The cab driver hops out of the car and takes my bag from Zach before popping open the truck.

Zach grabs both of my hands in his and we face each other. “So…this is it?”

I nod and fight back the sting in my eyes. “Yeah. I think so.”

He glances down at the pavement beneath our feet. “Can I still message you since we’re friends?”

A tear drips down my cheek as I smile. “I’d like that.” Without thinking I throw my arms around his neck and breathe in his scent one last time. “I’m going to miss you.”

He stiffens in my arms and hugs me tighter against him. “I’ll miss you more.”

Before I turn into a puddle right here on the ground, I shove myself away from him and hop in the cab. I never imagined saying goodbye to him would be so difficult. I press my hand onto the glass as I say goodbye.

My heart crushes as the driver pulls away, leaving Zach standing in the parking lot with his hands shoved in his pockets. There’s a pained expression on his face and I fight back the sob that’s threatening to expose how sad I am about leaving him. Our eyes lock, and we don’t break out stare until the cab turns the corner and he’s out of my sight forever.

Chapter 11

RIFF

My fingers tangle and I hit the wrong chord as Noel and Lanie pass by hand in hand. She grins up at him like he’s perfect and he has the biggest smile on his face.

That shit isn’t fucking fair. I want to out him so bad. Assholes like us don’t deserve happiness.

Trip catches me staring as he twirls his drumstick in his fingers. He shakes his head. “Don’t do it, dude. Nothing good will come out of you getting involved.”

“I’m going to tell her.”

Tyke looks up from his base. “Tell who, what?”

Trip looks at his brother. “Riff wants to tell Lanie about Sophie.”

Tyke frowns. “I have to go with Trip on this one. Stay out of it.”

“You guys don’t get it.” I go back to working the strings on my guitar.

They don’t understand what it feels like to want something you can’t have. They’ve never been through real emotional pain. I don’t want Lanie to go through that if she doesn’t have to. Sure, it’ll hurt no matter when she finds out Noel’s keeping a secret baby from her, but it’ll hurt even more once she’s got a ton of time invested in this relationship.

Noel approaches us as we get ready for our set. “Hey, guy. I’ve got some news.”

“Oh, joy,” I say, sarcasm thick in my voice.

He quickly cuts me a look before continuing. “I got a call to visit a sick kid out in Arizona for a charity.”

“That’s awesome, bro. When do you leave?” Tyke asks.

“Tonight, right after the show.”

My wheels start to turn. “Is Lanie going with you?”

Noel shakes his head. “No. She’s actually going to stay on the bus with you guys for the night. Can I trust you all to look after her?”

I roll my eyes. I know that little dig is a warning for me to stay away from her, but what he doesn’t know is I’m not interested in her for that any more. It will, on the other hand, be the perfect opportunity to share with her a certain secret our fearless leader has been keeping from her.

Trip snickers. “You mean can you trust us not to try and sleep with her? Yeah. I think we’re all pretty clear she’s your girl after all the times we’ve heard her scream your name.”

Noel grins. “She does do that a lot.”

I turn my back and try to block out the love fest over Noel’s sex life going on behind me. That fucker doesn’t even know how good he has it.

****

The crowd screams as I play the signature riff of our biggest hit song. I love this. The energy the fans throw out to us rocks me to the soul. There’s nothing like being in the moment and having thirty thousand people sing the words to our songs in unison.

Noel brings the mic close to his lips. “This next song goes out to the girl who shredded my heart without hesitation back in high school. It’s called Ball Busting Bitch, and Lanie, this one’s for you.”

I shake my head and laugh. He has balls, I’ll give him that. I’m surprised he even uses that line in the show now that she’s back. If I were Lanie I would throat punch him for talking shit about me to the world.

We play together in perfection. Noel hits every note and the rest of us play the shit out of our instruments. The guitar solo is my favorite part of this song. I love the way it screams like a scorned woman telling her lover to take a flying leap.

The song wraps up and I fling black guitar picks with our band name into the crowd. It’s amazing to see the fans fight over something because one of us touched it. It really solidifies that we are actually pretty fucking cool.

I hand the roadies my guitar and head off the stage. On the other side of the amps stands a tall blonde in a skin-tight, black mini skirt. She grins at me and then twirls a piece of hair around her finger as I come within a couple feet of her.

I know what she wants, but I’ve kind of lost all interest in the band, gigs, and even chicks since Kitten left. I’ve not handed out one golden ticket since we hooked up because I experienced a connection with her. I’m actually starting to worry that she’s ruined me for all other women.

The only time my dick gets hard now is when I think of her and our nights together.

I walk past the blonde and she grabs my arms as I pass by. “Riff, can I get your autograph?”