Heaven Sent (14 page)

We climb back into bed and we

instantly fit up against each other. His

arms protect me and remind me what I’m

walking away from. My tears from

earlier were because Dylan. These tears

are for a completely different reason, my

broken heart.

I wake in the bed alone.

I must have finally dozed off from

exhaustion. I have no concept of time

right now, but I notice the bus is

stopped. I sit up and fight off the sick

feeling once again. I need to eat

something. I make my way out of the

room and hear Taron talking to Holden.

“I don’t want any fuck ups. I need

her safe at all times. Bring in everyone

it takes to make sure he can’t get to her.”

He pauses for a little bit, but starts

back just as I’m about to step forward.

“Holden, I fucking love this girl.

I’m going crazy wishing I could take

aw ay her pain. He’s a monster and I

can’t let him near her. I’ll walk away

from all of this if I don’t know she’s

safe.”

Shit he just said love. It melts my

heart, but solidifies my decision.

“Brother, I promise. I’ll do

everything in my power to protect her.

Give me some time to round up the guys,

and I’ll organize the best security team

you’ve ever seen.”

I pull the door closed until it

latches hoping to draw attention to

myself. It works because Taron is on his

feet

heading

in

my

direction

immediately.

“Hey,” he says as he approaches

me and leans in for a kiss. I turn slightly

so he hits my cheek. I’m not really

loving the vomit feeling I have right

now.

“Where is everyone?”

“We’re stopped at a restaurant to

get some lunch. I asked Ev to get us

something. Are you hungry?”

“Yea. I need some food.” I make

my way to the couch and reach for a

blanket to cover with. Eaven and Talon

walk in just as I sit.

“Hey! I got you the special. I

hope it works! Roast beef, mashed

potatoes, green beans, and a salad.”

This sounds perfect.

“The plan is for both of you to be

safe. We are working on a team of

security that will ensure that. I need you

both to coordinate with me any time you

do anything. This team will report to

me.” Holden starts demanding orders. I

let him continue as I enjoy my lunch.

I’m going to miss these people. I

need to talk to Eaven today. I need her

to believe my story or come up with

something so she can understand why I

need to leave. I watch Taron walk to the

back of the bus.

“How much further?”

“One hour and we’ll be on

location.” Holden’s quick response

makes me smile. He’d make a perfect

head of security.

I need to check my phone to see if

Aiden has sent a text. I walk into the

room and find Taron on the edge of the

bed, holding my phone. From the look

on his face, he’s seen the text.

“ Wha t are you doing with my

phone?” He won’t even look at me. His

hand is fisted at his side as he moves his

finger to scroll through my phone.

“Taron! What the hell are you

doing looking at my phone?”

“Just

texting

that

fucking

cowboy.” Shit. Here is the fight that I’m

not ready for.

“What did you say to him?”

“I told him to turn his fucking

horse around and head back home.”

“Taron, I can’t stay here.”

“Yes you can. I’m not letting you

out of my sight. Shit Ivy, there is a rapist

after you.” I know this is going to hurt. I

know I’ll have to be the best liar to pull

this over. I hope I can pick up the pieces

of my heart once I’ve blown it to shreds.

“I can’t be with you, because I

love Aiden. I refuse to fight with you

any longer.”

“Bullshit Ivy. You’re fucking

lying right now.” I fight back the lump in

m y throat and speak around my heart

trying to pound out of my chest.

“Taron, I love Aiden. I wanted it

to be you so I could come on tour to

escape, but I can’t live without him. I

miss him.”

“You’re out of your mind. I’m not

letting you leave.”

“Yes you are! You can focus on

your tour because I won’t be here to

distract you.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I

prefer the distraction? That maybe I

don’t care about this fucking tour?”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Ivy, I can’t believe that you want

him. I know you’re just saying that, but

why? Why are you doing this?” He

moves in so close to me. I know I need

to move or he’ll break me down.

“Don’t touch me. I’m leaving with

Aiden tonight because I love him. I wish

you the best.”

“The best? Are you kidding me

right now? Don’t you know that’s you?

You’re the only thing I think about. You

consume my every thought. I’m always

thinking about your pain, your safety,

your skin, your body, your lips, your

eyes, your feisty fucking mouth… this

list could go on forever. Don’t you

know what I wish for involves you? If

you aren’t involved, then I don’t want

it.”

How do I walk away from this?

How do I speak after that? I know I

have no choice but to leave, but my heart

wants to stay so badly. What can I say to

make him stop?

“I’m sorry. I don’t feel the same

way. I could never love you. I don’t

trust you to be faithful. I know that I’m

just another piece of ass to you. I’m

leaving tonight with Aiden. Get over

it!” I manage to say it without a tear, but

any second and I’m going to lose it.

His stare pierces right through me.

The anger in his eyes almost makes me

look away. I hold his glare and fight the

urge to wrap my arms around him and

take it all back. Take back all of the

words that are breaking us.

“I love you, Ivy. I want you to be

happy, and if that means you leave me

for cowboy, then I’ll let you go. Just

know that I’m fucking dying right now.”

“Thank you.” That’s all I can say.

The lump in my throat won’t let me say

anything else.

“Can I send Holden with you? I

don’t want Dylan near you.”

I shake my head because if I talk,

it’s over. No.

“I’m sending Holden whether you

agree or not. Dylan WILL NOT get near

you.” I think about his demand. I just

broke his heart and he still wants to

protect me. Why does this have to

happen?

I nod yes to him and watch his

eyes fall to the floor right before he turns

to walk out of the room. I hold my

emotions in check even though it’s

ruining me inside. He stops right as he

reaches the door.

“I really do love you, Ivy.”

I squeeze my eyes closed and

clamp down on my jaw. The urge to sob

uncontrollably is taking over. With my

hand over my heart, I open my eyes to

watch the man I love walk out of my

life. I work hard to remind myself that

this is for the best.

~Twelve~

Taron

I’m done. I need out of this

enclosed bus. Luke is the first to say

something to me when I storm out of the

room.

“What the hell is wrong with

you?”

“Ivy is leaving tonight.” I pace in

the small walkway and the only place

that isn’t full of our crap. Eaven jumps

up.

“What? Where’s she going?

She’s not leaving on her own. I don’t

care what she thinks.”

“Aiden is coming to get her

tonight.”

“She’s not leaving. I’ll handle

this.”

“No Ev. Let her go. I’m sending

Holden and the guys with her. She’ll be

safe. She wants to go and we can’t force

her to stay.”

“I’m talking to her. This is crap.”

Eaven rushes into the room where Ivy

is. Lilly follows right behind her.

I refuse to believe that she loves

him. My heart isn’t lying. I know she

fucking loves me as much as I do her, but

she is stubborn. I can’t force her to stay

even though every muscle in my body

wants to.

“Holden. Don’t let anything

happen to her. She’s my life. I’m

trusting you with my life.”

“I got this, Taron.”

We pull onto location and I jump

off the bus as soon as it comes to a stop.

Waiting for me was none other than our

tour manager. He looks pissed and I’m

not in the mood for him right now. I

walk right past him and head for the

door.

“Taron, we’re going to settle

something right now.” His tone enrages

me, so I turn around and stare at him.

“Miss another show and Rebel

Walking is out. Walk off stage during

concert again and it’s over. I can’t

cover for you anymore. You need to

remember that you’re not the focus

band. Rebel Walking is only a cover

band. If you ever want more, then you

have to act like it.” I bite my tongue. I

know he’s dead on with the facts, but

right now isn’t the time for me to deal

with him.

“Fine.” I turn and continue my

walk into the arena. I can’t watch her

leave. I don’t want to see Aiden, and I

know Holden will keep me posted.

Ivy

I knew Ev would be right in. I

lock myself in the bathroom and quietly

cry. She is at the door within minutes

and I know I have to get it together. She

will see through me.

“Ivy, what the hell?” Open the

door!”

I dry my eyes knowing that I can’t

hide from her and take a deep breath. I

open the door and walk out to face by

best friend.

“I’m going to stay with Aiden until

things blow over.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to, and if I stay on

tour then Dylan will always know where

to find me.” She stops to think about

that.

Lilly steps up and pulls me in for a

hug.” Oh baby girl. I hate this for you.

That bastard deserves to rot.”

“I’m gonna miss you!” Eaven is

still standing next to us with a shocked

look on her face.

“I can meet up with you at a

concert in a few weeks. I promise to

stay in touch and we’ll talk everyday.

How about we meet for dress fittings in

New York?” This doesn’t make her as

happy as I hoped it would.

“Ok, but it won’t be the same

without you here.”

“I know, but we can talk daily.” I

reach for her and let her squeeze life

back into me. I’m going to need her love

in the next few days, but she won’t be

there to help me through it. I draw

strength from her until she pulls away.

“I miss you already.” Lilly wraps

her arms around us both and we let the

tears flow. I hold back because the tears

I need to cry will scare everyone

including myself.

I feel my phone vibrate and see

that Aiden has arrived. He is responding

to Taron’s text, so I quickly tell him not

to pay attention to it.

“Aiden will be here in twenty, so I

need to get my stuff gathered.”

“Holden is going with you, so you

have to wait for him.” Eaven moves to

the door to yell for Holden. He pops in

and she tells him that cowboy is on his

way. That poor guy will never be

appreciated for everything he’s done.

Holden looks at me with a frown, and I

know he isn’t happy about following me

across the country.

I use the remaining time to talk to

the girls. We keep the conversation light

a n d that helps keep me calm. When

Aiden shows up, I hear him strategizing

with Holden. There is a cabin in an

exclusive area in Missouri that Aiden

has access to. We’ll be staying there for

a couple of weeks. I hear Aiden say that

he wants me to see a counselor to help