Free Plastic Confidence (Good Bye Trilogy #1) by Alisa Mullen Page B

have been motivated to learn but y ou actually did all the work when you learned to sing and play the guitar. It came from a deep place inside of you, Julia. Don’t ever give credit to anyone or anything else. It is all you.” He kissed the back of my left hand, and then looked up at me as he blew a black curl from his right eye. It was so sexy and I wanted him... badly.
    I couldn’t accept his compliment about it being all me and shit. I didn’t accept any compliments about my work because I simply learned to play and sing. The rest of it was timing and who Dex and Johnny knew. Yes, there was a lot of pounding the pavement to market our band, but that didn’t feel like work to me. Music–this band–was my life. I didn’t know any other way to live.
    “Thanks,” I said flatly. He smirked at my lack of enthusiasm. Maybe one day I would look back on these years and find the pride. Maybe that would happen, but not likely.
    Johnny’s voice boomed through the hotel suite.
    “Jullliiaaa” he yelled once again, with the Rocky referenced tone. Jesus Christ . Johnny needed to leave. The door to my bedroom flew open. Within mere seconds, Johnny’s jaw dropped when he saw Brennan and my hands intertwined. Brennan’s hands squeezed mine, reminding me that he wanted to be there, with me.
    “ So. Being a slut again, are we?” Johnny sneered. I felt Brennan’s posture tighten up at Johnny’s crude question, and I wearily looked at Johnny.
    “Shut the fuck up, Johnny , and go sleep it off. In your own hotel room.”
    “And don’t you ever called her a slut again,” Brennan warned.
    Johnny stumbled back a little , probably because of all the booze, and laughed. He bent over and bellowed out so hard, while Brennan and I gave each other random looks of apprehension. I felt the foreboding moment when I looked back at Johnny. He was about to destroy my chances with Brennan forever. It was the train wreck moment that people talked and wrote about. I saw the collision coming and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. I prepared my shield for battle. Drunk Johnny always came out firing.
    “She is a slut, man. She is damn proud of it, too. Aren’t ya, Jules?” he sniggered.
    I didn’t say anything because he was spot on. Good one, Johnny. Shield was effectively up and strong. I let my head fall in a moment of humiliation and resolve. I let my hands slip away from Brennan’s. I closed my eyes, and exhaled my guilt, my shame, and my embarrassment out in one breath.
    I considered the scene, tried to find the best way to get out of it, and pointedly regarded both guys. Johnny was an automatic boot. Brennan was just a bad moment.
    “ Please. Leave. Both of you,” I answered shakily. I turned around in a flash, grabbed my phone, and proceeded to lock myself in the bathroom. Really, Jules? No rebuttal? That wasn’t like me at all and Johnny was probably standing out there, completely dumbfounded at my lack of reaction.
    I always took Johnny’s shit and gave it right back with pleasure. Brennan witnessing our exchange changed everything about my reaction. I didn’t want him to know I was a slut. I didn’t want him to think that he would be one of hundreds. He was different. So... I ran.

NINE
     
    When I didn’t hear anyone in my bedroom anymore, I opened the bathroom door cautiously. My eyes went to a hotel note pad on the end of my bed. I walked over to it in a flash. Brennan had left a note. Well, he wrote one sentence and his phone number.
    I walked out to the living area and picked up the phone.
    “Lizzie?” I asked when I heard her cheery hello. “I need a different place to stay in Boston.” Minutes later, she and Nick had it all worked out with no questions asked.
    The next morning, we all climbed into the town car to the airport. Johnny and I wouldn’t look at each other. I patted my jeans pocket to make sure Brennan’s note was still there. I looked out the window and slowly began to close my eyes.