My Rockstar's Heartstrings: Three Years of Loving You From Afar novel Chapter 4

Kaylee's POV

Three years ago, I found Jax sleeping under a bridge in Brooklyn, guitar by his side, after my late-night shift.

He'd gotten into a fight with some homeless guys over territory and abandoned his guitar to take on seven of them at once.

Predictably, he got his ass handed to him.

I spotted him trudging along the street, guitar slung over his shoulder, blood mixing with rainwater running down his face.

I couldn't just walk past. I jogged over with my umbrella:

"You should clean those cuts before they get infected."

I brought Jax home with me.

During that street fight, he'd been as fierce as a cornered wolf.

But while I cleaned his wounds, he was like a puppy—clearly hurting but too proud to make a sound.

After patching him up, I offered half the sandwich I'd grabbed from the bodega.

He wrinkled his nose: "...Tastes like chemicals."

"What were you expecting?" I took a big bite myself and rolled my eyes. "That fancy bakery downtown doesn't use preservatives, but they charge twenty bucks for a slice. Be my guest if you're so picky."

He shut up and ate the sandwich.

At night, Jax crashed on my floor.

During the day, I worked odd jobs while he busked on street corners.

He had an amazing voice, but his standoffish attitude made it impossible for him to get along with the other vendors.

Except for one flower seller—with her, he was surprisingly friendly.

I teased him: "Got a thing for flower girl, huh?"

He shot back: "Kaylee, are you dropped on your head as a baby or something?"

I eventually discovered why Jax was so determined to befriend the flower girl.

One Friday after work, he was waiting at my apartment with a massive bouquet of roses.

"Kaylee, you're single, right?"

I nearly laughed in his face: "Classic move—buying flowers before checking if I'm available."

"Doesn't matter if you're not," Jax said with total confidence. "Dump whoever and choose me instead."

What he lacked in experience, he made up for with raw intensity.

As dawn broke, he pulled me against his chest, kissing my face.

"Kaylee."

"Hmm?"

"Am I the most important person in your life?"

"You're second."

Jax immediately bolted upright, instantly furious.

"Who's first?"

"The almighty dollar."

Jax: "..."

He blinked a couple times, eventually shrugging: "Could be worse. At least it's not some dude."

He flopped back down, wrapping himself around me from behind, completely satisfied.