Storm (Ashes & Embers 1)

ay. It was absolutely horrible.”

I gasp and cover my mouth. The thought of it makes me feel sick on so many levels. What went through the poor girl’s head to make her want to end her own life? And her child’s? Storm must have been completely devastated.

“He blamed himself for a long time. He turned to drugs and alcohol. It tore us apart to see him that way. And especially right after Asher... Well, that’s a story for another time, sweetheart.” She gives me a weak smile. “I know you’re wondering why I dragged you out here to talk about this, and it certainly wasn’t to depress you. The thing that happened with you and Storm and being stuck in the truck together? I think you formed a special bond. Am I right?”

“Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but we did.”

“He hasn’t been in or wanted to be in a relationship in a very long time. He cares about you very much and I can see why. You two have chemistry. The way he looks at you and touches you, like you’ve been together forever.”

“Aria, we do have some sort of connection. I can’t deny that, but I am in a relationship. Did Storm tell you that?”

She nods slowly. “Yes, he did. And I told him he should stay away and respect that. He says he can’t.”

“I’m afraid he will hurt me,” I admit. “I’m not sure I fit his world.”

“Oh, trust me, Evelyn. I understand. I dated and married a musician. I’ve been through it all. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? You bet your ass it was. It’s not for everyone, though. It’s a hard lifestyle to get accustomed to.”

“I just don’t know what to do. I wasn’t prepared for any of this... meeting someone else and having feelings for them... considering leaving a twelve-year relationship... being on my own. Dating a rock star sounds insane to me, I’m sorry.” It’s the truth. I can’t lie to his mother.

“He has a lot of love to give, Evelyn. Look how he treats his dog, for God’s sake.” She laughs and I laugh with her. “I just don’t want to see him get hurt, Evelyn. And I can tell you are not the type to do that. But you do have a decision to make, honey. And I don’t envy you at all, because I have been exactly where you are.”

My head jerks up. “Really? Were you with someone when you met Ronnie?”

“Yes. I was engaged. I met Ronnie at a concert and I went head over heels for him. A few weeks later, I cancelled my wedding, my parents disowned me, and I was living in the back of a tour bus. I loved him, though. I couldn’t get enough of him. No one made me feel like he did and still does to this day. Sometimes, the right person comes along at the wrong time, and you have to just trust fate and hope it leads you in the right direction and it all evens out.”

“You’re very lucky. Storm really admires what you and your husband have. He talked about you when we were in the truck.”

“I am very blessed. And I think you are, too.” She pats my hand. “We should get back to them. I’m sure Gram has dessert ready. I just want you to know there is so much more to him than what you see. You can talk to me anytime if you need to, and I mean that. And I really do hope you become part of our family someday. I want to see my boys settle down a bit.”

We stand and I give her a big hug. “Thank you so much, Aria. I won’t hurt him.”

Returning to the living room and taking my seat with Storm leaning against my legs again feels like home. All of this reminds me so much of my childhood. This is what I miss and what I want. A family, a house full of love and laughter.

His Gram makes us hot cocoa, just as Storm described to me during the blizzard, and then they open their presents. Asher makes an appearance, standing in the doorway. He smiles, but it never reaches his eyes. It’s hard for me to look at him, almost a mirror image of the man I am falling in love with, and see the sadness. I’m pretty sure he is the vocalist of their band and now I am really curious to see him on stage next week. I always thought lead singers were outgoing, but I don’t see that in Asher at all.

I am sad to go when the night is over. His family kisses me and hugs me, telling me they will see me again. Well, everyone but Asher, who just nods his head at me.

“I’m glad you came tonight.” We’re parked in front of my condo in the dark. I feel sleepy from all the food and the long drive home.

“Thank you for inviting me. I had a great time. Your family is amazing.”

“They like you.”

“Your brother seems sad. Is he okay?”

“He’s chasing a ghost. But he’ll be all right.”

I cock my head at him, not understanding.

“It’s a story for another time, baby. He’s okay, though. Next week at the show you’ll meet my other brothers Talon and Mikah and my cousins Vandal and Lukas.”

Wow. More brothers and two cousins. I hope they all don’t look like Storm. I absolutely love the names, too. When Amy and I were young, we came up with a theory—anyone with a cool name was good-looking and cool by default. So far, we have not found evidence to disprove this theory.

Saying goodbye to Storm is getting harder. It feels wrong for us to part now. In my heart, I feel like we should be going home together, falling asleep in each other’s arms.

He breaks into my thoughts. “I go on tour in two weeks.”

“Okay...”

“We don’t tour a lot. None of us really want to be some huge band that tours non-stop, so we tour about two months, sometimes three out of the year and then do a few scattered shows here and there, and some of the smaller local venues.”

I nod, trying to let it sink in. This is his life, the part I know nothing about. The part that scares me the most. I like him this way, when he is just some regular guy in a truck, holding my hand.

He touches my chin and turns me to face him. “I’ll call you and text you every day. If you want me to?”

“Yes. I would really like that.”

“I want to come home to you. I don’t want to come back to this.”

I would have to make my choice. In my heart, I already knew what that choice was. I just needed to get my head on board with it.

“Evie, you gotta stop living in fear. You can’t see the stars unless you go out in the dark. You get what I’m saying?”

Chapter Fourteen

“Wow, Mike, you’re really hot for this band, aren’t you? I think I see some gel in your hair. Fancy.” Amy raises her eyebrows and playfully touches Michael’s hair. She glances over at me and winks. I flash her a warning look to behave herself. Amy has a real hard time not poking at people and getting them aggravated. I’m not even sure it’s a great idea to bring her to the show now that I’ve had more time to think about it. Her knowing the situation between Storm and I will only fuel her endless taunting and I already feel awkward enough about going and being under the same roof with both Michael and Storm.

Michael takes our coats out of the closet in the hallway and hands mine to me. “Ashes and Embers have been one of my favorite bands for years. They fucking rock. There aren’t many good rock bands around anymore. It’s kind of a dying breed. Fuckin’ Storm can really rip on the guitar, too.” He turns to me. “Have you heard him play live?”

I pull my coat on and lift my hair out from under the collar. “No, he didn’t seem to have a guitar strapped to him when we were trapped in the back seat during the storm of the century, sorry.”

I check myself in the mirror one more time before we leave, thinking my looks and outfit really pale in comparison to Amy’s short skirt, long legs, four-inch heels, and plunging neckline. Not to mention her gorgeous face and hair. Standing next to her in my skinny jeans, black boots, and a black silk peasant blouse, I feel just... average. Amy looks more like she could be the potential girlfriend of a rock star, not me.

Michael and Amy talk nonstop on the drive to the venue, leaving me alone in my thoughts. I’m excited to see Storm play, to see him in his true element. I’m also nervous as hell at the thought of him meeting Michael. I absolutely hate the position I have gotten myself into—having feelings for another man while

still in a relationship. I used to scoff at people who got themselves in similar situations and claimed ‘it just happened.’ I could never understand how they could say that and expect people to believe it. But now I know all too well, because it did ‘just happen.’ I didn’t plan or want the mess with Storm, and I would change it if I could.

That’s a lie. No, I wouldn’t. Now that I’ve felt his touch, been in his arms, felt his body, tasted his lips...

“Are you going to be mute all night?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been daydreaming since we left the house,” Michael says.

“Maybe she’s just bored.” Amy pipes up from the backseat. God, I want to kick her.

“I’m not bored or daydreaming, I was just listening to you two argue, as usual.”

We pull into the parking lot of the venue. There are a lot of people hanging around outside, smoking and talking loud. Most of the women I see are dressed sexy like Amy. Shit. No wonder Storm always has a girl hanging on him in all the photos I’ve seen of him online. I’ll bet most of these girls are those groupie types I’ve seen on TV who just come to party and have sex with the guys. Eww.

There is a short line to get in, as apparently your name has to be on the list to get in, and a big muscular guy at the door is checking the names off on an iPad he’s holding. Michael gives him our names, and we are then escorted to a table inside, right up front.

A good looking guy with shaggy jet black hair that is spiked up a bit on the top and sides is sitting at the table with a pretty girl who is also dressed pretty tame like myself. He stands when he sees us.

“Hey, I’m Lukas. You guys must be Evelyn, Mike, and Amy?”

“That’s us,” I say. “You’re Storm’s cousin?” Wow. Is everyone in his family just sexy as hell? It’s sinful.

He flashes an adorably crooked smile. He looks young to me, maybe early twenties. He’s also covered in tattoos and has a piercing through his lip and his eyebrow. “Yup, that’s me. Have a seat. This is Ivy.” He gestures toward the girl sitting next to him, who looks like a deer in the headlights but manages to smile at us. She is clearly just as uncomfortable being here as I am. I choose to sit next to her, and Amy sits on my other side with Michael next to her. I know Amy did this on purpose to put distance between Michael and me.