“Thanks.”
“Anytime, Fancy.” I leave her with a smile on her face and go finish cutting the grass.
When I am on my last row, I see Peyton walking by, headphones on bobbing her head as she hums along. I hope she doesn’t move, she is one of the only friends I have made here that I actually like. She’s sweet to my little sister too. Most kids snub their noses because she’s little but not Peyton she treats her like her equal and not an annoying brat who whines too much.
Chapter 5
Nashville Gawker
Jameson Lewis has landed in Music City and our sources tell us there has been trouble in paradise. Is the band breaking up? One rumor is that one of his bandmates was secretly sleeping with his ex and that a feud has been brewing for months. Others say that the front man of our favorite band is coming home to his roots to regroup and write new material as a solo artist.
I’ve still got my ear to the ground and am waiting confirmation of that show I told you about. Only time will tell. Just remember who broke the news to you first.
Chapter 6
Peyton
“Little old to be playing dress up,” Jameson teases, as I turn to face him for the first time since he broke my heart five years ago.
“It’s my wedding dress,” I snap, stating the obvious.
His face falls. The jerk’s complexion seems to have turned a pale shade of green and I notice his hands clenching into fists. He can’t be upset about this, he’s the one that threw me away and never looked back.
“Wow,” he says, recovering quickly. Is it that impossible for him to believe that someone wants to marry me? “Congratulations, Fancy, I’m happy for you.”
I cringe inwardly at his use of my nickname. He doesn’t get to call me that anymore. That girl doesn’t exist anymore. “Just Peyton,” I correct him.
“Right. Just Peyton.” He scratches the back of his neck rocking back on his feet. “You look different, but happy.” He smiles weakly.
“Yeah, I need to change so...” I raise my brows at him. His cheeks turn pink. Wow. Is the famous rock star blushing right now? I didn’t think anything could make him blush, at least not after all the shit I’v
e read about him online over the years. Rumors say he gets around a lot.
“Sorry.” He shakes his head as Ruby Jane stares between us with a grin plastered on her face. “I’ll be waiting outside, sis.” He turns to leave. It’s what he is best at, but not before looking back at me once more. My heart leaps to my throat. He’s as devilishly handsome as he always was but even more so now. He’s cut his hair. He has a black Mohawk. Normally I would think it looks too punk, but on him…he wears the style all too well. “Just Peyton, it’s good to see you, we should catch up sometime.” His eye blinks. It has to have been a blink, because there is no way in hell that he just winked at me after all this time.
Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. “Have a nice life,” I call out as Ruby Jane closes the door behind him. She turns and goes to undoing my zipper for me. “A little warning woulda been nice,” I hiss at her. If anyone knows how deeply Jameson cut me, it is his little sister.
Her hands go up in defense. “I had no idea he was coming home.”
“That so explains the shit eating grin on your face doesn’t it?” I snap, shimmying out of my gown. I know it isn’t her fault he’s here exactly but seeing him cracks open all those old wounds that never truly healed. I never got to say all the things I need to to him. I never got closure. He was mine and then he was just gone. No goodbye. He just vanished, and the next thing I knew he was famous.
“I am just excited to see my brother, bridezilla,” she quips, hanging my dress for me as I change into my denim cutoffs and a tank top.
Curiosity gets the best of me as I walk Ruby Jane out.
Why is he here?
Why now?
After all this time he just shows up a month before I am to be married and acts like he didn’t turn my life upside down when he pulled his disappearing act. I want to wrap my hands around his neck and choke him.
When I enter the living room, he is sitting on the couch talking to my grandpa, making plans to go fishing. He doesn’t get to just swoop in out of nowhere and jump right back in like he never left. Fuck that. It isn’t fair to me—to any of us. Who does he think he is anyway?
“You should invite Wes,” I suggest, giving my grandpa a gentle hug around the shoulders as I go to stand behind his chair.
“Wes?” Jameson questions.
“My fiancé.” I say, as his eyes narrow in on the rock that is weighing down my finger.