Guitars and mistakes, p.14
Guitars and Mistakes,
p.14
But it also snapped me right out of my stupor and into something that felt a whole lot more like floating. Or flying. Or something. Because no matter how much I told it not to, no matter how much of a mistake I knew it was, the sight of Rivers coming up my walkway holding flowers, with eyes only for me, had my heart blowing up like a god-damned balloon. It was so big it was about to pop—and I knew exactly what that felt like—but I couldn’t stop it. The man I loved, the man I’d worked so hard to save and then walked away from, was here, and I suddenly didn’t care why. I didn’t care who’d told him that I lived here—I was going to kill her later—or why he’d come or what had changed his mind.
Rivers was here for me.
I jumped off the stoop and ran for him, sprinting the ten steps it took to get to where he was and throwing myself into his arms like a freaking actress from a rom com. And not caring how stupid I looked. I could hear the cameras popping off around us and the people shouting excited questions but the truth was I only wanted to hear what Rivers had to say. I only had eyes—and ears and attention—for him.
Still.
This was also the man who’d told me to leave him alone. He’d broken my heart again and again over the last few weeks, and if I was smart, I’d give him time to explain. I’d force him to tell me what he was doing here.
I wriggled to get him to put me back down and took a step back, both physically and emotionally. And when I looked up at him, I had myself under control again.
“Rivers. What are you doing here? And why…?” I gestured to the press around us.
He had the grace to blush. “I couldn’t stop them. Someone evidently promised Taylor the publicity of a lifetime, and she had them all ready to go. When I got back to the hotel and found you gone, and Anna told me what had happened, I knew I had to follow you. And they… Well, I guess they’d been promised a show.”
Right. Now it was my turn to blush.
“That may have been my doing. But I thought… I thought that meeting your family…”
I didn’t have the words to tell him exactly what I’d thought, because it all sounded so insane now. How had I ever even considered it? His mother had left him once; why had I believed she’d want him to come back home now? And why had I thought that seeing the woman who’d deserted him would actually heal him?
Even worse, I’d promised Taylor that it would work.
God, I’d been stupid and naive. I didn’t blame him for turning away from me for doing that.
So why was he back?
“Why are you here, Rivers?” I asked quietly. “What do you want?”
He gulped… and then started talking. “I’m here for you. I’m here because you came blazing into my life, full of sunshine and fire, and changed everything. All my life I’ve had people telling me I’m not enough. My mom didn’t think I was enough to want to keep me. And even before that I couldn’t please her. Nothing I ever did was right. None of the foster families even bothered to treat me like a human being. I lucked into a music contract but even in the industry, I wasn’t good enough. I was too young, too unrefined. I brooded too much. I drank too much.”
“You did drink too much,” I said gently. “That was your choice.”
He took my hand and kissed it. “Only because I was so unhappy. Only because no one had ever tried to make me stop. I thought no one cared. I thought I broke everything I touched. Until you.”
I nearly sobbed at the lurch in my heart. “You tried to break me, too.”
“But you wouldn’t break. You saw what I was doing and called me on it. You looked through me and thought I was worth saving. And you never stopped trying.” His voice broke. “I loved you from the moment I met you, Lila. I couldn’t look away from you. I never stopped wanting you. But I thought you were too bright for me. I didn’t think I deserved that much sunshine in my life.”
Okay, this was too much. I was going to explode. Or implode. Whichever was worse.
“And now?” I whispered.
“Now I know that sunshine is exactly what I need. It’s what I want. This is real. I’m giving you my heart. It’s banged up and damaged and I’m not sure it even works, but I want you to have it.”
I stopped breathing for an entire ten seconds. Maybe longer. Was this actually happening? Was any of this real or was I dreaming it?
“Are you asking me to take you as you are?”
The ghost of a smile brushed his lips. “Are you going to run away if I do?”
Oh God. Oh God, oh God. “That depends on what exactly you want.”
Now the smile was more solid. “Everything. The white picket fence. The house. The yard. The real family. You.”
The sunshine broke through me then, shining so brightly I could hardly stand it, and it echoed on his face, his eyes brighter than I’d ever seen them, all trace of the shadows gone. This was the guy I’d known was in there. This was the guy who saw something he wanted and grabbed for it with both hands.
And what he wanted was me.
God.
I was going to marry a rock star. And he was finally going to let me save him.
“In that case, Rivers Shine,” I whispered. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
I threw myself into his arms again, and this time I didn’t hold back. I didn’t question it or keep any of myself back, and there was a good reason for that.
This time, it was real. And this time, he was going to catch me and hold me forever. No more heartbreak. No more mistakes.
This time, we’d finally be able to keep each other.
EPILOGUE
On the Road, with Colin Cravers
People.
Do I have news for you.
And for once, it’s not about Olivia Johns or Connor Wheating or even my own burgeoning career in the music industry—although stay tuned if you want to hear more about that, because your boy has big news!
But that’s not why we’re here right now.
Right now, I’m here because I’ve been given the Very Big Pleasure of getting to announce something huge.
Lila Potter and Anna Tatum have officially been signed to Avery Dawson’s record label. They’ve been in the studio recording music and are scheduled to release an album within the next year.
More?
They’ve also gone on tour with The Global Authors and The Leathers, officially this time, to rehash some of the music the did together on the tour with Olivia and Connor. They’re hitting all the same cities and playing in some of the same venues, and making appearances in The Authors’ sets.
More?
Okay, here’s the really, really big news, though I doubt this will surprise anyone. During the very first show, Rivers Shine, that bad boy of all bad boys, surprised Lila Potter with something incredibly sparkly that goes on a certain finger. That’s right, he walked right on stage in the middle of her set, got down on one knee, and held it up to her. He asked her for everything. The kids, the dog, the house, the white picket fence. And he told her he could have it all on his own. But none of that would matter if he didn’t have her.
Fam, I’m telling you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
And I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lila smile that big in my life.
Looks like it’s another happily ever after, and I don’t mind telling you that I’m starting to wonder when it’s going to be my turn. I’ve seen Connor charm Olivia, now, and I’ve seen Rivers get over whatever he had going on in his head to win Lila. And I’m over-the-moon happy for both of them. Honestly, I am.
But I am starting to wonder when it’s going to be my turn.
Of course I guess that’s a story for another blog, and another day.
Right now, let’s all join together in congratulating Lila and Rivers, and wishing them the happiest of futures. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what kind of kids—and songs—those two produce together.
Until next time, I’ll see you on the road!
-C
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Quinn Marlowe is a fan of red wine, cheesecake, perfect hash browns, and really good punk rock. She’s also obsessed with everything piratical—though she refuses to admit any actual connection to pirates. She studied English and Film at UCLA and, when forced to choose a career, chose publishing rather than teaching or being a film maker. Quinn lives in San Diego with her husband, dogs, and far too many cats, plus a few horses and whatever other animals turn up.
New York Rogues and Southern Heroes are Quinn’s first series, though she hopes they will be followed by many more.
Join her FB group at Quinn’s Dark Hearts Club and sign up for her newsletter here!
ALSO BY QUINN MARLOWE
Writing as Quinn Marlowe
NEW YORK ROGUES: ROSSI
His Obsession. Christmas in LA. A man Sloane didn’t expect to see. And a girl Joseph couldn’t help but save.
Her Romeo. Sloane Brennan. Daughter of the Irish mob, my one-time best friend… and the forbidden fruit I'm not allowed to have.
Her Hero. A kidnapping gone wrong. A girl in need of a hero. And a hero who might be in over his head.
Her Target. A girl who doesn’t know what she’s doing. A man who knows exactly who and what he is. And a week that will make them both question everything.
Her Keeper. An investigation she didn't want. A weakness he didn't need. And an alliance that will rock them both to the core.
Her Rebellion, starring Dante Rossi. A girl who didn't have enough power. A man who had too much. And a partnership that would rock the world.
Her Master, starring Dante Rossi, coming in October 2023 to retailers everywhere
***
NEW YORK ROGUES: BROOKS PETERSON
Dare You
Tell Me, coming May 2024 to retailers everywhere
***
THE TROUBLE NEXT DOOR SERIES, STARTING FALL 2023!
Tattoos and Heartbreak
Guitars and Mistakes
Smoke and Mirrors, coming April 2024 to retailers everywhere
Heartbeats and Tears, coming October 2024 to retailers everywhere
WRITING AS Q MARLOWE
SOUTHERN HEROES
Christmas Music
Hero in Waiting
Hero Next Door
Hero on the Road
WRITING AS BRYN PARRISH
ANGELS OF NEW YORK
Fallen, coming spring 2024
Risen, coming fall of 2024
Don't miss out!
Click the button below and you can sign up to receive emails whenever Quinn Marlowe publishes a new book. There's no charge and no obligation.
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-VLWT-NLFNC
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-VLWT-NLFNC
Connecting independent readers to independent writers.
Quinn Marlowe, Guitars and Mistakes
