Wounded But Not Scarred (New Adult Rockers 2)

by Vega, W. H.

  I stalk away, shaking my head in disgust. I’ve never felt so unclean, and I actually feel bad for Savannah. Her father is willing to pay someone millions of dollars to pretend that they love her. It blows my fucking mind.

  “You’ve screwed with the wrong people, Blake Evans.”

  I spin around. “What the hell is your problem? I broke up with your daughter! I didn’t commit a crime! Get a fucking life!” I’m yelling now; I can’t help it.

  I jam my key into my lock and shove the door open. I slam the door shut behind me.

  “Argh!” I yell, pounding my fist against the closed door. I pace back and forth in the hallway for a minute and then stride over to the window and tear the curtain back.

  The sedan is gone.

  I stalk into the kitchen and grab a cold beer. I twist the cap off, throw it in the sink and take a deep, long drink.

  “That stupid son of a bitch,” I mutter, chugging the rest of the beer. I toss the bottle across the room and into the recycling bin. I feel a bit of smug satisfaction when I hear it shatter in the bin. I feel like a caged animal and I jump up again, and start pacing the kitchen.

  What the hell is wrong with that family? I had every right to end things with Savannah. I hadn’t signed some damn contract promising to love and marry her. People break up; it happens. It wasn’t pretty, but it happened. And now her crazy fucking family is harassing me because I don’t want her anymore. Don’t they have any damn pride?

  I want to tell Paige what happened, but I’m still way too angry, and I don’t want her to hear how angry I am – it will only upset her and scare her. Once I calm down, I’ll tell her about it in a reasonable tone.

  I decide to take a shower, and once I’ve rinsed off and changed my clothes, I can feel myself beginning to mellow out. I speak briefly to Paige on her way back to Nashville, and I casually mention that I’m going to stop by and see her once she gets back.

  It’s been a solid seven hours since Jeffrey’s insulting visit by the time I drive over to Paige's. I’ve calmed down but I’m still pissed as hell. More than once I wanted to call up Savannah and demand to know what she was telling her family, but I knew that would only make things worse, and I don’t want her to know that she’s getting to me.

  I knock and Kenny opens the door for me and I see that he’s freshly showered and dressed up.

  “Hey Kenny! Looking good!”

  “Thanks,” he looks slightly embarrassed. “I actually have a date.”

  I completely forgot that Paige had told me how well his date with Daisy had gone last week.

  “Nice! Is it with Daisy again?”

  “Yes it is. We had such a great time last weekend, that we decided to do it again this weekend.”

  I’m impressed. And I’m happy for Kenny too.

  “That’s great, Kenny. You kids have fun,” I joke.

  He rolls his eyes and grabs his keys from the kitchen counter.

  “Paige will be up in a minute,” he says, as he heads out the door, “She was just changing her clothes.”

  “Thanks. Have fun!”

  He waves as he heads out the door. I close the door and turn around. I can hear Paige coming down the hall.

  “Hi!” she says cheerfully, throwing herself at me in that sexy way of hers.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Did you eat dinner? I’m sure I can scrounge something up for us,” she says, kissing me and trying to pull away to check out what’s in the fridge.

  “I need to tell you something.”

  She sees the serious look on my face, and she puts her hands on her hips and stares me down.

  “Please tell me this is not about Savannah.”

  “It is.”

  “What the hell?” she explodes. I rarely have seen Paige angry, but I know that anything Savannah-related presses her buttons. “This is ridiculous! What now? Did she come over again and profess her love for you? Threaten you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “So, what then?”

  “Her father paid me a visit.”

  “What?” She stares blankly at me.

  “Yes. Jeffrey Devlin was waiting for me in his chauffeured town car when I got home.” I take Paige’s hand. “Come on, sit down. Let me tell you about it.”

  I lead her to the couch, and hold her hands to reassure her. I know how vulnerable Paige is, and I want to make her as comfortable as possible when I tell her what he said to me, and how I have no intentions to ever be with Savannah again.

  Paige is my world now. I only want her.

  I recount what happened with Jeffrey and I see the pain, anger and disbelief cross her face.

  “He offered you that much money?” she whispers.

  “It’s ridiculous. For starters, you know that I want nothing more to do with her. And it’s just pathetic that he’s out bargaining for his daughter over a man who doesn’t even love her.”

  “Is the family that embarrassed?” she asks.

  “I don’t know,” I say shaking my head. “I can’t figure out what Savannah’s tactic is here. She also made a comment last time about how well I seemed to be doing now that the music is taking off.”

  “But it’s not like we’re making loads of money,” Paige points out.

  “Right. And even if we were to become really successful, I still wouldn’t make anything near what her family is able to provide her. I just can’t figure it out.”

  “Maybe it’s about me,” Paige says quietly. “Maybe she could handle you ending things with her, but not the fact that you left her for someone else.”

  “Maybe. She made a comment about how sleeping with you was helping me with Kenny. But either way, we’re not going to let it affect things between us.” I take Paige’s face gently into my hands. “Paige Lawson, you are the best damn thing that ever happened to me. I don’t care if I sound like some lovesick teenager – I’m crazy about you and only you.”

  “I love when you get all mushy on me,” she says, slowly letting her guard down. I know how dealing with Savannah's bullshit upsets her.

  “I do have some good news,” I say between kisses.

  “Mmhm?”

  “There’s a bidding war happening on my house right now.”

  She abruptly pulls back to look at me. “Get out!”

  “Nope! Two people came in with offers, which were lower than I wanted, but now they’re fighting over it, so hopefully it will raise the price to what I wanted or better.”

  “Blake! That’s fantastic!”

  “I know, but I don’t want you to freak out. I know this is happening faster than we wanted, but my parents have already said I can stay with them, and we’re going to be so busy over the next few months-’’

  Paige cuts me off with a kiss.

  “Shh. Don’t say any more." She says. "I’m not worried at all. And just for clarification, I was never ‘freaked out’ about being with you, just about the labels and things that come with taking the next step. It’s just a lot happening at one time.”

  “I know, baby. We’re going to take this slowly.”

  I start to kiss Paige again, but she laughs and pushes me away.

  “As much as I’d love to get naked with you right now, I am starving!” she declares.

  Usually Paige will take sex over food, but then I actually hear her stomach growl.

  “When was the last time you ate?”

  “Umm, I think I had a granola bar for breakfast.”

  “Well, that won’t do! You need to take care of yourself.”

  I pull her up and drag her to the kitchen. I open the refrigerator and see turkey dogs inside. “Tell you what,” I say turning back to her, “I’ll make you dinner.”

  Paige raises her eyebrows.

  “On one condition.”

  “Really? What’s your condition?”

  I eye her tank top and pants.

  “Take off your shirt and pants.”

  Paige’s eyebrows go higher. Without a word, she smirks a
t me and pulls her tank top over her head, revealing a pretty yet revealing tangerine bra.

  Damn. I didn’t think she would actually go for it.

  I feel my pants tighten instantly.

  Keeping her eyes trained on me, she hooks her fingers into her pants and slides them down, exposing her tangerine and black boy short underwear.

  I’ve hit the jackpot.

  I give her a little smile and turn back around to make us dinner.

  Twelve

  Paige

  “Oh my gosh, I don’t know if I can do this,” I moan, sinking back into my chair.

  “Of course you can,” Jami says, giving me a wide smile. “And you look amazing.”

  I glance at myself in the mirror and marvel at the magic Jami has performed. She put together an incredible outfit and brought in an amazing makeup artist and hair stylist for me.

  “Jami, you did such an amazing job, but I’m so damn nervous.” I bury my head in my hands, feeling my shoulders sag. This is my big moment and I am paralyzed with fear. What I really want is for Blake to wrap his arms around me, but I know he’s already out on stage. And I feel lousy that I’m not in the wings watching him.

  “Hey, hey,” Jami says quietly. “You got this. Everybody loves your single and they are psyched for your album to come out. You worked hard for this. Go out there and enjoy your hard work.”

  I pick my head up and straighten my shoulders. “You’re right,” I say, nodding vigorously. “You’re right. I’m going to get out there, sing my songs and embrace it.”

  “That’s right!” Jami cheers.

  I stand up out of the makeup chair and give myself one more look in the mirror before I leave.

  I can barely recognize myself and I wonder how I got so lucky to have Jami as my stylist. She's dressed me in a deep plum-hued dress with a demure neckline and cap sleeves. While it's covered in lace, it's sassy with its short hemline and deep-V open back. The A-line skirt flatters my figure perfectly, and the material under the lace has a slight sheen to it—I'll literally sparkle under the lights.

  Jami also picked out a pair of trendy, studded heels, which make my good-girl outfit slightly edgier. Maura, the hair and makeup girl, stuck to my natural look keeping my hair down and curling it a bit. And while the makeup looks heavy under the dressing room lights, I know it's going to be fabulous under the bright stage lights.

  While Maura had already left to enjoy the party, Jami noticed my nerves and stuck with me.

  “Come on,” she says gently, leading me from the room. As soon as we enter the hallway, I can hear the loud strains of Rust playing one of their new songs, with the crowd going wild in the background.

  My daddy sure did know how to throw a good party.

  We wind our way through the halls of the Loews Vanderbilt hotel, until we reach the wings of the stage.

  “Are you going to be alright if I leave you here?” Jami shouts over the loud music.

  My eyes are already glued to Blake, who is so undeniably sexy as he wails into the mic. I tear my eyes away from him and look back at Jami.

  “Yes. Thank you!” I throw my arms around her, pulling her into a big hug. Jami and I have grown closer over the past few weeks, and I really hope our friendship continues to grow; especially since her mom and my dad are an item now.

  “Okay! I’m heading out there to find my mom and your daddy!”

  I nod and wave to her as she disappears.

  I turn back to Blake, and sway to his song, singing the lyrics myself because I know all the words. He turns around and sees me, and the smile on his face is priceless.

  I seriously love that man.

  Grinning back at me, he continues to sing and I see Ben and Ryan look my way and smile at me, too. I’ve missed being around the guys and I’m actually excited to go on tour in a couple weeks with them.

  Rust finishes their number and the crowd goes wild. The MC, a popular disc jockey for one of the big country stations in Nashville, cheers them on, saying what a phenomenal job they did.

  The guys bow again and then come running off the stage in my direction.

  “Blake, you were amazing!” I scream, as he picks me up and hugs me, spinning me around.

  “I’m so glad you saw some of it,” he whispers in my ear. He puts me down and takes a step back to look at me.

  “You are smokin’,” he says appreciatively, and I can’t help but blush.

  “You are hot as hell,” Ryan agrees from a few feet away and Ben gives me a thumbs up sign.

  “Knock ‘em dead,” Ben calls, as he and Ryan head out into the audience. Blake is staying in the wings to watch me and then he and I are going to wrap up with a song together.

  “You can do this,” Blake whispers, giving me a squeeze.

  “God, I’m so nervous.”

  “And now, ladies and gentleman, the woman you’ve all been waiting for, Pa-a-a-a-ige Lawson!” the disc jockey cries into the microphone.

  I don’t have any more time to be scared, because I’m stepping out onto the stage and waving to the hundreds of guests who are cheering and yelling for me. And like magic, my nerves melt away. I know I can do this. I have already been on tour. And even though there is more press here, and this is considered one of the biggest events in Nashville of the season, I feel confident.

  “Hey y’all!” I call out to the crowd. “Thanks for coming out! I’m so excited to release my first album and I hope y’all love it!”

  More cheers erupt from the crowd. Everyone who was invited to our album release party is going home with a swanky gift bag, filled with goodies, which of course, included my new album and Rust’s new album.

  “I’m going to kick us off with my first single – Lovin’ Him is Easy!”

  Everyone cheers again and I look over in the wings at Blake and wink at him. This song is about him. Which the rest of the world pretty much knows by now too.

  I start my song, I forget about the huge crowd starting at me intently, and sing my heart out as I walk around the stage as if I'm alone in my own world. The song is fast and catchy, and before I know it, I’m singing the final verse.

  “Thank you!” I wait for the applause to die down and I smile gratefully. I see my daddy, Daisy and Jami up near the front and I give them a little wave.

  “I’ve got something new for y’all now. This song is going to hit the radio next week, but you get to hear it first right here! It’s called If I Were Perfect.”

  I’m a little more nervous singing this song; since I haven’t performed it live yet, and also because the material is more raw. It’s a slow song, and I wasn’t sure if the label was going to let me release it second, but they all really loved it. I think of Blake as I sing the refrain.

  “I’d like to think if I were perfect, then you’d see the best in me

  If I were perfect, then the rest would come so easily,

  If I were perfect, then I wouldn’t need you so damn bad

  But I’m not perfect, and you take me as I am.”

  I have tears in my eyes when I finish and when I look to the wings, I see Blake’s face beaming with love and pride for me.

  “I love you,” he mouths.

  I smile and nod back at him.

  The crowd is going nuts and I’m thrilled that they’ve responded so well to the song. That song was one of the most important ones that I put on the album, because it validates so much of what I feel, and how I’ve accepted that being imperfect, is what makes me who I am.

  “Alright, Nashville!” I cry brightly, “Let’s bring the energy level back up. I’m going to sing one more song off the album for you. You might have heard this one before! It’s called Pieces of Me!”

  There’s more cheering and clapping and I fall into an easy rhythm singing one of my favorite songs from the tour we did over the summer. When it’s over, the DJ jumps on stage, congratulating me and getting the crowd to go wild even more so.

  “We’ve got one more treat for y’all!” The MC says happi
ly. “As many of you know, our beautiful Paige Lawson here is dating the lead singer of Rust, Blake Evans.”

  More cheers.

  “And they’ve got a brand new song together that they’re going to debut right here, right now!”

  The cheers are deafening and I laugh as Blake comes running out, waving to the crowd. He picks me up and gives me a big hug and a kiss.

  “Alright you two,” the MC teases, “let’s not break any more hearts out there!”

  Blake speaks up. “This here song is called Finding My Way Back to You.”

  I beam at Blake as we start our song. It’s amazing that we wrote this song together in such a short time period. We'd been so pressed for time, and yet this song just poured out of the two of us.

  A crewmember runs onstage with two stools and places them on the stage. Blake and I take a seat, looking at each other, and then we hear the familiar chords of the guitar.

  I take a deep breath and start singing.

  Blake comes in on the chorus, and then sings the next verse, and then our voices come together as we harmonize and sing about how we made it back to each other after all the pain and heartache.

  Daddy’s people have warned me, that I may get asked about my attack. Not that it’s common knowledge, but if anyone does a little research, they can find the news articles from thirteen years ago. I’m prepared to deal with it, and I’m fully aware that my story is going to be out there. At some point, someone is going to remember and dig up all the gory details. I’ve decided that when that time comes, I want to be a role model for others who have been attacked. It makes me sick thinking about it, but if my story can help just one other girl, then it will be worth it.

  We finish up our song, and take a bow as the crowd’s happy cheers wash over us. We bow again and then head offstage.

  “Holy shit!” Blake crows, hugging and kissing me. “You were so damn great!”

  I hug him back. “So were you! And we killed our song!”

  “Yes we did!” He grabs my hand. “C’mon. Let’s go enjoy this party they're throwing for us!”

  I hold tightly to his hand, glad to have this night together. We’ve spent most of the past three weeks apart, each of us separately promoting our albums. I will actually be glad when we go on tour because we will be together.