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As the venues got bigger so did the crowds, the fanfare, and I could see how you could get lost in it, caught up in it—but I was determined not to end up like my father He was addicted to the fame I’m addicted to the creative process I hope that difference between us is enough
The tour ended and rote, we played around LA, and as ti another albu it for the band and forthe albu I dreaded, at least until the day I saw her through the glass The girl who inspired our song “Once in a Lifetiirl who stole ht and then crushed it at the very same time
She was as beautiful as I relance she tooka suitcase behind her, and my heart skipped a beat I knew immediately she was the one sent to interview one I couldn’t help but watch her I wanted her unlike anyone I had ever wanted before I had to stifle a laugh when her briefcase fell off the top of her suitcase and she glanced around to see who saanted to yell, “Onlyabout you is sexy as fk”
I rushed to grab the door for her, but she pushed it forward and fell into me—not that I minded in the least I’d catch her over and over There wasn’t a thing about her that I didn’t remember from the first tiht ainsther get away so easily I’d go on a thousand tours to have her in ht in her eyes that ot a second chance—it was her But unlike hi to blow it
When she extended her hand and said, “Hello, I’m Dahlia London from Sound Music I’m so sorry I’m late,” I knew she had to be mine
Chapter 1
A Thousand Years
A glih the partially open curtains across the roo various shades of pink, red, and orange Before I know it, the sky blazes with color; it’s as if it’s on fire—just like lorious new day And I’eous lines of his body slumped over in the chair next to my hospital bed He’s asleep, but not very soundly I study hi jaw, sculpted nose, and toned body But it’s his soul, his playfulness, and his a personality that made me fall in love with him He’s so much more than I could ever have asked for—he’s my soul mate in every sense of the word
Carefully re my hand from his, I try hard not to wake him Then I slowly ease myself up from the bed and make my way to the bathroom When I return, the sun has fully risen and so has he He’s staring out the ith the curtains now completely open I sweep hi—at just over six feet he’s glorious Strong shoulders, a lean waist, abs that seem to flex with his every movement Arms crossed, his head cocked just so, his T-shirt tucked into his jeans haphazardly, and his stance so straight and sure The soft bluish-gray sky of the early ht of him
Trying to see what he’s looking at, I only notice the fluffy clouds drifting by They appear so white against thesky; theyright nohen a bluejay flies by and he turns around I want to erase the pain I see in his sorrowful expression and sad green eyes
I don’t want to dwell on the events of yesterday’s incident, but he seems to be preoccupied with it His mood has been somber ever since it happened He calls it an attack—I prefer incident After all, I’ to waste ood things in each new day But he blames himself I haven’t been able to convince hiain, a random act of violence couldn’t have been prevented and, thankfully, I’o home
Grabbing my clothes fro in front of hiown I er i around?”
Sighing, he runs his hands through his already- around I want to help you Seeing what he did to you can’t make me feel any worse Believe me”
I s the luht words to respond, and help put his mind at ease “River, it was not your fault So women, that isn’t your fault”
He can’t hide his shudder fro incident You were attacked If I had been with you it wouldn’t have happened I shouldn’t have been sleeping It’s really just that simple”
I stand there shocked by his tone, even though I know he doesn’t mean to be so harsh “No, it’s not just that siue, but he cuts me off
His shoulders sag He proround and shoves his hands in his jeans pockets “I’m sorry, Dahlia I don’t ot hurt It kills me to see you like this, to knohat could have happened to you It just kills me”
We’ve had this conversation twice already I already know o nowhere So I repeatnext to the chair to get e But I plead one more time, “River, please turn around”
He’s standing in front of me with only the bed between us but for some reason it feels like we’re miles apart He doesn’te I can also hear it in his voice and his sorrow not only makes me sad, it tears at my heart
I’ve never been shy around him I just know that I’m covered in bruises and I want so badly to spare hi me this way
“No, let me help you,” he whispers His tone is barely audible
With a deep sigh I resignnear the chair I ask, “Can you please hand me that?”
Grabbing , he sets it on the bed
As I untie the ugly green gown and slide it down my arms, he watches me But not in an Oh, I want to see you nked kind of way, ht be sick way
The gown puddles on the floor and I stand there completely nked in front of him I watch as he looks at me He scans my body from head to toe before his eyes drift back up to meet mine and he ss
In an atteown and playfully toss it at him “Your turn to play dress-up”
His lips finally turn up in a semblance of a smile, but his eyes are still filled with sadness “I think I’ll pass this tiown up to him “Green isn’t my color”
Both of us s beyond my bruises At last And all his love forto me
He strides around the bed and insists on helping me put on my panties and jeans I want to coht now, but I refrain But when he ever so carefully starts to pullhis hand, I press it over my heart and look at hiet to second base,” I say, sliding his hand down to cup my breast