Oblivion Series Book 2

Blake

After all the hard work we’d put in over the years to be at the top of our game, a roaring crowd should have kept the smile on my face.

With countless number-one tracks, platinum albums, and awards, we’d need a house just to store them. I should be one happy SOB…so why did I feel like someone had just stolen my favorite candy?

Oh yeah, two words…London Taylor. One hell of a curvy siren whose bark was as bad as her bite. I couldn’t forget the look of disgust and disappointment in those eyes.

Ever since we came back to Round Top, that girl had been colder than Killer Frost herself. I texted her and tried numerous times to call her, but I came up empty-handed.

Yes, it took me longer to call than it should have; it wasn’t easy getting her cell number though. Yes, I broke my promise of seeing her the next morning, but I never broke my promise that I would come back for her.

Of course, she wouldn’t have known it was always going to be her and nobody else. We never had the chance to talk.

It killed me when she never came and ran into my arms the day I returned and walked through the doors at King’s

Was I a fool to think she would? I guess so, but Mama always said that between Jay and I, we’d give her a heart attack when the girls’ daddies all came knocking on the door for the trail of heartbreak we would surely be leaving behind.

London was the girl I’d love to take home to Mama. Mama would welcome her with open arms for sure and plan some shindig before I could even think about popping the question.

However, first I needed to get past the “go to hells” and “fuck you.” Right now, all I had to do was look at her and she would walk away. Each time she did that…a small part of my heart shattered.

I just couldn’t bear to be sitting on stage when I knew my girl was hurting. I left the cheering crowd and went on the hunt for her. I needed answers, and I wanted them right then.

Nobody noticed I wasn’t celebrating with every other fucker, and anyone I walked past chose to not say a word or acknowledge me. Picking up the pace, I looked everywhere I could think of.

Someone came through a back entrance, taking some of the equipment back to a van or whatever. I headed back that way as it led to the parking lot. It was the same spot we were in earlier. God, I hoped she hadn’t left before we could talk.

I continued running up and down the rows of parked cars, glancing through the window of each one. I stopped suddenly as pain shot through my heart. It caused me to bend over, gasp for air, and squeeze my eyes shut, pleading for the pain to subdue.

Just as I felt it may be okay to get moving again, I heard her. Something inside grabbed hold of me and screamed at me to get to London, and get to her quickly. My heart was like a beacon as I trusted myself to find her.

Spotting a white rental, I made my way over, wanting to reach in, grab London, wrap her in my arms, and never let go, not until she told me what happened, what went wrong, and how the fuck we ended up like this.

I was two rows of cars away when I was halted right in my tracks. London, as clear as fucking day, slumped over the wheel, crying and calling out.

Her pain was blatant, and anyone who was near could just witness how vulnerable and raw she truly was.

I forced myself to make the final steps, to be right there with the girl who owned me.

A figure to my left caught my eye as he approached the driver-side door. He tapped on the window, and they shared a few words before he left.

I had reached the rear end of her car and just as I was about to come around the side to open her door and drag her ass out into my arms…she left me in the dust once more.

***

“Have they got nothing better to do?” I yelled at the TV.

I was done with all the shit they spilled about us—me in particular. I couldn’t get a moment without everyone being all up in my business. I just wanted to be alone.

I didn’t want to go to the after-party; I had all intentions of stopping London and getting our shit sorted. Yet that went to…well, shit. So, I had to get away.

I jumped in a car and drove to some hotel on the outskirts and got my head down. I only woke up when something went crashing on the floor above me. I took a shower, popped the TV on, and then saw this shit splattered all over the place.

The world had truly gone crazy. I couldn’t even contact the guys, as my cell was still in my jacket pocket at the stadium.

Ahhhh shit, why couldn’t I ever remember anyone’s cell numbers? That was a lie—there was one I knew. I needed to suck it up and just dial it. She could tell the guys I’m fine and my cell is dead.

Caleb was going to have my ass for this.

“Hello?”

“London?”

“Blake? Oh, my God , is it you? Where are you? Are you okay? Everyone is worried sick.”

Were you worried, though?

I could hear how scared she was from how quickly she spat each question out, her voice breaking as she cried. Fuck, baby, don’t cry. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and whisper sweet nothings into her ear.

“Yeah, it’s me. Look, can you let everyone know I’m okay and that my cell is at the stadium?”

“Are you freaking shitting me? All that worry…you’re on the damn news, for Christ’s sake. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

Oh yeah, there was the firecracker I knew and loved.

“You have?”

“I have what?”

“Been worried about me? You always look at me like I cause you pain, that I disgust you in some way.”

Silence.

“I…I don’t do that.”

“Yeah, baby, you do. Look, can we talk? I wanted to talk to you last night and, well, you disappeared. I can come to wherever you are, and we can talk. I just need to know you’re okay…that we’re okay…”

“There is no we! I have nothing to say to you, Blake Johnson. Now, get out of whichever hussy’s bed you’re in and tell your friends and fans you’re okay.

“And next time, you might want to leave me out of it—that way, I won’t have Caleb crashing through my door at 7:45 a.m. looking for your sorry ass.” She slammed the phone down.

I all but stared at the wall, still holding the receiver against my ear. Well, I’ll be damned.

Could the day have gotten any worse? I was done with all this shit. The only person I’d been arguing with was London.

Wait, did she say Caleb came and broke her door down at 7:45 a.m.? And the news said he was here this morning… Holy shit, London was in this hotel.

Grabbing a shirt, I pulled my crap together and went on the hunt for London. She might slam a phone down, but I’d be a monkey’s uncle if I didn’t see her face-to-face to sort out whatever this was between us.

I ran up and down all the hallways, floor after floor, but I couldn’t find her. I was about to give up and curse myself for overthinking matters again—the girl has that effect on me. That was until I saw it—a door not entirely on its hinges.

I threw my fingers through my hair and straightened myself out as much as possibly human. I could hear the TV on in her room, and it was that insane news program I had on not that long ago.

Ahh, fuck. I walked to her door slowly, my heart beating like there was no tomorrow. I could see her sitting on the bed with her head in her hands, and another piece of my heart broke.

Moving the door out of the way, I let myself in. I didn’t make a sound, and she didn’t notice when I sat beside her. I pulled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her.

I kissed the top of her head. As much as seeing her as this broke me, I couldn’t express how freaking good it felt to finally have her back in my arms.

“Hey baby, it’s okay,” I cooed.

“I hate you, Blake Johnson. I hate that you do this to me. I hate that I ever allowed myself to have time with you. And I hate that I want it again. I must have “mug” written on my forehead or something.”

Ouch, that hurt.

“I know you do, and darling, I hate it when you feel all this. All I want you to feel is me.”

“You lied to me. You promised you’d be back for me… But, you moved on with someone else not even two days after. I hate you.”

I had no idea what she was talking about. Never, not once, did I ever get with anyone else. Not even kisses on the cheeks…no kissing, period. No sex…nothing. Nada.

“Darling, I swear I never did anything, I meant what I said that night…our night. I wanted you to see the real me, not the me the whole world thinks I am. London? Look at me, baby.”

I waited for London to lift her head. Those angry, red-rimmed eyes stared into my own. She still looked beautiful, even when she cried.

“Nothing happened, I promise you. I have no reason to lie. That night we shared meant everything to me. Girl, I’ve been going stir crazy just wanting you by my side, and yes, my dick self comes out.

“It’s a defense when you’re so angry with me over something that never happened.”

I placed my hands on either side of her face, my thumbs wiping at her tear-stricken cheeks. Moving my head forward, I kissed the tears away before resting our foreheads against one another.

“I don’t know what to say,” she replied in all but a whisper.

“There is nothing to say…apart from this.”

I lowered my lips to hers.

We were like two jigsaw pieces finally aligned with each other. Her soft skin with a slightly salty taste perfectly molded with my own, so soft and tender. Both of us were a little scared of what that meant.

London sighed into my mouth as I gently pulled her lower lip between my teeth.

I was being careful, wanting to hold the devouring alpha within. Right now was the moment to go slow and steady, to take my time and show her that it had only been her and will only be her.

This single kiss had the power to make or break us.