Miles Apart (The Not So Bad Boys of Rock Book 2)

by Rhonda James

  Brooke,

  I’ve loved you from the very first moment I laid eyes on you.

  You stole my heart and I never once thought of asking for it back.

  I’ve waited my whole life for someone that made me feel the way you do. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me, and will try my very best to make you as happy as you make me.

  I would, and will, do anything for you. I would give you anything you ask for. And I would give up my dreams for you, if that’s what made you happy.

  Whatever you need, I will give it to you.

  I love you today, and I will love you always.

  Till death do us part. I am yours forever.

  I love you, Brooke.

  Always, Sebastian

  I wiped angrily at the tears rolling down my face before turning to tackle the gift wrap. What I saw when I looked inside took my breath away. It was an exquisite silver picture frame, and on the bottom was written “Our Wedding Day.” Inside was a glossy print of us, our favorite photo, and beside it was a small note that read “I look forward to filling this with our wedding photo. I can’t wait to marry you baby.”

  I dropped the frame back onto the bed and slid down to the floor. What had I done? I couldn’t deal with this. I needed to get away. I picked up the phone and called the one person I knew could help me.

  “Hello Brooke. Is everything okay?” He asked.

  “No, Max, it’s not okay. I need your help.” I poured out my heart, struggling to get the words out through the tears.

  “How soon can you get to the airport? I can have a plane ready to go in three hours.” He offered.

  “I can be there. Thank you, again. I’m sorry that I always seem to run to you when I’m in trouble.” I sniffed.

  “Now dear, don’t be sorry. I’m glad that you feel you can come to me. I’m always here for you. Brooke, I’m not sure what will happen with you and Sebastian, but please don’t give up hope. That young man loves you.”

  “I know. I love him too. I’m just not sure that’s enough anymore.”

  “Good luck sweetheart. I’ll see to it that things are taken care of in London. I hope that your time with Jade helps.” He encouraged.

  “Thank you. I’ll call you soon.” I hung up and began to pack as I called Jade.

  “Jade?” I whispered. “Can I come stay with you for a few days?” I burst into tears at the sound of her voice.

  “Brooke, sweetie, of course. What’s wrong?” Her voice was full of concern.

  “I just broke up with Sebastian. Oh God Jade, what have I done?”

  “Come home. You can tell me all about it then. I love you girl. Just come home. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

  “I’ll text you the details once I’m on the plane. I love you too.”

  As I settled into the seat on the plane I felt the weight of the day take over me. The flight attendant came up and informed me that we’d be arriving at LAX in just under twelve hours.

  “Thanks. I think I’m just going to sleep most of the flight.”

  “Of course Ms. Caldwell. Once the captain gives the okay you can head back to the bedroom for some privacy. I think you’ll be much more comfortable there.” She gave me a look of understanding. I’m sure that my appearance gave something away. I’d caught a brief glimpse of my reflection as I had finished up in the restroom. My eyes were swollen and my face was puffy with red blotches.

  “Thank you.” I gave a small smile and closed my eyes.

  Soon the plane was in the air, and before long the kind attendant patted my arm and told me I could head back to the bedroom.

  I crawled beneath the covers, pulling them completely over my head, and tried like hell to pretend that the whole day had just been a really bad dream. No matter how many times I told myself that, it wouldn’t sink in.

  It was real.

  And it had happened.

  Now I just had to figure out how to keep breathing without it hurting so badly.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Sebastian~

  I must have walked for hours, just wandering around London. I was barely aware of my surroundings. I couldn’t grasp the reality of what had just happened between us. She had ended it. With just a few words she’d cut my heart out. Yep, I’d left it laying right there on her living room floor. Without her, I was empty. I wasn’t sure how to go on. I didn’t even know if it was possible. Maybe she just needed some time to calm down. I decided to give her that time, but I would be back in the morning. I would fight for her. No, I had to fight for her.

  I made it back to the hotel and managed to grab an hour of sleep before showering and grabbing a cab back to Brooke’s. I wasn’t sure if she would talk to me, but I had to try. I needed to convince her that our love was worth fighting for. I needed her to know that I would do whatever it took to hold on to what we had. Even though things had been hard for us lately, I believed that we had what it took to get through it.

  The cab pulled up in front of her building and I paid him, giving him a little extra to wait for me, just in case. I jogged up the steps, my legs feeling heavier as each step brought me closer to her door.

  I knocked softly and waited. No answer. I knocked again, and called her name. I waited another minute. I banged on the door, saying her name louder this time.

  “Brooke! Baby, please let me in. I have to talk to you. I love you. Please, please talk to me.” I sank my forehead against the door, feeling defeated.

  “She’s not there.” I heard a male voice behind me. Shit, Reid. I groaned at the irony. Last night I was all hard and full of fight. Today, I was a broken mess.

  “Where is she?” I slowly turned to face him. My lip was split and swollen, but his face was a wreck. I grimaced at the sight of what I’d done. “Man, I’m really sorry about doing that to you. I just lost my head.”

  “Is that all it was? You sure that’s not just a side that you’ve managed to keep hidden from Brooke?”

  “No!” I growled. “That’s not who I am. Man, how would you feel? I’m in love with her. I was going to propose to her and then she ended up moving here. Then, things have been rough for us, being apart. I came here last night to finally ask her to marry me and I find her kissing you.”

  “I’m sorry about that. But, you didn’t see her kissing me. I was kissing her. I’m crazy about her.” He stepped closer to me.

  “She’s easy to love.” I remained guarded as he continued to move closer.

  “Yeah,” he grunted. “She really is. She’s in love with you though.”

  “I’m not sure that’s enough for her anymore.”

  He stared at me for a long time, as if analyzing my true intentions. Maybe this guy wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe I had judged him too harshly. Sure, he had a crush on the woman that I loved, but he did appear to have her best interest at heart.

  “She left late last night. I heard movement out in the hall and cracked the door open just in time to catch her dragging a suitcase down the stairs. She got into a cab and drove off sometime around two this morning.” He said, despondently.

  “Thanks, man. I meant what I said. I’m really sorry about everything. I guess I should thank you for looking out for her. I’m just sorry I haven’t been here for her.”

  “Listen, yesterday was pretty bad for her. I take it something bad happened between you two last night. Yesterday afternoon her dad was dining in her restaurant. They spotted one another and then he went to her office and tried to talk with her. The whole thing shook her up pretty badly. We went out to a pub and she had quite a few beers, so did I. She cried and I comforted her. I think that’s why she let me kiss her. She was vulnerable and I took advantage of that. I’m not such a great guy after all.” He leaned back against the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.

  “Yeah, she mentioned briefly that she’d seen him. Oh man, that had to be rough for her. After all this time. What the hell did he expect of her after thirteen years?” I leaned on the w
all opposite him, hands jammed deep in my pockets.

  “Look, I know I haven’t known her as long as you but I have learned one thing during my short time. Give her a few days to cool down. For what it’s worth, I think she deserves that much.”

  “Yeah. You’re right, she does.” I pushed off the wall with the heel of my boot and crossed the distance between us. “I’m gonna head out. For what it’s worth, I heard everything, and I appreciate you sharing it with me.” We shook hands and I went on my way. When I stepped outside, I saw that the cabbie was still waiting.

  “Hey man, thanks for sticking around. You can head back to the hotel.” I turned and stared out the window, wondering where Brooke had headed, knowing in my heart that she was probably going home to Jade. I wasn’t sure what I could handle right now, but being with the guys was not one of them. We pulled up in front of the hotel and I asked him to wait ten minutes and I would be back down.

  I took the stairs up to the eighth floor, figuring it was the best way to avoid running into the guys. I grabbed my suitcase, having never unpacked it, and stepped back onto the busy sidewalk. I climbed back in the cab and shut the door.

  “I’d like to go one more place, please.” I told him where to drop me and settled into my seat for the long ride.

  “No problem.” He responded with a head nod.

  “Thanks.” I rubbed my eyelids with my fingertips. Lack of sleep was beginning to make them feel heavy.

  “Everything okay with you? You look like you've got something heavy on your mind. That apartment we went to. Your girl live there?” He looked at me through the rearview mirror. I waited a moment before responding.

  “Yeah. She did. I mean, she does.”

  “You two have a falling out or something? I don’t mean to pry, you just look so sad.”

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “James.” He smiled. “Yours?”

  “Sebastian.” I returned his smile and he nodded. “You ever been in love, James?”

  “Yes,” he smiled broadly. The way his eyes lit up made me laugh silently. “I’m going to propose. I’ve been working extra shifts to save up for a ring. The extra tips from you today will help get me closer. Thank you.”

  “That’s really great. How long have you two been together?”

  “Two years, three months, and thirteen days.” He answered, quickly.

  “Wow, someone’s been keeping track.” I laughed.

  “Well, my girl says that we need to refrain from sex until we’re married. I don’t mind waiting, she’s worth it. But after a while the days begin to wear on you.” He snorted, loudly.

  Before I knew it, we pulled up in front my destination. Our time together had finally come to an end. He’d been a really nice guy. I wished him all the best and thanked him for spending the day with me. I reached down into my pocket and pulled out the small box I’d been carrying around for the past two months. I palmed it, opening it once more to run my finger over the setting. I’d had it made especially for her, knowing she would love it. I’d never had the chance to place it on her finger, and now I never would. I closed the lid and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

  “James, I want you to have this. Go and get your girl. I wish you all the happiness in the world. Don’t let her go, man. Whatever you do, don’t let her go.” I dropped the box into his open palm and stepped out of the car one last time.

  “Sebastian, wait!” I heard him call after me. I looked over my shoulder and threw my hand up in a parting wave, giving him a wink before I stepped through the sliding doors and up to the counter.

  “May I help you sir?” The petite woman greeted me.

  “Yes, I’d like a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, on the soonest flight you have, please.”

  “We have a plane leaving in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll take it.” I replied, handing her my credit card.

  “Do you have any luggage to check?” She asked, swiping my card through the card reader.

  “No, just this carry-on.”

  “Here you go Mr. Miles. Have a wonderful flight.” She smiled warmly as she handed me my boarding pass.

  “Thank you.” I mumbled, before making my way through the busy airport. I pulled out my phone and called Travis.

  “What’s up? I thought I wouldn’t be hearing from you until tomorrow. So tell me all about it.” He asked, cheerfully. I cringed inwardly.

  “Well, if I told you that I was at the airport would that give you a clue?”

  “What? Where are you going? You’re not eloping are you? Mom will have a cow if she doesn’t get to see you in a tux. She hasn’t quite met her tear-quota for seeing all of her precious children get married.” He chuckled.

  “No, stop.” I winced. “I’m not eloping. I’m not even getting married. I’m just leaving.”

  “What? Wait a minute? What happened? Where are you going? What about the tour?” Every question he threw at me hit hard, like knives coming through the phone.

  “She broke up with me, Trav. I saw her kissing another guy and there was a fight…then she lost it and told me it was over. I went back to see her this morning, to try and work it out, but she was gone. Apparently she left the country last night. I don’t know what to do man.” I choked up, but tried to keep it together. “I can’t go back there. You have to get Davis to cancel the London shows. I need some time away. I can’t do it. Please, don’t ask me to come back. Not now. I’ll be okay for the stops in the U.S. I just need a few days.”

  “Where will you go?” He whispered.

  “Home. I’m going home Trav.”

  “To L.A.?”

  “No. I’m going to Manhattan Beach.” I declared.

  “To Mom and Dad.” He replied.

  “Yeah. To Mom and Dad.”

  “Good choice. I’m sorry about this. I love you little brother.”

  “Love you too, brother. See you soon.” I clicked off the call and tucked the phone back in my pocket.

  The next eleven hours were a blur.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Brooke~

  I’d been back in Michigan for nearly a week. The first few days were spent crying on Jade’s shoulder as I recounted over and over how badly our relationship had splintered after I'd left for London. Of course, she’d already heard most of the story before the final dramatic scene, but she just held me and rubbed my back, listening intently each time I repeated it as if it were the first time.

  She stayed with me every day, having called in and asking for the week off due to an unexpected emergency. I guess in some way it had been an emergency. In the beginning she had no idea what I had been capable of. I was a complete wreck. By the fifth day I had stopped crying and moved on to silence. I spent the entire day curled up in bed with the lights out. I didn’t want anyone to see me, and I didn’t want to see them.

  By day six Jade had finally had enough. She stormed into the room and opened the curtains, letting in the blinding sunlight. I cringed, almost as if it had hurt me. Sunshine made me think happy thoughts, and I didn’t want to think happy thoughts right now. Sebastian had called me his sunshine. At one time he’d told me “My world was darkness for almost a year before I met you, and then you came into my life and brought the light back to me. When you left me, it all went dark again. I can’t live like that, not after knowing how good the light can be. You give me reason to go on each day, you give me hope. You are my sunshine.” I shook my head violently, trying to get rid of that memory. It was no use. Every memory I had of him was a happy one. Except for that last night.

  “This has gone on long enough. You need to get up and start living again. You’re going to call Sebastian and tell him something, I don’t care what it is, but you can’t keep him hanging like this. And for the love of all that is holy, you really need to take a shower. You smell bad.” She plugged her nose.

  “I do not smell bad.” I protested, sniffing myself and realizing that I did, in fact, reek.

  “Sw
eetie, you stink. Now, do us all a favor and go shower.

  “I can’t call him, not just yet.” I shook my head.

  “Brooke, you have been miserable. He's miserable. You need to decide what you are going to do. It’s not fair to keep him in the dark.” She demanded. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips and she stared me down. "How many missed calls do you have? Texts? I know he's been trying to reach you. Dek has been going out of his mind trying to deal with him."

  "I don't know," I shrugged. "A lot. I haven't checked lately." That wasn't true. I had checked. There were eight missed calls. Five from Sebastian, and three from Reid. Multiple texts had followed but I ignored them all. I wasn't ready to speak to either of them.

  “Right now I’m not thinking straight. I’ll only tell him that we’re still through. I don’t want to be forced to choose between my work and him. That’s not fair to me. And he’s not in the dark. He knew perfectly well what I meant when he walked out that door in London.” I stood my ground. "And if I recall, he walked out and never looked back."

  “Why did you feel that ending it was your only option? I still don’t understand that. Is it because of your pride? Or the grand plan that you had all mapped out with Devon? Face it Brooke, Sebastian is not Devon. He never was and he never will be. And this guy, what was his name? Reid? If you think that you may have a better future with him just because he shares the same dreams as you…Well, that’s ridiculous.” She said, sounding exasperated.

  “Why? Why is that so ridiculous? Maybe that’s who I need to focus my attention on. Devon and I got along great. We worked the same hours, had the same hobbies. We were great together.” I narrowed my eyes at her. I wasn't sure what I was trying to prove. I never had any intention of getting involved with Reid. My love for Sebastian was never in question. Our ability to keep a relationship going was, however.