Page 34 of Heartbeat Girl
“For you,” he said.
Oh… Three beers suddenly made a lot more sense. Slowly, I pushed the almost empty beer glass to him. “Thanks,” I murmured. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I grabbed the straw and sucked up my drink. Liam should have said he got me one.
“Sorry for drinking yours,” I murmured as I leaned against the booth.
“How’s the song coming?” Steve asked abruptly, looking at Liam.
That had me staring at Liam, too. “You’re writing another song?”
He faced me, leaning closer. I noticed the slight stubble on his handsome face. He was so gorgeous that sometimes it hurt how strong my chest tightened, like my nerves and heart got all out of rhythm in his presence. The tilt of his chin along with the furrow in his brows might mirror the look I always gave him. Like we were constantly trying to figure each other out.
“Yes.” That one word from his lips came out velvety. “I have a muse.”
Those azure orbs flickered over my mouth, and I nibbled on my bottom lip without thinking.
“A person? An object?” I asked him, thinking of Ruth and where she found her inspiration. “Ruth could see a sad girl on the street and gain creativity.”
“You miss Ruth, don’t you?” Liam asked.
I sighed. “I do.”
“Me too,” Steve added.
“Me three,” said Pete.
Drawing in a deep breath, I steeled my resolve. “You know, don’t you?”
“Know what?” Liam replied, a little too cautiously.
“Where she’s at.”
“Are you okay, Jayne?” Pete asked.
Steve slapped his palm against the table, making me jump. “What do you mean? You’re funny, Jayne.”
His lack of laughter unnerved me.
“Youdo.” I gazed at each guy before turning to Liam.
“Not exactly,” he announced, carefully watching me. “I think that wherever she is, Ruth is very safe and happy.”
I scooted into him, grabbing his hand off the table. “We…Ineed to speak to Ruth. Just to make sure she doesn’t regret anything. Can you—”
Liam placed his other hand over mine and caressed it. “Currently, we’re not able to go where she is.”
My heart dropped, and so did my gaze.
“But…” Liam added. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll find a way for you to reach her. Maybe, one day you’ll let me take you there.”
The way he worded it and the odd intensity in his stare made my stomach flip. Of course I’d let him take me to find Ruth!
But something still made me nervous. “Where is she?” I asked.
“No place you’ve been,” Steve mentioned.
“I’ve been out of the country,” I said stubbornly. After all, I went with Ruth on her worldwide tour.
“It’s not exactly a place you’d like,” Steve added, and then Pete smacked him in the stomach.