Wilde Velvet Read Free Page B

nothing until you tell her. My heart starts to race. What is she going to say?  
    “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” My eyes fall onto the plate in front of me. I can’t make eye contact with her. Sydney clears her throat as she pushes me again. “C’mon tell me!” I take a large swig of my coffee and then I meet her stare. Hey dark eyes are narrowed and staring right through me. I bite my lower lip as I think of my response.
    “Who am I thinking about?” Sydney laughs.
    “Mr Gucci,” she says in a smug voice. I roll my eyes at her and I take another sip of my coffee. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. I know that you were smitten by him.” I press my lips together.
    “No I’m not. I wasn’t thinking about him.” My heart races –I’ve just lied. I try to steady my thoughts as Sydney talks.
    “It’s okay if you were. He seemed perfect. Well perfect for you. I mean I wouldn’t date him. He’s too clean cut for me. But seriously , why didn’t you give him a chance?” Sydney’s voice is firm. I shake my head at her. She knows the reason. So why is she pushing me on this?
    “I’m not looking for that. I don’t want a boyfriend. You know my reasons.” Sydney exhales and she reaches out and places her hand on to my arm.
    “Not every guy is like Brandon. You have to move on from what happened. Let someone into your life. Mr Gucci could have been the one and you just let him get away.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes at Sydney. I know that she is only trying to help, but moving on from Brandon was just so painful. We had an awkward, obsessive relationship that ended so badly. He broke my trust and hurt me in so many ways. I can’t open myself up to another guy. I can’t go through that heartache again. Sometimes I feel that Sydney doesn’t understand. She only knows the girl that’s standing in front of her. She never met the Ashley from Dallas. She was broken, hurt and angry. Her life was messed up and not worth living. I have told her about my relationship with Brandon, but unless you were there to witness the pain, then it just doesn’t seem real. I am scarred and broken. I am damaged and those memories will always haunt me. I am not innocent or squeaky clean. I have made bad choices in the past. I have hung out with the wrong people and I have been in trouble so many times. Moving to LA was my fresh start and my one chance to pursue my dreams. I can’t go back to being that girl.
    “I know. I just wasn’t into him. Mr Gucci was perfect, but he’s not for me. I’m not looking for … love or any of the mushy stuff. Music is my love.” Sydney exhales and she shakes her head at my response. She isn’t buying what I am saying. But I am too exhausted to fight her. I take another sip of my coffee and then I meet her stare. “You wanna give me a ride?” Sydney sighs and then she lifts her car keys from the counter. We walk into the messy apartment and I grab my bag from the couch. I follow Sydney out of the apartment and we head down the stairs in the direction of her car. The hot air hits me when I step out into the street. Sydney’s car is parked across the street. We link arms as we cross the busy road.
    Sydney unlocks the car doors and I slide into her old blue Mustang. The car is roasting. So Sydney immediately drops the hood. The sun surrounds us as the roof opens. The heat is excruciating and Sydney must be toasted in her thick jeans and long black t-shirt. I don’t know how she can stand the heat. I can barely cope with it and I am dressed appropriately. I have asked her many times if she would like to borrow some shorts and a tank top, but she always refuses. She is stuck in her ‘EMO’ ways.
    The city is busy. Everyone is on their way to work. Posh cars and limos are everywhere in sight, as Sydney drives me to BeatBox records. We arrive at the building and I gasp when I take in its appearance. The building is tall, made out of glass and the shine is blinding as the