Starstruck (Heartstrings Duet #1)

48. scream for you

[ 48 ]

SCREAM FOR YOU

BAXTER

One Week Until the Concert

“SAVIN’ ME” BY NICKELBACK

“ Y ou fucked up,” Colt rasps. “Big time.”

I swig back my sixth shot as the words fall from his lips. My two best friends flank either side of me with drinks of their own, keeping me company while I drown my sorrows.

I lift my head and glare at him, my jaw clenched. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

He shakes his head. “No. You need to hear this. You knew nothing good would come from keeping Logan a secret. You knew she was bound to find out eventually. We’ve been telling you this for months. You should’ve told her when this all began. I’m not sure what you expected.”

“Dude,” Levi warns from over my shoulder. I can’t see him, but I’m sure he’s shaking his head.

I stand from my stool, getting in Colt’s face. He stands, too, refusing to cower from me. We may be best friends, but Colt has never been one to take shit from anyone. I’m only about an inch taller than him, so we’re pretty even for height, but as much as I hate to admit it, he’s bigger than me. Chances are, he’d kick my ass.

Except right now, I don’t really give a fuck.

“Watch. Your. Fucking. Mouth,” I grit out, our noses almost touching.

“Stop being a pussy and fix your damn mistake. Apologize until she forgives you. Tell her the truth. Fucking fight for her .”

My jaw works as I ball my fists, his eyes catching the movement.

“You gonna hit me?” Colt sneers. “Fucking do it. You know I’m not saying anything that isn’t true. You just don’t want to hear it.”

I swallow roughly, brows furrowed as I ponder his words. I know he’s right, and that’s exactly what pisses me off.

As much as I want to, punching Colt wouldn’t do me any good. Everything he’s saying is true, and hitting him for being the only person willing to tell me what I’ve needed to hear would be a dick move. I’d be reverting back to the old Baxter.

The Baxter I was before Lennon.

So I relent, turning back to the bar. “Whatever,” I scoff as I retake my seat. The bartender brought over another round of shots for us while we were having a pissing match, so I pick one up and swig it back, the burn of the liquor fuelling the fire inside of me.

Colt returns to his seat, too, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I say this out of love, Bax, because you’re my best friend. But you’re an idiot. She’s the first person you’ve felt anything real for in years , and you threw it all away. You let Logan, of all people, take it away. Why?”

At first, I thought it was pointless, because I didn’t think I’d ever see her again. Then when I did, it still seemed pointless, because Logan has ruined enough in my life, and I didn’t want to give him the power of ruining anything more. Until the trial a few weeks ago, I’d forgotten just how much like my father my brother could be. I’d forgotten that no matter how hard I try to forget them, the things they’ve done will haunt me forever.

“You know about my past with Logan. I didn’t think it’d do either of us any good to open up that can of worms.”

“And keeping it from her was a better idea?”

I groan, not bothering to answer when we both already know it wasn’t.

“It’s not too late to tell her the truth about Logan,” Levi pipes up.

I spin in his direction, my brow quirked. “I’m pretty sure it is. She practically told me to go fuck myself when she left the other day.”

Levi rolls his eyes, opening his mouth to speak again, but a feminine voice chimes in from behind me.

“As much as it pains me to admit it, they’re right. You can still fix this.”

I glance up to see Isabella Cordova strutting across the dark bar, a determined look on her face.

When she stops in front of me, she adds, “Should’ve figured you’d be at this bar, seeing as it’s the place you first met Lennon.”

I narrow my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

She quirks a brow at me before swigging back one of the shots that rests on the bartop.

“Looking for you.” She glances sidelong at Colt before looking back at me. “Colt told me where to find you,” she adds, annoyance lacing her tone.

Levi huffs a laugh as my brows furrow. Lennon mentioned she thought something was going on between them, and seeing the glare Colt shoots her now, I have to agree. Despite how few fucks I give about what Colt and Isa do, I wish I could talk to Lennon about them. Simply because at least then I would be talking to her.

“Earth to Baxter.” Isa snaps in my face, pulling my attention to her.

My brows pull together. “What?”

“What the hell is wrong with you? ”

I shrug, turning back to the bar.

Isa scoffs, shaking her head. “Why haven’t you been trying to get her back? It’s been a week.”

“I’ve been texting her every day. She hasn’t responded,” I mutter into my glass.

“You’re a bigger dumbass than I thought if you think texting her ‘I’m sorry’ once a day is enough to make up for the massive fucking secret you kept from her. Which, by the way, you better have a good-ass excuse for, or you’re staying at the top of my shit-list even after she forgives you.”

“Even if I explain, what makes you think she will?”

“James, are you blind, or just that fucking oblivious?”

I stare back at her confused, and she just rolls her eyes.

“She’s in love with you.”

My eyes widen at her words. “What did you just say?”

“Are you deaf, too? I said she’s in love with you. How do you not see that?”

I shake my head, my mind racing through everything that’s happened. I don’t know why, but no matter how much I’ve hoped she’s fallen too, I never prepared myself to hear that she actually has.

“Men,” Isa mutters, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I’m even bothering, considering you broke my best friend’s heart, but looking at you now, you might be an even bigger mess than she is. So, if you’re up for some honesty, I have an idea for how you can make it up to her. I’m telling you now, though…she’s not going to like it.”

Her warning gives me pause, but Isa knows Lennon better than anyone—if she has a plan to help me, I’m willing to try. At this point, I’ll do just about anything to talk to her.

“Let’s hear it.”