Dare to Rock Read Free Page A

pain, had agreed.
    Avery had been the match, the child her father had used to save one in the family he’d devoted his time to. The family he clearly loved more than Avery’s. To say she’d felt used and abandoned was an understatement of extreme magnitude.
    Ella pulled her in for a brief hug. “I’ve known you for a long time, and you’ve told me things your siblings don’t even know, right?”
    Avery nodded. Ella had always been her safe place. Grey had too … once. She pushed the thought aside.
    “Then trust me when I tell you, you can’t let the feelings of inadequacy your dad left you with rule your life. I know it didn’t help when Grey left you to find fame and fortune, and you’ve convinced yourself you’re not enough, not worthy. I’m here to remind you that you are.”
    At her friend’s true and telling words, Avery trembled. As hard as she’d tried to overcome it all, some days, the inadequate feelings came rushing back.
    Ella grasped Avery’s hands. “Mr. Tangled Royal would be lucky to have you in his life. Not the other way around.”
    Avery blew out a deep breath, replaying her friend’s words in her mind. They helped. “You’re right. Dealing with Grey after all this time has made me feel like I’ve been abandoned all over again. Except it’s not the same. And I’ve moved on.”
    Ella eyed her with amusement. “Now I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
    Avery smacked her with the nearest pillow, and her friend laughed.
    “But I would go so far as to say you’ve grown up a lot since you two saw each other last. With a little luck, so has he.”
    Avery rolled her eyes. “Ever the optimist?”
    Ella shrugged. “Can’t hurt to think positively, right? So if he does get in touch and he wants to see you, I think you owe it to yourself to meet up with him. Think closure, if nothing else.”
    “When did you get so smart?” Avery asked.
    “The day you became my best friend. Remember it’s easy to give advice to someone else about their love life.”
    As open as Ella was with most things, she didn’t talk much about her own guy situation. She claimed there wasn’t anything to discuss, which made no sense, because Ella was pretty, sweet, and she outshined everyone around her. She deserved a great man in her life.
    “Anything you want to talk about?” Avery asked, hoping for once her friend would open up.
    “Nope. I actually have to get to work. I promised my boss I’d meet with a new photographer she’s considering hiring.” Ella was an assistant to an up-and-coming fashion designer based out of Miami. Another reason they were such good friends—they shared a love of clothes, makeup, and design.
    “Okay, well, thanks for the talk,” Avery said.
    “Any time.” Ella pushed herself off the bed just as Avery’s cell rang from across the room.
    “Toss me the phone before you go?”
    Ella grabbed the phone from beside the computer and squealed as she handed Avery the cell. “Looks like Mr. Tangled Royal surfaced.”
    Avery’s eyes opened wide as she stared at Grey’s name on the screen.
    “I want all the details later,” Ella called out with glee before heading out of the room.
    *     *     *
    Grey sat in his apartment, surrounded by warm cream-colored walls and soft brown and taupe furniture Rep had left behind. They had similar taste, and the place already felt like home, giving Grey the comfort and sense of peace he’d missed while being on the road. His gut told him the other part of home lay in reconnecting with Avery.
    He’d begun the process through the end of Tangled Royal’s tour, sending her a steady stream of gifts corresponding to the things she mentioned on her blog, smartly named Avery’s Attitude . He wished he could take credit for being so creatively brilliant, but it had been Lola’s idea, as a way to get back into Avery’s good graces.
    The first gift and card he’d sent had contained his private cell, and he’d asked her to text him.