“I’m saying we need to break up,” she whispers.
My stomach lurches, wanting to expel the breakfast I had on the flight. Taking a loud intake of air through my flared nostrils, I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I gave upeverythingfor you, Ella.” My voice is calm while trying to hold it together, but all I want to do is yell obscenities and stomp like an unruly child.
Two years ago, I dropped everything for her, including my band, Recoil. We were the opening band for the world’s most famous UK rockers in history—12GAUGE-Slayed. And, like a cliché, I fell for the daughter of the lead singer.
Ella, the woman sitting before me, is breaking my damn heart!
We’re complete opposites—I’m the rebellious American rocker, and she’s an innocent daddy’s girl trying to make it in her own band. The fact that we lived in different countries should have been enough to deter us. Let alone that my three bandmates were furious at me for spending all my time with Ella instead of focusing my attention on Recoil.
But sometimes, you have to follow your heart.
And my heart isn’t with my band anymore.
My heart is withher—with my Ella.
Tears glisten in her eyes, but they won’t meet mine. “I know, Danger. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? You’refuckingsorry?” I repeat and throw my hands in the air. “I love you! We’re getting married,for fuck’s sake,”I yell the last part, my emotions bordering on mania.
It’s no secret we’ve had our ups and downs, just like any other relationship. But once again, Chad, her bandmate, is the common denominator. Yes, he’s just lost his parents in a horrific accident, but I can’t ignore the angry pit growing in my gut.
She bites her bottom lip and stares at her engagement ring. In horror, I watch as she slides it off and then hands it back to me so casually, like it means nothing and isn’t breaking the very foundations of my fucking soul.
My entire body slumps.
Anger circulates in my blood, turning into red-hot lava.
But then I take a calm breath.
I can’t lose her.
I won’t.
I’ve sacrificed so much to be with this woman.
I love Ella more than anything in this world.
I have to fight.
So I kneel before her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Baby, please don’t do this. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. I’ve changed who I am to be with you. You’reeverythingto me. Don’t do this,” I beg.
“I have to.” She closes her eyes in finality. “My heart isn’t in it, Danger. I can’t keep lying to us both.”
My heart is being ripped to shreds, and I want my Ella to make me feel better.
She is my salvation, and she is my ruin.
Her fingers run through my hair, but it doesn’t ease the pain. It enhances it by showing me I won’t have this again.
This woman doesn’t want me.
Despite everything we have been through, shestilldoesn’t want me.
“I love you so much, Ella. My life’s in England. What the fuck am I meant to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know whatI’mgoing to do, Danger. But we’re young, and life is short. That’spainfullyobvious to me now. I can’t keep living a lie. I am soverysorry I’ve hurt you,” she whispers the last part when I look up at her.
She strokes my cheek casually. Then it dawns on me why this is happening, and I stiffen. “Chad, right?”
