Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(87)

Then I sighed, giving him a break.

His love for me had been real. Incredibly real.

No matter what happened, even if we never found our way back to each other again, my life had been irrevocably altered by him.

I’ve been truly loved.

The door opened, startling me out of my thoughts. Logan stepped through. So did ten other students.

Her gaze caught mine, and she beelined straight for me. “Hey.”

I blew out a shaky breath. “Hey. You okay?”

“Yeah. Got out of the hospital yesterday. They had to keep me until then.” Legs bouncing nervously, she glanced at the others as they took their seats.

“I’m glad.” I nodded, giving her a warm smile. “Was really worried about you.”

She tilted her face slightly downward, staring at me from under the brim of her black newsboy hat. “We are still friends. I…he…” She huffed out a frustrated sigh. “Just wanted to say that.”

“Thanks. That means a lot.”

I glanced at the class, who one by one had begun to stare at us as we talked softly at the front, then back at her. “Does he…”

What? Think about me? Miss me as much as I miss him?

Instead of sounding lame and desperate, I kept it neutral. “Is he okay?”

She dropped me a deadpan look. “Define okay.”





Darren…

“What?” I snarled at my bandmates. “Waiting for an invitation?”

Nick clenched his jaw.

Trey narrowed his eyes.

Skinny JJ just shook his bleach-tipped head, then hit the first note on his keyboard—and dragged it out, letting the note die when Nick and Trey didn’t join in.

They kept staring at me.

I wasn’t in the mood. Couldn’t breathe. Hadn’t been able to sleep. For the last few days—since Sunday—I’d been doing all the right things. Yet the world felt wrong.

“What’s with him?” Nick shot a glance at Logan, shaggy red bangs falling over his brow.

“He’s being an idiot,” she muttered.

“An idiot who went to your high school rock concert last night.” I’d kept the promise I made to her weeks ago when weaving through traffic, late to my studio audition. “You were awesome, by the way.”

Murmurs of agreement echoed into the garage. Nick nodded and gave her a half-hug. “You done good, kid.”

“So, we playin’, or what?” My knee bounced as I let out a hard sigh. If the f*ckers didn’t start in the next few seconds, I’d rip out a rhythm without ’em.

I’d been agitated all week, bouncing off the walls with not enough to keep me out of my head.

School was out.

Studio work didn’t start till next Wednesday.

And the insane amount of money I now made with Dino justified lightening my load. I’d handed over my DJ gig to my boy, Rick, who’d already been helping out at Loading Zone and events. Cade had agreed to have me work Invitation Only parties on a case-by-case basis. I’d handle the ones I could and delegate the rest to Rick.

“Not until you unload, dude.” Nick yanked off his guitar.

Trey did the same. JJ sat on his stool with an emphatic nod.

“He fell in love.” Logan remained where she stood, hands resting on her guitar. Her charcoaled eyes narrowed at me. “Then the idiot dumped her—for me.”

My gut clenched at the truth in her words.

An ache burned, deep in my chest. Again.

Been going on for days. Couldn’t stop thinking about Kiki no matter where I went or what I did. And my heart kept shredding over and over, each and every damn time.

Fucking drove me crazy, wanting…needing…what I couldn’t have.

“I’m not listening to this.” I stowed my sticks in their case. “Thought maybe we’d play one last time. But if you guys don’t want to, I’m out.”

“Saw her at art class today.” Her voice softened.

My legs tensed. My breath caught. I’d been about to stand, but stayed right where I sat. “Yeah?”

Don’t ask.

Do not ask.

I stared at a piece of lint on the cement by the minifridge. If I didn’t look at Logan, maybe I wouldn’t f*cking lose it.

“Yeah.” All she said.

Silence followed. Except for my pulse that hammered a wicked beat in my ear.

“Annnd?” Trey arched his brows.

“She looks like crap, D, just like you. Barely held together on the outside, eyes full of pain.”

Nick gave a solid nod. “You’re a f*cking mess.”

I leaned back on my stool and crossed my arms. “Didn’t realize this was gonna be an intervention.”

“It is what it is.” JJ leaned an arm on the steel shelving unit against the wall. “Whatever you need.”

Nods followed around the room.

Great.

I let out an exhausted sigh, ready to bolt. I did not need to get in touch with my feelings. Been down in that dark hole all week. I came here to get out of my head.

“Hey.” Logan’s face lit up. “That’s it. You need to come to our next SSL meeting.”

I snorted. “Like hell I do.”

“No. Really, D.” She stepped closer, voice lowering. “You do.”