Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I shouldn’t feel this way about him so soon. Days. . . that is how long we’ve known each other, and I’ve already given him more in a short amount of time than I did my own husband. Granted, Van and I met when we were teens, and I made him wait a year before I slept with him, but not Levi.
No, I threw myself at Levi. I never backed down and bore all for him to take or leave. He took and took greedily as if I were the fountain that kept him fed for all eternity. Yet, here I am contemplating an escape because someone took a photo of us and put it on social media.
Deep down I knew that would happen, despite what Levi said about people being cool in Nashville. No one in their right mind isn’t going to post a picture of Levi Austin out and about with some wild-looking woman on his arm. I wasn’t shy about holding his hand either. Hell no, I wanted to stake my claim. Let all the women staring at him know that he chose me.
And it backfired. I let my guard down. I knew better than to kiss him in public. Holding hands is one thing, but sealing the deal is another. The moment his publicist’s voice echoed through the cab of his truck, I knew it was only a matter of time before mine would start calling. Sure enough, Laura’s deceiving face lights up my phone. Her smug smile mocks me, reminding me that I need to fire her but can’t do it unless the band is on board. Somehow I doubt that will happen.
Levi gives me a sideways glance, no doubt hoping I won’t answer the call. Nothing good can come from Laura and me speaking, especially about the picture online. As much as I don’t want to talk to her, I should, because if I don’t answer now, she won’t give up.
“Hello, Laura,” I say in a snide voice that is very unlike me. I make sure to have her on speakerphone so Levi can understand the difference between her and Barb. I know Barb isn’t fond of Levi hanging out with me, but I’d take her any day over the publicist I have.
“Playtime is over, Zara.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“This whole eye for an eye thing you’re doing to Van. He gets it. He’s sorry and wants you to come home. He expects you to be there when he checks out of rehab.”
I roll my eyes as my thumb hovers over the End button on my phone. One would like to think that she would side with me, just once, over this Van bullshit, but she never will because she was all too happy to spread her legs for him.
“Is there a reason you called, Laura?”
She laughs as if I’m wasting her time. “Zara, I know you’re hurt, but this is reality. Shacking up with some random, ahem, cowboy isn’t going to make things change between you and Van.”
“He’s not random,” I say, feeling the need to correct her even though I don’t care what she thinks.
“Come home, Zara. Everyone knows you’re there now so you might as well face them on your own turf, with your own people.”
I look at Levi, who has his eyes focused on the road. I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. He is my person. He makes me feel safe, loved, and perfect. I can be me when I’m around him. He hasn’t asked me to change or to be someone I’m not, even when he tried to get me to buy cowgirl boots.
“Zara, are you there?”
I almost wish I wasn’t, at least on the other end of the phone. “I’m here, Laura. Is there something you want? Unless it has to do with Reverend Sister, we really don’t have anything to talk about.”
“This attitude you have, and you wonder why Van left you,” she pauses, waiting for me to correct her, but I don’t. “The label isn’t happy, Zara. They’re afraid that your inability to forgive Van will hurt the band.”
“It’s my band.” I point out.
“But he’s the star, and you know it. If Van walks, Reverend Sister is no more.”
She’s right, but I refuse to believe her. Levi kisses the top of my head as we pull into his driveway. There’s a car there, likely belonging to his housekeeper.
“Come home, Zara. You know it’s the right thing to do. No man is worth losing your record deal or band over.” She hangs up, leaving me speechless. I’m afraid to look at Levi, unsure of what I’ll see when I do.
He opens the truck door and slides out, bringing me with him. I’m flush with his body as he presses me up against the side of the truck. Levi’s arms encase me. “Close your eyes, Zara.”