’t help but get giddy at the thought of a clean Stone, my Stone coming here to fight for me. But then the other half of me, who still hates him as much as that whimsical side of me loves him, just wants him gone. Is pleading for me to tell him everything and chase him away. I just don’t know which side is stronger. Which part of my heart will win. It’s moments like this I miss my aunt so much. She was always the voice of reason. I’m lucky to have Cora because she’s so much like my aunt, but sometimes “like” isn’t enough and can’t take the place of the real thing.

I made the fifteen-minute drive to my place on autopilot. When the Jeep rocks to a stop, I just sit there, staring at the porch illuminated by the porch light that Cora left on for me. On nights where she watches Lyric and I work late, she just stays the night in my guest room. With James Bay crooning softly to me through the Jeep’s speakers I pray she’s asleep already because I’m incapable of facing anyone tonight. I’m not even sure how I’m going to face me. Just a few days ago I was on cloud nine, sure that my life was finally going in the right direction, and now here I sit in my driveway listening to a man singing me a powerful damn message. A message I should heed.

Weary from the bottom of my soul, I climb out of the Jeep and let myself into my thankfully quiet house. As silently as I can, I take the steps and slip into Lyric’s nursery. Going to the crib I look in at Lyric sleeping peacefully on her back, her dark hair a little wild and her perfect rosebud mouth puckered in sleep. She’s the one thing in my life I’m sure about. The one person I’m meant to love more than any other. It’s the easiest love I’ll ever know. Careful not to wake her, I sit in the glider next to her bed and set it in motion, watching the night light on her dresser project dancing music notes on her ceiling. I rock and let the wall that Perry and I painted with the music and lyrics of Brahms’ Lullaby bring a peaceful smile to my face. This room with its rocker-meets-classical-musician vibe is my happy place. My spot to let the outside world fall away and just be with my daughter. Tonight though it makes me sad even as it calms me. Stone won’t stop asking questions about Lyric. Demanding answers and time with her. I’m not prepared to deal with that. I don’t know what to say. The pain of that is like a wrecking ball having at my insides. Closing my eyes, I push that thought away and think about singing with him tonight. It was so familiar and I almost forgot that we had fought so much. His voice, his pleading eyes, the way his hands strummed over the borrowed guitar all pulling at me. As quickly as I was pulled under by him I was saved by the lights that broke through his spell and allowed me to escape. And then I was saved again when JD walked in. The instant guilt making me desperate to get out of there before Stone even opened his mouth. It didn’t matter that I had done nothing to feel guilty about, I did. Though I’m not sure who I felt it toward. Joaquin or Stone?

Sighing softly, I grab the throw blanket from the back of the chair and cover up with it. I will my thoughts to stop chasing after one another and close my eyes. There’s no way I want to be alone in my big bed tonight, so I settle into the glider and let the soft, even breathing of my daughter lull me to sleep. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I can deal with today.

Stone

I DON’T THINK THAT I
slept a minute last night. How could I? All I wanted was to get in my SUV and drive my ass over to Willow’s house. Every thought I had was of Joaquin there with them. With my girls. And it made me crazy. So here I am pacing the presidential suite of whatever fucking hotel I’m in and wait on Judge to call me back. I’m not sure what miracle he had to pull for me to be able to buy a house here, but he did it. For all I know I’m a Canadian fucking citizen. I spent the morning looking at houses online within walking distance to Willow’s. Hell, I might even knock on her neighbor’s door and offer to buy their house. I fired off every house I could find to Judge and he was setting up appointments. I told him I don’t even care what they look like, just to pick one, and he about had a stroke so I agreed to at least look.