Gravity (Artistic Pricks Ink Book 1) (28 page)

“No,” I bite out. “I just want to come see my girls.”

“Sorry, Luke. No can do,” she clips.

“What?” I ask, knowing I had to have misheard her.

“That’s right,” she says smugly. “It sounds like you need to stay put and handle your shit. Time to stop running from your own problems, Luke. You’re always so ready to face anything for anyone else and I love you for it, I do. You just aren’t so keen when it’s your own shit.”

Kicking down on the accelerator, I blow out a breath. When I say nothing, Chase laughs. “You know that I’m right, Luke. Admit it and then get to handlin’ your life. I love you and I’ll see you in a few weeks. Looks like we’re getting to go home for a week or so between dates. You can fly in to Nashville then, okay?”

“Yeah, fine. Love you too,” I say, ending the call.

Powering off my phone, I put all the trust I have left in Charlie and Shelby to handle everything at Pricks for now. I need to clear my head. Tossing the phone to the seat beside me, I shift gears. Windows down, stereo up; I guide my car along the curves in hopes of feeling something other than the hurt.

After my split with Crystal, I erased her from my life. Every aspect she touched, I removed in an effort to move forward. Also in an attempt to forget. Problem with that, is part of me doesn’t want to forget Kionna. Even through the hurt I feel right now, it still takes everything in me not to turn around and demand answers to the questions in my head.

Did I even mean anything to her? Is there any possible way that Chase is right and I have misunderstood somehow?

Was everything just a lie? All that I saw in her eyes last night when I finally saw us on the same page? Was that just my imagination?

When the turn off comes into view, it’s not even a question to turn down it. The gravel crunches beneath the ‘Cuda’s tires. When I come to a stop in the spot I parked at over a week ago, I leave the car running. The headlights reflect off of the old dilapidated building and instead of forgetting, I relive it all. Her smile, that amazing laugh, and the way she looked dancing in the headlights all repeating in my head. She didn’t know and, at the time, neither did I, but that was the moment I began falling in love with her. Bit by bit, everything she gave me only had me falling helplessly for her in every way. That is the reason it hurts so much. I gave Kionna Slade all of me. She has my heart in her hands and there is nothing I can do to get it back.

“I’m gonna need more booze,” Mitch grumbles. “This soap opera bullshit is killing my buzz. So much for spending the weekend drunk and numb.”

My heart stopped in my chest when Luke pulled away from me. I knew I had cut deep with my omission. When he walked away from me; that was when the world ceased to matter. Nothing hurt more than the emptiness in his eyes as he stared at me.

“What the hell is going on here?” Shelby shouts angrily. Shoving by Mitch, she looks at me. “Even if I know Luke deserves them instead of me, I want answers.”

“Ki’s the Diamond Pussy!” Mitch shouts, leaning back against the wall. “Do you need it in writing?”

“That’s not who I am!” I scream at him, trying to make someone understand. “That’s never who I set out to be.”

“I don’t want to hear a word from you,” Shelby roars at Mitch. “Your dick has gotten you in trouble this time you unbelievable whore.”

“I didn’t sleep with Mitch!” I exclaim, when I realize she has this all wrong. “Is that what you’re thinking?”

“Well, it sure looked like it to me.” Shelby says, gesturing the robe I have pulled tightly against me.

“Are you kidding me?” Mitch asks, laughing. “She’s a stripper, not a prostitute, Shelby. Contrary to popular belief and the slut Luke nearly married, that’s not always how things work. Am I pissed off that Luke is hurting? Hell yes. Is that all Ki’s fault? No, and I’ll own up to my part in this shit.”

“Nothing happened between Mitch and me, or anyone else for that matter,” I defend myself. “I couldn’t let Mitch be hauled off by the police. I wanted to protect Luke, not hurt him. I care about him.”

“By protecting him, you’ve broken your rules and let the crowd get close enough to recognize you. When Brianne came to get me, because she was worried about you, I never thought I would find you’ve broken my rules as well,” Kelly says from the doorway. Stepping inside, she maneuvers around Mitch and Shelby. “Doug would you escort them out, please? I need a moment alone with my Diamond.”

Shelby looks at me, for what, I don’t know. All I can do is nod as she turns to leave. Mitch steps toward the door, following her out. Just as he reaches for the knob, Mitch stops. Looking up at me, his eyes go serious. “You didn’t have to help me out tonight, but you did. Why?”

“Because it was the right thing to do,” I reply. “It’s what Luke would’ve done without question.”

Nodding, he continues. “That’s what I thought, so I’ll be straight with you. A lot of damage happened here tonight, more than what should have because shit has been misunderstood. You’re fuckin’ up if you don’t try to fix that. I don’t know if he can get passed it, but you owe it to him and yourself to try.”

“You’ve caused enough trouble,” Kelly growls at Mitch. “I don’t want to ever see you in my club again.” Slamming the door in his face, she turns to me. “What were you thinking? I should fire you on the spot.”

“I was thinking about someone other than myself for once,” I reply, facing the mirror. Unable to face myself, I close my eyes tightly.

“That’s noble Ki, but it got you nowhere. I know you’ve been through a lot lately, so I’ll let this slide. No one has to know how dramatic things became.” I feel her step behind me, her arms coming to rest on my shoulders. “Clean yourself up and get ready for your next set. I’ll handle everything else.” She releases me and I hear her heels click across the tile floor. “I can adjust dancers so that you have a half an hour to pull yourself together. I’ll send Lynsey in to help you.”

The door closes behind her and I exhale. Opening my eyes, I take in the person in the mirror before me. My make-up is a tear streaked mess. Grabbing the brush, I look down at it and sigh. “None of this shit matters anyway. Not now.”

My chest aches and everything in me is screaming for me to run out the door and do exactly what Mitch said to do. Fix this. “You did this!” I shout, tears pouring down my face. The way Luke looked at me still etched on my mind. The pain in his eyes all because of me.

My chest tightens painfully, my scream pierces the air as I throw the brush at my reflection in the mirror. “Stupid, you’re so stupid!” I yell as the glass shatters into a thousand pieces, matching my broken heart. Slumping to the floor, the tears fall freely as I let the pain consume me. I lost it all and there’s no one to blame but myself. I couldn’t blame him if he never speaks to me again, but I would give anything just to hear his voice.

“Oh Ki, what have you done?” Lynsey gasps, shutting the door behind her. “Come on honey, we’ve gotta get you off the floor before you cut yourself.”

Helping me into the chair, she hands me tissues. “I can’t go back out there. I’m going after Luke,” I blurt, pushing to my feet. “I have to explain.”

“What?” Lynsey stammers, “No, you have to get ready. Kelly hasn’t fired you and that’s a fucking miracle. Don’t screw this up now.”

“I have to,” I reply, shaking my head. Digging through my bag, I yank out my clothes and start getting dressed.

“Are you forgetting there is some crazy bastard after you?” She asks. “You shouldn’t go anywhere alone, Ki.”

“I’ll be fine once I get to Luke. Everything will be fine then,” I assure her, hoping that I am right.

“Fine, I’ll dance for you.” Lynsey says, yanking her shirt over her head. Pulling her keys from her pocket, she tosses them at me. “Take my car and go.”

“Are you crazy?” I ask, shoving into my shoes as she grabs my black wig.

“We’re the same size, Ki.” Slipping the wig on her head, she grins. “I can pull this off as long as Doug keeps me away from everyone. Just watch your back, please.”

Grabbing my bag and phone, I nod. “Fine. Call me when you need your car, I’m not sure yet where I’ll be,” I say before running out the door.

Checking the hall, I run out the back exit and head toward the parking garage where Lynsey’s Charger is parked. Hitting the key fob, I unlock the doors and hurry inside. People walk by me, none sparing me a second glance while I scrutinize every single one out of paranoia.

Starting the car, I dial Luke’s cell in the hopes that he will answer. When it goes straight to voicemail, I pull out of the garage and immediately start thinking of where to start looking for him. I know he didn’t go back to the shop because he sent Shelby there with Mitch. The only other thing I know of is that he mentioned having a house in the same neighborhood as mine. Dialing the shop, I hope someone is there to answer.

“Artistic Pricks Ink, you’ve got Charlie.”

“Chuck,” I say into the phone. “I need to find Luke.”

“Ki? What the fuck is going on and why isn’t Luke with you?” He asks, clearly confused. “First, Luke and Shelby run out of here like bats out of hell to get to you. Then, Shelby shows up here with Mitch and looks like someone put vinegar in her coffee. Which I have never done, by the way; that had to have been Mitch.”

“I screwed up, now I need to fix it. I need your help, Chuck.” I reply. “Please, I need to know where he would go.”

Hesitantly, Chuck rattles off the address to Luke’s house. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if he shows up here I’ll call you.” He assures me.

“Thank you,” I reply, ending the call.

Tossing the phone to the passenger seat, I fly up the ramp to the freeway to save time. The drive feels like it takes forever; each mile dragging along slower and slower. I try to get my thoughts together on what to say to him. A flat out apology isn’t going to cut it. Sometimes, I’m sorry is not nearly enough. The words become hollow and meaningless and that is not something I would ever use to define anything to do with what I see when I think of him.

By the time I finally pull up in front of the large brick home, my hands are shaking. The house is dark and his car isn’t in the driveway, but that doesn’t stop me. Bolting from the car, I run onto the porch and bang on the door.

“Luke!” I scream, my fists pounding on the door. “Luke, are you here?”

Lightning streaks across the sky, the loud clap of thunder making me jump. Running back to the car, I climb in and drive the three blocks to Audrey’s just in case he went there to check on her. Coming up empty handed, I grab my phone and dial his number again. This time, when it goes to voicemail, I wait for the beep.

“Luke, it’s me. Please call me. I… I…” I choke on my words, my tears nearly blinding my vision. “I was wrong. I had twenty one very happy years with my mother. I miss her every day, but not once did I ever see disappointment and hurt in her eyes because of something I’ve done. My accident, well I recovered and I can dance nearly as well as I ever had. So you see, last night I was wrong when I told you about those years and I wanted you to know that. The darkest moment of my life was hurting you, because you’re the only person in my life that never deserved it. I can’t have the last time I look into your eyes being when you couldn’t stand to face me.”

Ending the call, I throw my phone onto the dash. Putting the car into gear, I drive. Aimlessly I navigate through the subdivisions before taking the desert highway. The few cars that pass, I immediately look to see if it’s Luke. They never are.

When the turn-off that I showed Luke comes into view, I take it without hesitation. Steering onto the gravel road, I see a set of headlights shining in the distance. Parking the car, I shut off the engine and my heart nearly leaps in my chest at the sight of Luke’s car parked in front of me. The top is down so I can see him clearly, but he doesn’t look my way.

I don’t know how much time passes before the driver side door opens and Luke unfolds himself from the car, but I am on pins and needles. Turning, he faces me as lightning flashes across the sky behind him. Unable to move, I watch as he steps closer and closer to me until he stops just outside my door. “Get out of the car.” Luke says tapping on the window, his voice giving nothing away.