His Rock & Roll Girl (Emerald City #2) by Allyson Lindt Read Free Book Online

the only thing left in his head.
    “Zee.” He whirled. She stood a few feet back, just outside the door, rain drenching and suctioning her clothes to her. Dark circles lined her pinched face, but she was the most gorgeous sight he’d ever seen. He held himself back when she crossed her arms. “Why are you working so late?” he asked.
    “Apparently the world didn’t stop just because the office got trashed. I lost half a workday dealing with the cops this morning.” Her voice was strained. She licked her lips. “What’s your excuse?”
    Instinct pushed a vague, arrogance-filled answer to the tip of his tongue, and he let it slide out before he could consider it. “I just wanted to walk in the rain, you know?”
    She took a step back. “Right.”
    He couldn’t do this. It was time to stop being a coward about his feelings for her. “No, it’s not right. It’s not even true. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
    Her expression didn’t soften, and her mouth stayed snapped shut. Hard eyes stared back at him.
    “I’m sorry. For not being honest about why I’m here. For every time I lied to myself about how I felt. About hurting you.” But this wasn’t all. He’d come to her to show her what she’d been missing out on, yet he’d come to realize he was the one at a loss. Nothing mattered without her. Not the fame. Not the money. “I love you, Zee.” The words were easier to push out than he thought.
    “Fuck you.” Her words echoed in the rain. “You can’t do that.” Was that a tremor in her voice? “Over and over again, you’ve given up your right to tell me what you feel. It’s too late.”
    He wanted to argue. Plead. Cajole. Seduce. None of those was the answer, though. “It’s true I don’t deserve to weigh you down like that. Do you want me to take it back? I’ll still mean it either way.”
    “This isn’t fair, Quinn.” She unfolded her arms and stepped closer, the clouds in her expression darker than the ones blocking out the moon. “Why couldn’t you give me this when I asked for it? It’s too late now. Our lives don’t intersect anymore, and I’m grateful. I’m glad you left. My life is better this way. I never would’ve become anything, if I’d stayed by your side.”
    Every one of her words dug deeper, and for one of the only times he could remember, he didn’t have an argument for her.
    “So take it back or don’t.” Her chin quivered. “I don’t care. We lost our chance.” Her head dropped, and seconds later, her body started to shake. She wrapped her arms around herself, and quiet sobs filtered to his ears.
    His chest clenched at the sight, until he thought his ribs might crack. Something flashed in his mind to walk away; she’d given him her answer. He ground out the thought, and finally let his instinct take control of his actions. In a few short strides, he closed the distance between them, and wrapped his arms around her. He expected her to push him away, but she sank into his grip, tears shaking her body.
    “I’m so sorry.” His lips moved against her hair. The pouring rain drowned out the rest of the world, and if he dove into the moment, he could pretend they were the only two people who existed. She was so warm, pressed against him. So fragile. “I was terrified of what it meant. You have every right to be mad, but I still love you.”
    Her response was another sob. Her fists clenched bits of his T-shirt, and she leaned into him more. He held her, running his fingers through her hair, until her cries became short hiccups for breath.
    She didn’t look up when she spoke. Though his shirt muffled the words, he heard them as loud and clear as anything. “I love you, too.”
    He tilted her head up, forcing her to look at him. Even with red-rimmed eyes, storm mingling with her grief, she was still gorgeous. He brushed his lips over hers, memorizing the taste of salt and rain and her.
    Her hands slid to the back of his neck, and she held his head in