Page 40 of Dead Rockstar

“No, it's true. You have something about you,” he said. “A vibe that I've never gotten off anybody else. It's, like, pure, but also sly. You have hidden depths...and beautiful eyes. I could get lost in them.” I looked down at my lap, embarrassed, but he went on. “This Tess guy sounds like a massive dick, but he obviously saw the same things that I see.”

“He just used me,” I said bitterly.

“People are shit,” he replied. I nodded in agreement. “But you know...I loved Barb. I really loved her. I knew deep down she wasn't right for me, though. And even if she had been 'the one,' I don't think we would have lasted because of all the shit she and I were doing, you know? I treated her bad, and she treated me bad, but I did love her, and I believe she loved me as much as she could.”

I stared out the window.

“Maybe it's the same for you and this Tess guy. You could look at it like that. You loved each other, but it just wasn’t a good fit in the end. Life got in the way, mistakes were made, and it isn't meant to be but...you both loved.” He gave my arm a gentle, warm squeeze. “Maybe a nicer way to look at it?”

“But it doesn't change what he put me through.”

“No,” he agreed. “It couldn't.”

I smiled and gave his hand a squeeze back, feeling better than I had in a long time. I let my fingers linger on his skin, enjoying the warmth and closeness.

His face went tense and he pulled it away. Crestfallen, I said, “Sorry. I didn't mean-”

“No, it's not you,” he said, his expression grim. “I didn't want to say anything until I was sure, but there's somebody on our tail.”

“Fucking seriously? Not again!” I looked in my side mirror but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. We were on a major highway, so there were cars everywhere. “Where?”

“The car behind us, two cars back,” he said. “The maroon one. He's been keeping his distance, but I've been noticing it for an hour now. He always stays two cars back. No matter where we turn, he turns. He's going our speed.”

“But most of the cars are. It's a highway,” I pointed out.

“I have a feeling about that one,” he said. “Watch.”

He waited a few moments, then drifted into the left lane without signaling. In the rearview, I could see the maroon car take notice; the driver's head turned sharply. He didn't change lanes – that would have been too obvious – but the driver was definitely watching us. He had also picked up a cell phone and was talking into it.

“Should we try to get off the highway?”

“Yeah,” he said. “But not to lose them. I want them to follow me. See what I can figure out. We'll stop for a drink, yeah?”

He waited two more exits, then drifted back into the right lane and exited quickly without signaling. He crested over the hill toward the red light, going fast, to see if the maroon car would try to catch up with us, thinking they'd lost us. It worked. The maroon car careened over the hill at breakneck speed, coming up behind us much too fast; he had to slam on his brakes. The driver looked angry now that we'd noticed him. He had miscalculated, a rookie move.

“He obviously doesn't do this often,” Phillip said with a short laugh.

“I think that's Lee Courtenay,” I said, sneaking another covert glance. “He's got a different hat on, but from what I can see, it looks like him. Unless he's got a twin brother.”

“Why is this fucker following me?” Phillip demanded, quickly looking at me. “What does he want?”

“Well, you keep saying he's looking for you,” I replied with a hollow laugh. “Looks like he's found you.” I bit at a fingernail. “But, Phillip? What if it’s me he's following? I met him before I ever even saw you, at the farmers market. I can't help but wonder if his interest has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe he's one of Tess' buddies or something. Maybe he's investigating the drug ring-”

“It isn't that,” Phillip said as the light turned green. He hung left and took off fast. “And anyway, that day at the farmers market – I was there, too.”

I remembered seeing the man with the dusty black jacket that day, darting behind booths, staring a hole through me, the way his black ponytail had rippled in the late-morning sun. I had thought I was going mad, leftover jitters from the stupid spell I'd done, and the hangover I'd brought on myself. “You asshole. I thought I was going crazy.”

He laughed despite how tense we both were. “I had to see you for myself. I couldn’t wait till you were back home. I had to check you out.”

“How on earth…how did you know…” I flailed. “How did you find me there, of all places?”

“When you summoned me, I just knew where you'd be,” he said. “It’s like…I could feel you. I followed you there, but I didn't know how to approach you in public, with all those people there. So I just watched. I knew you saw me, too, but it was kind of a thrill, honestly.” He grinned, catlike, and my heart started to race. But then his face turned dark. “And then I saw him.” He glowered. “That phony act, spilling flowers all over you. He was there for a reason. He was there because I was there.”

“But how could he have known you'd be there? That either of us would be there?” A half-formed thought began to form in my consciousness and then faded away before I could pinpoint it.

“I don't know,” he answered honestly. “The next time he dares to show his face, we'll ask him. You’re right, though; it’s definitely Lee in that car. So let's give him the opportunity to 'catch' us; just see what the coward does.” He pulled into a Chevron station and parked by the door. “Want a Coke or something?”

I wasn't sure I liked this idea. “I'll go in and get the drinks and you stay in the car,” I suggested. “We can’t risk you being recognized. Especially not if we’re already being followed.” I grabbed my purse and went inside before Phillip could argue, picking out two seltzer waters and a Coke, paying the cashier with shaking fingers. As I waited for my change, I saw the maroon car from the window, coasting slowly through the parking lot. It looked like he was thinking about stopping. But as he passed the storefront, I saw him turn his head, glance into the store, and then he stepped on the gas and sped away from the store, turning onto the street and away from us.

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