Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 48
I arrived home a few nights ago, the time on tour just what I needed. I’ve done a ton of thinking. I’ve worked hard, harder than I ever worked in my life with performing and making the album with Kade, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m more than just rumor fodder. I feel like I’m contributing to the entertainment industry in a positive way again. Sure, in the beginning there were a ton of rumors, but because I was so busy, I barely had time to obsess over them. As busy as I’ve been, I also managed to find time to rest and to heal, and while losing my baby—and everything that happened subsequent to that—left a scar, I found a way to process my loss.
But now, as I sit outside the bar working up the courage to go inside, I’m nervous. Not to perform, but to see Kade. Being online with him these past six months was incredible. And so easy. We hit the album out the park, punching out song after song and getting it to our respective labels three weeks before the deadline. We also spent a ton of time getting to know each other which has been great. It felt like there were no barriers between us. That the distance gave me a buffer, much like Kevin did, and allowed us to get closer, as strange as that might sound. We even flirted. At first I was hesitant, reluctant to open myself up because of my fears, but Kade made me feel free and safe, and before I knew it, we were flirting back and forth. But I wonder if things might be different now that I’m back in real life—if things might be awkward.
I rest my head back and close my eyes, blowing out an unsteady breath.
A light tap on the window startles me, and I clutch my chest and turn to the person responsible for nearly stopping my heart. As if conjured by my thoughts, Kade is standing outside my window. “Holy freaking crapballs, Kade. You scared the shit out of me!”
Kade’s lopsided grin makes my heart beat a whole lot faster than the rap on the window did. He raises a hand to the window and mock shouts, “What’s that? I can’t hear you.”
I open the door and try to step out of the car. “I said, you—”
I can’t move. I’m trapped—by my seat belt which I forgot to undo. I blush a furious red as Kade nibbles the spot next to his lip ring to stop from laughing at me.
I. Want. To. Die.
Who the hell forgets to unstrap themselves before climbing out of the car?
“Here, let me.” He leans in and stretching over me, presses the release button, letting the seat belt slide away from my body. He smells delicious. Earthy and fresh and damn near edible. His smooth neck, only a few torturous inches away from my lips, tempting me.
He moves back, giving me space, and I get out of the car, still flushed from my embarrassment. Kade’s eyes track down my body, and his tongue peeks out his mouth to tease his lip ring. He groans. Actually groans out loud as he takes me in.
“You look…incredible. This is worse than the mask incident.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” I may have downplayed that a ton. Kade in a royal blue tee and ripped jeans looks…I don’t even have the words to describe how sexy he looks. He looks like every girl’s erotic dream.
“You!” Josh’s voice interrupts our moment. We both turn to look in the direction of a very pissed-off-looking Josh standing next to a very resigned-looking Jeff. “We’re performing on a fucking platform. No way, man! No fucking way.”
Kade frowns. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know I’m terrified of heights. This was you getting back at me.”
Kade gives me an apologetic smile, then turns back to Josh. “Josh, you were there. In the meeting where we voted on this. Maybe you should pay attention rather than sexting all the time.”
“Just because your balls are holding fucking dust doesn’t mean mine should,” Josh retorts.
Kade shrugs. “We can’t fit that many people in the bar. If we wanted to use the venue, we had to make a plan. This was the plan, and you agreed to it.” He turns back to me again and winks. “I wish I had the kinda clout he thinks I do. I’d have him swinging from the ceiling in angel wings if I could.”
I laugh. All my doubts about how things would be dissipate like smoke as I realize nothing has changed.
“Josh, would you quit bitching?” Jeff adds. “I’ve heard it all day. You said yes to the platform. Your words were ‘Yeah, yeah, whatever.’”
Josh throws his hands in the air. “This is a fucking conspiracy.”
Jeff shakes his head. “Instead of bitching, how about saying hi to Hayley.”
Josh looks at me as though it’s the first time he’s seeing me. “Oh, hey, Hayley.”
I smile and say hi. Jeff walks over to me. “Welcome back. How was the tour?”
I smile. “Exhausting and invigorating.”
He nods. “Yeah, I get it. You did fucking awesome on the album, by the way.”
“Yeah, you killed it,” Josh agrees.
Kade smiles at me. “Told you they loved it.”
Heat pools in my cheeks at the guys’ praise, and I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t me, it was all of us.
Kade reaches for my hand. “Should we head inside? Sam wants to brief us.”
“Sure.” I smile at how natural it feels to have my hand clasped in his.
We walk inside the back entrance to the bar and into the temporary greenroom Sam had set up for us to chill in. It