Page 47 of Hard Rock Love

“You want me to kill them for you?” Seth said evenly, despite the rage in his voice. “I can make it look like an accident.”

I choked out a small, teary chuckle. Even during one of my darkest moments, Seth was able to make me laugh.

“I don’t even remember who they are,” I said. “I thought they were just some random guys. I didn’t bother to memorize their faces.”

I hung my head down, staring at the floor.

“So that’s it,” I said. “Everyone on campus has been talking about how much of a slutty, desperate loser I am.”

I finally finished speaking, falling silent.

Seth shifted me until I was turned around in his arms, facing him.

“You know none of what they said is true, right?” he said, staring intently into my eyes.

“I know,” I said. “I don’t sleep around or anything.”

“But the other thing,” he said. “You said that’s what hurts the most.”

I shrugged listlessly.

“I know what I am,” I said. “I’m not cool like Everly and Cerise. I’m not stylish or hot or bad ass. I’m a mousy little bookworm.”

“Who cares?” Seth said.

I blinked up at him.

“No, you may not be cool like Everly,” he continued. “But cool isn’t everything. I’m not cool. I’m a fucking dumbass. I’m not some kind of rock star sex god.”

Yes, you are, I thought silently.

“The others always tease me that I’ve got no game,” he said. “Women don’t hang off me like they hang off Gael and Nathan. I don’t get mobbed by tons of groupies and fan girls like the others do.”

“What about those twins?” I asked.

Seth looked at me, taken back.

“What twins?” he asked.

“At the party. There were these twin girls. They were really pretty and they were hanging on your every word.”

He looked confused for a second before understanding dawned on his face. He threw back his head and laughed.

“Those weren’t groupies or fangirls,” he explained. “They’re dating some friends of mine. We’ve hung out a few times. For some reason they think I’m hilarious. They actually like my sense of humor.”

“Of course they do,” I said. “You’re funny.”

“That’s exactly it,” Seth said with an emphatic nod. “I’m the idiot joker younger brother of the group. I’m not cool like the others. And you know what?” He lifted a shoulder carelessly. “I really don’t care. I like who I am just fine.”

“I think you’re cool like the rest,” I told him.

Seth cracked a smile.

“And I don’t think you’re a loser,” he replied. “See? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“It’s just that Everly is so…” I trailed off, not able to find the exact words to describe how I felt about my sister. It was so childish, to be feeling this way, but that didn’t make these feelings any less real. “Growing up she was always off doing awesome things, living her dreams. And I was always at home in my bedroom studying, living this boring and dull life.”

“You shouldn’t compare yourself to your sister,” Seth said. “If I tried to compare myself to Julian I’d go crazy. He has that sexy mysterious vibe going on. I could never pull that off. That’s just not me.” He pinned me down with a look. “Just like you’re not Everly. And that’s okay. It’s great, even. One of her in the world is enough. Not everyone can have this larger-than-life persona. There’s nothing wrong with being a normal, regular person. Besides…”

He took my face in his hands, cupping my cheeks. My heart thudded heavily in my chest, blood racing through my veins. A spark went through me, from his hands to my very core.

Seth looked down at me softly.

“I like you just the way you are.”