Page 30 of Rockstar Baby Daddy

Gavin

Being back in Hollywood was a surreal experience. I felt as if I was just floating through my own damn life on autopilot. I didn’t care what I ate because there was a chef to make something that tasted good and was good for me, or there was an assistant to pick something up or order a meal when hunger struck. Alex maintained my schedule and a driver made sure I got from spot to spot at the allotted time. There was even someone to pick out what clothes I wore when I would be out in public, which was always.

Alex smiled and gave me a double thumbs up as I chatted with yet another late-night talk-show host about what I’d been doing with my down time.

“I’ve heard rumors you’ve been off in the middle of nowhere writing your next album. Care to tell us anymore about that?” The host leaned in, a gleam in his eyes as if he really gave a damn.

“What can I say? I was really inspired by the last place I visited and the words just kind of flowed.”

The audience clapped and screamed as if I’d said something of importance or, at least, something interesting. Their over-the-top response only made me miss Suzie more. “And when can we expect to hear your latest inspiration?”

“I should finish recording the album later this month, so it depends on how happy the powers that be at the studio are with my creation.”

The only good thing in my life right now was the time I spent in the studio. Vocals had been recorded for five songs, but I still needed a full band to lay down more music before the songs could be considered ready for the suits to hear.

“I’m as eager as you are to know my release date.”

The host leaned into my personal space and nodded like I was giving him the recipe for world peace, and I leaned back, a little uncomfortable. “And what about your personal life? Rumors are swirling that you were off healing from a broken heart.”

I groaned and the audience laughed as if on cue. I’d seen the photo of me with a hangdog expression on my face as I entered the studio. The tabloids were right, I did look lovelorn. That’s because I was. There wasn’t one moment of the day when I didn’t think of Suzie, wondered what she was up to and how much she hated me.

“Now, you all know that I’m not one to kiss and tell.”

“Oooh, that means thereisa girl. Where were you inspired again?” The host laughed and the audience joined in. “Just in case I’m lacking inspiration,” he offered up with a knowing smile for me and a wink for the audience, who ate it all up.

“Some place in this beautiful country of ours. I highly recommend, all of you, take a trip off the beaten path, see what the world has to offer. There are some gorgeous nooks and crannies.”

“Does that mean you’re dishing up the dirt for us, your closest friends?” He wiggled his eyebrows, teasing a laugh out of me.

“No dirt to dish, sorry. But I will tell you that if you want some of the details, make sure to follow me on social media to find out exactly when my album drops.”

In the wings, Alex was over the moon that I had remembered to promote myself. It was part of the game I’d been playing since I was a teenager and I knew it well, I just didn’t like that part very much.

“I hope you’ll come back when the album is out, maybe sing a song or two for us?” The audience cheered wildly at his lead-in, and I felt my skin flush with heat at their adulation.

“I’d be happy to. Thanks for having me.” I stood and smiled, waving at the audience so they all felt as if I was thanking them personally.

Backstage, my shoulders relaxed, happy to be myself again. “That was great, Gavin. You’re back, baby!”

“Didn’t know I was gone,” I growled and walked straight through the green room, ignoring the other celebrities in the lineup in my hurry to get the hell out of the freezing studio.

“You know what I mean. These interviews have created the right amount of buzz and when the execs hear your songs, they will be primed to love them and greenlight the album.” Alex walked fast to keep up with me.

“What’s next?” There was always something to do since I came back to L.A.

“A quick shoot for Golden Guitars. They’re eager to promote your new partnership. You should be, too.”

“I am.” Golden Guitars was the standard for quality guitars and I owned more than a few of theirs. “The golden guitar was a little over the top, but I’m happy to work with them.”

They had offered up a ridiculous amount of money to use my face to sell the best guitars in the world, and I was happy to take it. What the hell else would I do, anyway?

Call Suzie?

I thought about it. Time and again, I thought about it. I’d even picked up the phone at least two hundred times, ready to call her. To hear her voice even if it was angry and screaming. Six times today, my thumb had hovered over the call button, determined to hear the melodic tone of her voice. I chickened out every single time and that only made me feel worse.

The only good thing about this feeling was that work was my favorite distraction. Whenever I thought about Suzie and her smile, her curves, that sexy collection of eyeglasses, I wrote a song. Whenever the urge to call her became too strong, I wrote a song. Before the month was up, I’d probably have enough songs for five albums.

“Street Religion has been calling. They want you to be the face of their new rocker jeans. Six figures, so think about it.”

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