Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 33

Chapter 13

Hayley

I pop my earphones in and grab my water before climbing on the treadmill and programming my workout settings. Nerves bubble in my belly for tonight’s performance because I know it’s going to be a game-changer when we announce to the world about our supposed relationship. I start jogging slowly while the words of my audiobook play in my ears. I’ve listened to this particular book eight times already since it was released three years ago, but I find it comforting to go back to something familiar, especially when I’m nervous and have a lot on my mind.

Last night did not go the way I planned. I’d been so excited to meet Claire, but when I’d arrived at Kevin’s hotel, she wasn’t there. He had been unable to get hold of her since she’d gone back to her hotel room, and I tried not to let my disappointment show. It sucked beyond measure that some creep breaking into their hotel room and filming Claire and Kevin in a very personal moment had resulted in Claire feeling like she couldn’t stay in the same room as him. I hated that someone so messed up and evil could encroach on what was supposed to be their time together.

Banking my disappointment, I’d told him about my record deal with LP-45 and we’d decided to celebrate with the champagne I brought. That’s pretty much where the whole evening went downhill. I’d opened the champagne, something I’m terrible at, and sprayed it all over Kevin’s four-thousand-dollar tux. He’d gone to get cleaned up in the shower, and while he was in there, Claire had arrived, having seen Kevin’s texts and missed calls. It was clear from her expression when Kevin had walked into the suite’s living area still wet from his shower that she thought she’d interrupted an intimate moment between us.

I’d floundered trying to explain that it wasn’t what it looked like, but the poor girl had pretty much hightailed it out of there. I don’t know exactly what the arrangement is between Kevin and Claire. I’ve gathered that they are friends with benefits with no real commitment to each other, but what I saw in Claire’s eyes told me she was feeling more than just friendship for Kevin. It made me more than a little nervous for what we were doing today, especially since we didn’t get to prep Claire the way I’d hoped, but when I’d tried to discuss it with Kevin, he’d point-blank said he couldn’t have a normal relationship with Claire because of his lifestyle. I could tell the intruder incident had shaken him up more than he let on, and it saddened me that because of Kevin’s fame, he felt like he had to keep Claire outside of his world this way.

“Are you working out before a concert?” I didn’t hear Kevin come into the room, but his shocked expression doesn’t surprise me. Just about everyone who sees me running on a treadmill before a concert reacts the same way.

I pause my audiobook. “Well, technically not right before a concert. We still have a couple of hours, and I have to endure the chair first.” I wink. I know it’s part of the process, but I despise the hair and makeup part of the gig. I have a tough time sitting still when the adrenaline takes hold of me, and having a team of people fuss over me for hours means just that—sitting still. Running on the treadmill allows me to expel the restless energy and get myself centered before a show. It’s also the only time I get a workout (aside from the one I get while I’m performing), but that’s neither here nor there.

I stop the treadmill, walking a few moments until the machine stops, and reach for the towel to wipe the sweat from around my neck. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m going to need a barf bag.” Kevin winks to let me know he’s kidding, but he does look a little green around the gills.

I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. “You can’t be serious? You perform all the time.”

Kevin looks a little sheepish as he grabs a bottle of water and hands one to me. “Yeah, but that’s behind a screen where I can do take after take if I fuck up.”

I open the bottle and take a sip of water. “What about theater?”

Kevin grabs a bunch of grapes and sits on the couch. He picks off a grape and pops it into his mouth while he grimaces at me. “That’s before I got wise.”

I walk over to Kevin and take a seat next to him. “Just remember why you’re doing this. Forget everyone else—just get up there and do what we practiced, and you’ll see it will all be fine.”

“That’s actually why I came to see you.” He hesitates and places the grapes back on the plate. “Are you sure you want to do this? After our