Free Melody of Truth (Love of a Rockstar Book 3) by Nicole Simone

you’d stayed, what would have changed?”
    “I’m not sure, but I abandoned my family when I should have stuck by their side.”
    Tears pricked my eyes. I inhaled through my nose and counted to ten. The urge to cry receded but the bitter taste of regret remained. Sean tugged me down onto the bed next to him. Lying flat, we watched the lights of the passing traffic dance on the ceiling. “I wish I could have been there for you.”
    “You’re here for me now.”
    His hold tightened, anchoring me to the here and now. Minutes or hours later, we succumbed to sleep, hands interconnected, the barrier of pillows broken.

 
     
     
     
     
    I TUGGED ON MY SHOES , careful to not wake Melody. She stirred, smacked her lips together, and flung her arm across her forehead. Early dawn light peeked through the curtains.
    “You leaving?” Melody said, voice thick with grogginess.
    “I figured it would be best if we weren’t seen exiting the same hotel room.”
    “Right.”
    She sounded disappointed. I glanced over my shoulder. “I don’t have to go.”
    Melody’s eyes lifted as she stifled a yawn. “No, you should. You’re right.”
    I felt like a woman kicked to the curb after a one-night stand, hoping for more and getting nothing in return. Jesus, next thing I knew I would be braiding hair and singing musicals into a hairbrush.
    “I’ll see you soon.”
    “Bye.”
    Melody cuddled her pillow and shut her eyes, out faster than a light switch. I observed her for a moment, memorizing the way her chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm, how her eyelids twitched with hidden dreams and her delicate hands curled tightly into fists. I prayed her fiancé knew how he lucky he was to wake up to her every day because to me, it felt like a precious gift. When I brushed a kiss on the spot above her eyebrow, she stayed unresponsive. I slid my arms into my jacket and quietly tiptoed into the hallway. The hotel door clicked shut behind me.
     

     
    MUSICIANS THROUGH AND THROUGH, MY bandmates weren’t morning people. They would sleep until noon if they could, which worked in my favor because I could easily slip into my bunk without anybody noticing my absence. I inserted my key into the lock and slowly entered the bus. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and with one hand outstretched, I made my way toward the back.
    “Look at you, doing the walk of shame.”
    My heart leaped into my throat and my stomach lurched. Ash was sitting at the table. In the dark.
    “What the fuck?” I stuttered.
    “Sorry."
    “No you aren’t.”
    With a smile in his voice, he said, “You’re right, I’m not. It’s bloody fun scaring the bejesus out of you.”
    “And better than a shot of coffee.”
    Now wide awake, my butt slid into the opposite side of the booth. Ash recoiled as I yanked open the blinds. With his hair mussed and his eyes puffy with exhaustion, it appeared as if he had found someone else to go home with last night.
    “Has she left yet?” I wondered.
    He sipped his green tea. “Who?”
    “Whoever robbed you of sleep.”
    “I didn’t bring anyone back here.”
    “Why?”
    “Emma is pregnant.”
    Ash stared into his mug and swirled the liquid inside. Three years ago, when I’d first met him, he had rarely partied, preferring to stay inside and play cards, and he’d had a girlfriend he was fiercely devoted to. Once they broke up, Ash rivaled for the crown of band whore.
    “I saw it on her Facebook page. I shouldn’t have opened the video, but I couldn’t help myself.” Ash clutched the handle, his fingers pale. “She and her husband are having a girl.” Utter desolation soaked his words.
    “I’m sorry.”
    He looked at me with pain reflected in his eyes. “WE were supposed to have a girl. We used to talk about what we would name her—Rose Laurence, after her grandmother.”
    Getting a glimpse into the future, seeing what could have been was a common problem in our generation. Inundated with Facebook updates, it’s near