Chapter 11 Riot #2
“Nonsense.” I shake my head. “This is something all guitar students have to do eventually. It helps you… loosen up.” For a moment, I’m worried Eloise will call me on my bullshit, but instead, she looks down at the triangle and decides to open up.
“Okay… if I’m going to be honest about my feelings…” She gives me an amused look. “I guess I should say that I’m not myself today. I’m frazzled. Nervous.”
“What are you nervous about?”
She bites her lip. “I have a concert in Neon Valley coming up, and I really, really don’t want to do it.”
I tilt my head, surprised by her words. “Any reason?”
She picks at her cuticle as she stares off into the distance.
“I guess… I think I’ve realized that I don’t like it.
I don’t enjoy playing the piano anymore.
” She looks down at her hands, her voice lowering to a whisper.
“If I’m honest, I haven’t for many, many years.
It’s why I finally broke and sought out guitar lessons. ”
“Does that mean you’ll be giving it up? Performing, I mean.”
Eloise takes her lip between her teeth, lowering her gaze to her lap. “I can’t. I would if I could, but it’s just not possible.”
The sentence sets off alarm bells in my mind. Usually, it wouldn’t, but combined with all the other little details Eloise has let slip over the time I’ve known her… it seems like someone is making her perform.
But how? Why? What kind of information could they possibly have on her? What power?
I’m desperate to ask, but I don’t want to push too hard. It’s clear she’s unwilling to share even basic situations about her personal life, and if I pressure her, she might never let me in again.
Instead, I reach out and place my hand lightly over hers, wrapping her chilled skin in the calloused warmth of my palm. “I’m so sorry you feel trapped, Eloise. I wish I could… if there’s anything I can do to help, I will in a heartbeat.”
Eloise looks up, stopping my heart with the beauty of her. “Thank you, Riot. You’re sweet.” With her free hand, she taps the side of the triangle. “Unfortunately, there are just some things we can’t change, no matter how much we want to or how hard we try.”
I don’t like her tone. That lifeless, hollow sound lets me know she’s closing up and shutting me out.
I can’t have that. Keeping my hand on hers, I reach over with the other and tap the triangle like she had done. “So if you weren’t a super-famous pianist, what would sweet Eloise be doing?”
She scoffs, but I just tap the corner, giving her my best no-nonsense stare. “You’re holding the triangle of feelings, Eloise. It’s the rules.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
“If you must know… I always wanted to be in a rock band. Like you.” Her face heats as she averts her eyes, finding something incredibly fascinating on the floor.
“Ever since I was little, I wanted it. But then time passed, and I never got the chance to learn the guitar.” She shrugs. “It’s probably for the best, though.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because now I get to take lessons from Riot Arden, the rock star.” The smile she gives me is blinding and heart-stopping, and I have to take a moment to catch my breath and regain my bearings.
“I don’t know. I heard that guy is kind of an asshole.”
She laughs, a beautiful song to my ears. “He can be. But he’s also really, really sweet when you get to know him.”
“Really?” I lean in, my eyes snapping to the thrumming pulse point at the side of her neck. “Does he have any other redeeming qualities?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her fingers tightening around the triangle. “Many, many others. I think he’s just misunderstood. But that’s also what I like the most.”
Her breath quickens as I slide my palm to her thigh, my fingertips digging into the worn denim. “You like me, Eloise?”
She tries to avert her gaze, but I won’t let her.
Gripping her chin with my free hand, I guide her back to me, loving the way her pupils expand, consuming the cool blue of her irises.
“You can be honest, Eloise. I’m dying to know.
” My gaze lowers to her lips just as Eloise darts her tongue out, and the sight of the small pink muscle has all the blood rushing to my cock. Fuck me.
“I… of course I like you,” she stutters. “You’re great—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, Eloise, and you know that.” My grip tightens along her jaw, and a small gasp fills the silence. “I want to know the truth.” I lean in, our lips a breath apart. “I need to know you feel something, too.”
Her eyes widen as she looks up into mine, skin flushed and breath unsteady.
Ever so slightly, she nods, and it’s like all the nerve endings in my body fire at once.
I know this is wrong, I know I should pull away.
I know I should stop this and put some professional distance between us.
But for the life of me, I just can’t. I can’t stop it—I won’t.
I don’t want to.
Eloise eyes lower, head tipping back in a glorious invitation. I’m about to press forward, to do the thing my body is screaming at me to do, to feel my sweet Eloise the way I’ve been dreaming of.
But then the shop door slams open, and the spell is broken. Eloise jumps backward, her face flaming red. Eyes that were once heated with lust swirl with uncertainty and regret, and I have the distinct feeling I’ve made a horrible, unfixable mistake.
It’s only when footsteps approach that I realize my mistake. Eloise's lesson is after closing time, so I usually lock the door for safety and to prevent interruptions. Today, I was so excited to see Eloise, I just forgot.
Motherfucker.
I stand, stomping into the main room with a frown and a chest full of rage. “We’re closed, fuckhead. Get out before I—”
“Spare me the empty threats,” Enzo snaps, stepping farther into the shop and sizing me up with an irritated scowl. “We need to talk.”