Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) Read Free

Black doesn’t give up. You’ve never given up. Please don’t start now. I know you feel like you let Liss down, but you didn’t.’
                  Luke smiled at his dad – nothing like an honest chat with him. ‘What do I do now? The boys are all waiting on me and I’m not ready.’
                  Stuart thought for a moment and scratched his head. ‘Take your time. They’ll understand. Band stuff can wait until you feel the time’s right. Tonight is about you and Melissa finally moving on. Move it. Sitting in cars on your own isn’t moving on.’
                  Luke finally listened and made his way up to his apartment. When he opened the door the loud bang of party poppers made him flinch. The room was filled with all their friends and families. No wonder his dad was so keen on him getting home. Stuart grinned at him as he joined Luke’s mum in hugging him, their proudness clear in their actions.
                  ‘You fucking did it,’ Dale shouted as he launched himself at Luke, releasing him from his mum’s vice-like embrace. They tumbled to the floor, fake wrestling. Everyone laughed and bottles of champagne were opened and quickly drunk. A party wasn’t what Luke had been planning on doing that night, but in some way it helped to end the day on a good note.
                  After a few hours Melissa pulled him from the living room into their bedroom. She wanted to explain in private knowing Luke wouldn’t have wanted this party. ‘I had no idea. I got back and Beth had already organised it. I didn’t have the heart to tell them to go,’ Melissa said.
                  Luke smiled as he stroked her cheek. ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s been kind of nice. They’ve been through a lot too, so let them celebrate. Let’s just stay here for a few minutes.’
                  Melissa pulled him to the bed and they lay there together. After a few minutes Luke broke the silence. ‘I’m proud of you. But you’re still sad. Tell me what’s bothering you.’ Luke had noticed the spark hadn’t returned to her eyes, and that her smiles were forced. She wasn’t happy. She still blamed herself and still had nightmares about it. Luke would go quiet sometimes and it made her fear he blamed her too, that he blamed her for Jay-Den, and for his career in tatters. He couldn’t write, not like he used to. He barely played his guitar, and it killed her.
                  ‘Do you think I’m to blame?' Melissa asked, scared the answer might be yes.
                  ‘No. None of this is your fault. Liss, you have to stop blaming yourself.’
                  ‘It is my fault. I’m an idiot for letting him in, trusting him. I was so low and he had been really supportive. I just thought at the time I needed all the help I could get. I was sick of the awkwardness, and he used that to worm his way in. I’m still so confused over it all. I don’t know how this happened, what we did to deserve this. You can never understand how I felt when he said those things to me. Sex for your career. I’ve never felt so cheap and cornered in all my life.’
                  Luke’s eyes narrowed, and rage flickered in his expression. ‘You have no idea how proud I am of you for telling him to fuck off. It could have been an easy option to agree. No, I don’t understand, but I know how brave saying no must have been.’
                  Melissa looked him in the eyes. Tilting her head slightly, her blonde hair hung long and shiny over her shoulder and her blue eyes shimmered with tears. ‘It wasn’t brave, Luke. That part didn’t scare me. It sickened me. I would never do that, because I love you, and because you don’t need me to do that. He gave me a choice: lose my dignity and degrade myself and humiliate you, or take away the one thing you’ve dreamt off all your life. I was always