Torn to Pieces (The Boys of DownCrash #2) (new adult contemporary romance / rockstar romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

vulnerable.  This wasn’t how I imagined my first moments with Tatum should have been.  Not like this.  Not with pain, regret, and emotion. 
    “Maggie, look at me,” Tatum said.
    I shook my head.  “I don’t want to.  You can go, okay?  Thank you for helping me.  I just want to get into my car and go home.”
    “That’s fine,” Tatum said.  “But I just want to...”  Tatum put two fingers under my chin.  It tickled for a second and I cringed, then felt embarrassed that I was so ticklish.  My head lifted and Tatum made me look him in the eyes.  It was exactly what I needed.  “... see you,” Tatum finished his sentence, the two words lingering around us.
    I swallowed hard. 
    I blinked, hoping tears wouldn’t fall from my eyes.
    Tatum just stared for a few seconds, taking me in.  I knew he was trying hard to figure me out.  Right then, if I was the good, honest person I wanted to become, I would have pushed him away and told him to run for good.  To go find some girls back in Un, girls who were drunk, desperate, didn’t come with baggage, and only wanted a one night stand with the sexy drummer from DownCrash. 
    But I couldn’t do it.
    I was greedy.
    I wanted Tatum to keep staring at me.  I wanted him to hold me, protect me, and never let me go.
    “How did you get here?” I asked, breaking the silence. 
    It probably wasn’t the thing I should have said as I had a chance at a romantic moment with Tatum.  Then again, he had literally appeared from nowhere just in time to save me.
    “I wanted to talk to you,” Tatum said.  “When Scarlett came backstage and you weren’t with her, I had to find you.  She said you parked a few blocks away so I started running.  Then I saw you turn the corner and I kept running.”
    “I’m glad you did,” I said and wrapped my arms around him.
    I couldn’t believe I did it, such a bold move to make.  Okay, maybe it wasn’t that bold of a move but for me it was.  My head rested against his chest. 
    It was unbelievably sexy, feeling his body against mine.
    It was the last thing I wanted to think, but maybe Tatum wanted the same thing Danny wanted.  Maybe they both knew my reputation and Tatum was sober enough to know he had to work a little harder than to just come out and go after me like Danny did.
    I pulled away from Tatum and looked up at him again.
    “Thank you,” I said.
    It was the only thing to say that rang true and wouldn’t imply anything more or less.
    “I hate jocks,” Tatum said again and smiled.
    I smiled too.
    He was so warm, inviting, and I could see something in his eyes.  Something wanting to come out.  Something he wanted to share.
    “Listen,” he said, “I tried to throw you that drumstick...”
    “I know,” I said.  “I would have caught it, I think, but that other guy jumped in front of me.”
    “I saw him.  Another asshole.  Anyway, I brought you a pair of sticks...”
    Tatum pulled the drumsticks from his back pocket and handed them to me.  I gripped the sticks and looked at Tatum, almost in shock.
    “You ran all the way here to give me drumsticks?” I asked.
    “Worth it, wasn’t it?”
    He looked like he wanted to touch me and I knew his hesitation came from Danny.  I wanted Tatum to touch me but I didn’t want to tell him to do it.  I wanted him to do it, I wanted him to start it.  That way it could all be on his shoulders. 
    “It was worth it,” I whispered.
    I looked at the sticks, the nicks and marks in them, their imperfection obvious yet they could still bring music to life.  Something about holding them meant the world to me.  More than I cared to share with Tatum right then.  I didn’t want to sound pathetic and hopeless, even though I was.
    “Why don’t you come back with me?” Tatum asked.  “I’ll hold your hand and make sure no more jocks bother you... we’re just hanging out.  No crazy partying or anything like that.”
    My mouth opened.  I heard myself screaming Yes!