No Going Back by Erika Ashby Read Free Book Online Page A

up in one, but the car we drove around represented it. We had a normal family car. Not brand new and out of our price range, but an average, affordable car. It’s the people who’d rather pay more for a car than living arrangements that get me. Are you going to have your friends come over and hang out in your car since your home is shitty in comparison? I personally have never understood it. But I guess that can be the same way with how people present themselves to the world as well. On the outside I’m a shiny pair of twenty inch rims. But on the inside I’m nothing more than a rusty, scratched to shit, pair of factory wheels. I plan on changing that though.
    My manager Megan stops by my station as I’m packing my things up. “So, I hear it’s a girl. Congratulations Mallory! I’m so happy for you.” She bends down to hug me.
    “Thanks girl. I’m about to go buy my lil princess a whole new wardrobe as we speak. It’s much more fun to buy cute baby clothes than fat ass maternity looking ones.” I shudder at the thought that I’m about to have to put all my old clothes to the side for the rest of this pregnancy. They’re starting to get a bit snug.
    “Oh girl please, you are anything but fat. Hell, I look more pregnant than you do. I’m surprised you even have a baby growing down there. I’m sure it’ll hit you all at once!”
    I roll my eyes. “Geez thanks. Exactly what I wanted to hear. Well, I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
    As I make my way out, I notice a sign posted on the elevator doors. Great, this can’t be good. Just as I expected it says Closed due to Maintenance . Good to know they do actually maintain the ancient deathtrap. The dreaded stairs it is. It takes me a couple go rounds before I finally find the door for the stairs. I’m not sure I’ve ever had to use them since working here the past two years. I really hope they maintain the elevators more than once every two years. I push open the heavy metal door that has one square window in it that I’m too short to reach. It doesn’t shut as quickly as a heavy metal door should, so I turn around to see if something stopped it. More like who kept the door from shutting right away. Surely I’m imagining this.
    “You. What the fuck are you doing here?” I cannot control the hate that’s coursing through my veins. The kind of hate that you feel when your actions will most definitely be worth spending the rest of your life in prison for.
    “You don’t look so happy to see me, Mallory.”

Chapter Eight

    *SETH*

    I actually rushed to the airport as soon as the truth that tiny picture held hit me full force. Derek had hopped in and rode with me. I guess he knew I’d need some sense talked into me and he’d be the man for the job. Jesika had informed him over the phone that Mallory’s flight had already taken off by the time we arrived. I instantly ran to the first travel agent I could find, fully intending to buy the next damn plane ticket back home. I was going to chase down the woman I loved. I had questions and she had the answers. Plus, with all the other bullshit that had just been revealed, I was desperately seeking an escape. But before I could book it out of Sin City, my sensible brother reminded me of my band mates that were counting on me. We had a chance to land a recording deal, and Derek was right; I couldn’t be the one responsible for ruining that for them or me — hell, this is my dream too. I agreed that I would stay here and finish out the next few weeks of this part of the tour and then go home and confront Mallory when we have a break for a few days.
    I’m not a flower sending kind of man, but for some damn reason I feel that Mallory deserves some roses, and I’m going to be the one to send her some. I also want her to know that I plan on talking to her when I go back home. Whenever the hell that might really be. I had tried calling her later on that night after she had left, wanting to make sure she made it home. I knew