Read Online Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story by Ann Lister - Free Book Online Page A

show,” he said.
    Her eyes shifted toward the kitchen.  “I've had male and female groupies hit on me.”
    “And you were never tempted?” he asked.
    “I didn’t say that.”  Her eyes slammed back into his.  “Okay, yes, I did it one time and I’ll never do it again.  I found out the hard way that I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl.  The intimacy means too much to me.  I did it purely for revenge.  I wanted Gary to know the kind of hurt he was making me feel every time I caught him with someone back-stage.”
    “Did Gary get jealous?” he asked, the grin fading from his mouth.
    “Yes, he did.  But, in the end, it didn’t matter to me that I had hurt him.  I was too disgusted with myself.  I vowed then I’d never demean myself like that again.  When I got home the next morning I packed what I could in a suitcase and left Gary, and that was the end of it.  I filed for divorce a couple of weeks later.”
    “You mentioned something about a drummer?”
    Annie met his gaze.  Her eyes stung with tears from reliving the memories of Gary’s infidelity.  “I feel like you’re interviewing me.”
    “That would be a switch; me being the interviewer.”  He reached out and took her hand in his, kissing the knuckles.  “I’m sorry.  Forget about it.  None of this is really any of my business.  I hate it when people pry into my personal shit.”
    “I met Joe after I left Gary.  He was different from most men, he made me feel good about myself; which is something Gary never learned how to do.  It lasted about six months.  Short and sweet.”
    “What happened?”
    “One of our gigs got canceled so I decided to surprise him and show up at his show.  Instead, I got the surprise.  I caught him in the back room with a girl and that was the last time I saw him.”
    Michael quietly gasped: “Wow.”
    “Maybe now you can understand why I have no tolerance for groupies or men that cheat.  Every man in my life - going back to my father, has been a liar and a cheat.  I seem to be a magnet for them.”  Annie pulled her fingers through her hair.  She wondered if she would ever find a man strong enough to break that cycle.
    “I’m sorry,” Michael said.
    “Don’t be.  It made me a stronger person,” she shrugged.  “I don’t expect much from a man but I do expect loyalty and I know I’m worth it.”
    “I have no doubt you are.”
    She quizzically studied his expression.  “Did the groupies break-up your marriage?”
    Michael shook his head.  “Well, I’m sure it didn’t help matters but I can honestly say my fidelity wasn’t the only issue that ruined my marriage.  And I should also add that Beth wasn’t exactly faithful to me either.”
    “If that was the case, then why did you get married?” she asked.
    “We never should have gone down that path.  It was a train wreck waiting to happen.”  Michael sighed and dropped his gaze to his lap.  “Listen, I don’t typically talk about this, it’s one of those personal areas of my life that I don’t usually share, but since you answered my prying questions, I feel I owe you the same.”
    “You don’t have to.”
    “No, I want to.”  He shifted uneasily on the couch.  “Beth and I were friends that did a lot of drugs together and on occasion ended up in bed.  It never should have gone further than that, but stupidly, I allowed it to.  She wanted to have a baby and kept pushing the marriage subject until I finally gave in to the idea.  I figured it would be nothing more than another party, an excuse to do more drugs; which it was.  But eventually the party had to end.  Unfortunately, by the time that finally happened, my son was in the picture.”
    “That’s really sad.  Sounds so empty.”
    “It was,” he said.  “And expensive.”
    “I’ve spent the last six months taking back control of my life,” she said with pride.  “Figuring out who I am and what I want in life.”  Annie looked him deep in