The Girl in the Love Song (Lost Boys #1)(49)

Ronan flipped him the finger.

“How about this?” Holden slung his arm around my neck. “You and Dr. Phil, here, shoot darts. If Ronan pops more balloons than you, you tell Violet the truth. If you pop more, you can continue to wallow in your honorable misery forever, and we’ll leave you alone about it.”

“That’s dumb. And Ronan is going to win. He always does.”

Ronan held out his hand. “Flask.”

“Ah yes. A little handicap.” Holden turned over his flask, and Ronan tipped it up, downing the entire thing in a matter of seconds.

“That’s about four ounces of Ducasse, the Everclear of expensive vodka.” Holden chucked Ronan on the back. “How you feeling, champ?”

Ronan’s eyes watered, and he blew air out of puffed cheeks. “Better.”

Holden smiled, satisfied. “Evened the odds. Right now, our buddy couldn’t find his own reflection in a mirror.”

Truly, Ronan looked shitfaced, swaying slightly, while Holden produced a wad of cash.

“Six darts, my good man.”

The carny laid them out.

“Miller’s up first, and no cheating. Honor demands you try to win.”

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered.

I took up my three darts. I missed the first, then hit the second two.

Ronan took his darts and blearily stared at the balloon targets in front of him. Then his eyes suddenly focused, and he shot all three, one after the other, rapid fire. Three balloons popped.

“Fucking hell.”

“A deal is a deal,” Holden said through loud laughter. “Take your prize… Take this cheap SpongeBob SquarePants key chain to Lady Violet as a token of your love.”

I gave my friends the stink eye. Holden grinning. Happy. His eyes clear instead of racing with thoughts or drowning in booze. Ronan wasn’t falling-down-drunk like he’d looked a second ago, but was laughing too. Silent chuckles that shook his shoulders.

I bit back my own smile and hurled the plush toy at their heads.

“Assholes.”





Game or no game, I wasn’t about to confess a damn thing to Violet. I’d been a dick to her, ignoring her and making her feel like shit. I was like that guy in that Christmas movie Mom watched every year—he was in love with Keira Knightly who was fucking married. Violet kissing River wasn’t quite the same thing, but it may as well have been. I’d been holding out for four years, hoping to be Violet’s first…everything.

And someone else got there first.

I took an Uber to the wealthy estates near the Pogonip forest, my thoughts drifting backward over memories. We’d almost kissed. Once. When we were fifteen. Violet wanted to practice, but I’d have rather chewed glass than be her test dummy. A standin for the guy she actually wanted to kiss. I wanted the real thing.

But she doesn’t want me.

I climbed out of the Uber and went around to her backyard. My guitar case banged against my shoulders as I climbed the trellis. Violet had sent me another text that I should bring it.

She was waiting for me, excitement and hesitation dancing in her eyes, lighting her up. Making her pale skin luminous. Her luscious body was hugged by a tight T-shirt and pajama pants. Her breasts were perfectly round and heavy; I ached to fill my hands with them and coax her nipples to stand at attention with my tongue…

Jesus, dude. That’s not what friends are for.

“Hey,” I said, cutting off the heated thoughts before they got me in trouble.

“Hi,” she said, breathy and nervous. “I’m so glad you came. It’s been awhile.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that, Vi. I’m sorry I’ve been cold lately. And I wanted—”

“It’s all right,” she said, waving her hands. “I know things haven’t been great for you since Chet arrived.”

“Yeah, he’s a fucking barnacle. Don’t know how to scrape him off.”

“I do,” Violet said. “Well, not directly. But I know how you can make a ton of money to take care of your mom and get rid of him forever.” She held up her cell phone. “YouTube.”

I leaned against her desk. “I know where you’re going with this.”

“I’ve been doing my homework. Shawn Mendes is literally a superstar because of his Vine videos. Billie Eilish put a song on SoundCloud and now look where she is. After the reaction to your playing at the party, it’s a no-brainer. We put videos of you out there, and the world is going to beg for more.”

I smiled, warmed by her confidence in me. “It’s just that easy, huh?”

“With your talent? Yes.”

“Not that it’s going to happen, but I don’t want to be famous like Mendes.”

“What do you want?”

You.

“To…uh, I don’t know. I like performing in front of people. I didn’t realize how much until I did it at the party. It felt like all the shit I walk around with all day had an outlet. A safe one, where I don’t have to talk about my dad or my past or…”

What I feel for you.

“Or whatever…I can just feel it through the song. And the audience hears and maybe they sort of understand. They understand me.” I shrugged. “Make me feel less lonely.”