Page 4 of Spring Break with a Rockstar

But Amber doesn’t answer my question. Instead, she rambles on and on as if she's lost her mind. “You’re no better than McKenna, throwing your career away on some nobody from some nowhere shit hole town."

Amber begins to pace the length of her office, only stopping when I rush to her side and grab her arm. “I’m only going to ask you this one more time. What note are you talking about?”

She tries to break free from my grasp, but I tighten my grip on her arm, not caring about leaving bruises. Giving up the struggle, she concedes, “Fine. I went to your hotel room that morning to discuss an alternative to finding you a fake girlfriend since McKenna cut me off as her manager the night before, only to find you not there and that little tramp in your bed.”

Unable to control the rage her words cause me, I tighten my grip even more, “Call Serena a tramp one more time and I’ll snap your arm like the twig it is.” I give her arm a shake to emphasize my point. “Got it?”

“Got it.” She says in a whiny voice that I never realized she had before.

“Now finish telling me about that damn note.”

“Like I said, once I saw…her in your bed sound asleep, it didn’t take a genius to know what had happened. And since I’ve never known you to have sex with anyone the whole time I’ve known you, I knew she must be someone special—someone who held the power to ruin your career. So I handled the situation like any good manager would.”

“And how exactly did you do that?” I growl. My patience wearing thin.

“You’re not the first male rockstar I’ve managed. I keep NDA paperwork with me at all times. All I had to do was add your name, wake her up, have her sign it, and kick her out of your room. I expected more of a fuss from her, but she looked shocked and didn’t argue. I had plenty of time to write you a note from her once I saw her name on the NDA paperwork and leave the room before you returned.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal; she ruined two lives. “It wasn’t hard to convince you to leave as soon as possible since you were so heartbroken. And your music from that day forward has been some of the best I’ve ever heard. You were on your way to being a Rock Legend. You still could be if you forgot about that little nobody.”

Amber wrote that note. Not Serena.

Hope swells in my chest. It’s not too late to make things right with Serena. But first, I have to clear out the trash in my life. “Amber, you’re fired. My lawyers will contact you. But if you know what’s good for you, you will stay out of my life for good.” With a slight shove, I release her arm and rush out of her office to claim the woman I can’t stop thinking about.

***

“Get out of my way, Creed. I want to see Serena.” I didn’t just spend five hours on my private plane to let this jackass stand between me and the woman I’m pretty sure I love.

“What if she doesn’t want to see you?” Creed has a point, but I’m not backing down.

“Look, I’ll explain everything later, after I’ve talked to Serena.” I’m tired, and all I want is to hold Serena in my arms again. I wasn’t even sure if Serena would be at the tattoo shop, but since I didn’t know her home address, this was my first stop.

Creed crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at me as if he’s daring me to make a move so he can punch me.

“Oh, Creed, honey. I want to buy my grandson a gift certificate for a tattoo.” An older woman with shockingly blue hair waves at Creed.

Creed turns his attention to the old woman, saying, “Sure thing, Netty. I’ll be right with you." Then, with a firm look, he shifts his gaze back to me and adds, “Don’t take another step into my shop, or I’ll have to call the authorities and have you arrested for trespassing.”

I bide my time, glancing at the framed pictures of tattoos on the wall while waiting for the perfect opportunity to search the back rooms of the tattoo parlor.

Netty provides me the perfect opportunity to slip into the back hallway as she grabs Creed’s arm and pulls him closer to a picture on the wall. “How much does that one cost?” She asks, drawing Creed’s attention away from me.

With a quick sidestep, I dash down the hallway, opening each door as I move from room to room. I hear muffled voices comingfrom behind the last door. Silently I turn the knob praying that Serena is behind the door.

Once the door is ajar, Serena’s voice floats through. “Hopefully, by the time this little guy is old enough to ask, I’ll have found someone who loves me and will love him like his own.”

All that processes in my brain is that Serena is looking for someone to love her who isn’t me.

“Like Hell you will!” I throw open the door, needing to see Serena with my own eyes, hoping like Hell my ears deceived me, only to have an angry Creed follow me into the room.

“I told you once, Shepard, you’re not welcome in my tattoo shop, ever,” Creed yells, just as a baby's cry fills the air.

“Baby?” I look from a shocked Serena to the baby squirming in her arms; she seems so natural holding it. When it dawns on me, it’s her baby. But who’s the father? I step closer, an invisible force pulling me toward mother and child. The baby’s cries lessen as I approach. Suddenly, I find myself staring into little tear-stained eyes that match my own, and I know the baby is mine and Serena’s, and I couldn’t be happier. “What’s our baby’s name, Serena?”

At McKenna’s sharp intake of breath and Creed’s growl, I realize they don’t know about the night Serena and I spent together. “Our son’s name is Cash.”

I have a son.

I extend my hand, wanting to touch him, but I hesitate, not wanting to upset Serena. She has kept his paternity a secret for so long for a reason. Will she let me be a part of his life?

Before we can talk, Cash’s chubby little hand grips my finger tightly, as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear.

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