Page 28 of Saving the Rockstar

I groaned. "God, don't remind me. I was a mess."

"You really were." Dylan chuckled. "I found you hiding in the music room, practically hyperventilating. You were so convinced you were going to blow it, that you weren't good enough."

It had been one of the most important performances of my fledgling career, a chance to catch the attention of industry bigwigs. But instead of excitement, all I'd felt was overwhelming terror.

"You gave me that whole pep talk," I said slowly. "Sat with me for hours, running through all the reasons I was going to kick ass."

"Damn right I did." Dylan's grin was audible in the dark. "I believe my exact words were: 'Asher Roth, you are a goddamn supernova. You're going to go out on that stage and sing your fucking heart out, and those scouts are going to weep with joy at the sheer force of your talent. And then, when you're rich and famous and banging groupies on your tour bus, you're going to remember this moment and say 'Wow, Dylan was so right.I should've listened to his wise and all-knowing counsel.' And I will be magnanimous and refrain from saying 'I told you so,' because I am a benevolent god.'"

I burst out laughing, the memory washing over me in a wave of fondness and gratitude. "You literally called yourself a benevolent god."

"And was I wrong?" Dylan asked archly. "Did you or did you not crush that showcase?"

"I did," I admitted. "But only because I had you in my corner, believing in me."

"And you always will, babe." he reached out, finding my hand in the dark and linking our fingers. "No matter what happens with Jared, no matter what life throws at you, I will always be here to remind you how fucking incredible you are. Even when you forget it yourself."

I drifted off with a smile on my face, my heart full to bursting with the certainty of Dylan's love, his steadfast faith in me.

The next morning, I woke with lingering nerves. After a pep talk from Dylan and a promise to fill him in later, I made my way back to the room Jared and I shared.

I found him awake, dressed for the day and reviewing something on his tablet. He looked up as I entered, his expression unreadable.

"You're back."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "Yeah, I crashed with Dylan last night. I needed some time to think."

Jared nodded slowly. "I figured. Listen, about last night-"

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "For running off like that. And for pushing you into something you weren’t ready for."

Jared's brow furrowed. "Asher, you-"

But I was on a roll now, the words tumbling out of me in an anxious rush. "It's just, I know you're straight. But then you said that thing about wanting to kiss me and I got carried away and I shouldn't have assumed that meant you actually wanted todoanything about it, and-"

"Ash-"

"-I just couldn't stop thinking about your lips, okay?" I could feel my face flushing, but I couldn't seem to shut up. "All night, every time I closed my eyes, there they were. And then I had this dream that we were making out on stage in front of a sold-out crowd and it was really hot but also super inappropriate and-"

"Asher." Jared's voice was stern, but I could see the way his mouth was twitching, fighting a smile. The bastard was enjoying watching me make an idiot of myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry if I made things weird. If I crossed a line. I never want you to feel like you have to do something you're not comfortable with, just because of my stupid crush."

"Hey, no. None of that." He set his tablet aside, giving me his full attention. "You didn't make me do anything. I kissed you because I wanted to. Because I have feelings for you. Real, genuine feelings."

My heart leaped into my throat. "You do?"

"I do." Jared's smile was soft, almost shy. "Last night was incredible.You'reincredible. And I don't regret a single second of it."

Relief crashed over me like a wave, dizzying in its intensity. But before I could bask in it, his expression turned serious.

"But I also think we need to stop before we go too far. I'm still your bodyguard, Ash. There are lines we can't cross, not while I'm working for you. It wouldn't be right."

My stomach sank, even as I knew he was probably right. "So, what does that mean for us?"

He sighed. "It means we maintain a professional relationship. We focus on getting through this tour, on keeping you safe."

It wasn't a no. But it wasn't the unequivocal yes I'd been hoping for either. Still, I could see the logic in it, the necessity.

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