Page 30 of Legendary Rock Star
“Really?”
I smiled and nodded. “My dad is a minister and talks a lot about family.”
He laughed and said, like he had nothing to hide, “The show is going to have a field day with that one, then. Ratings will be high.”
I hoped he was right and the story about his parents was no big deal to repeat to the world. But something had happened to him that I didn’t know.
Next time we were alone, I’d ask him again about why he was kicked out of his band. And if Mark was really on the level. But for now, I saw a different side of myself and Phoenix; one I wasn’t sure I could trust.
Tomorrow was soon enough. Maybe then I’d find out for certain that the guy who kissed me like this wasn’t betraying me and using me to further his career. I wanted to believe that. I wanted to believe in him.
9
Phoenix
A televiseddate of sorts wasn’t something I’d ever thought about doing. Maggie spurred too much emotion in me and I wasn’t sure how to pretend that wasn’t true. So my shoulders were tense.
If I insulted her, I hurt my chances but helped hers. The audience would side with her as the young innocent girl she was.
If I showed interest in her, I helped my own chances on the show but hurt hers. The audience could only empathize with one of us.
I wanted my comeback, but not by hurting other singers with anything but my voice.
I had no answer, but I straightened my tie and checked that my suit was good in the dorm mirror, saluted the camera crew and pointed toward the door.
In the staff area, I saw Maggie, a vision in a white dress with yellow flowers embroidered along the flared hem.
She’d be America’s sweetheart.
Every time I held Maggie’s hand, I felt peaceful. My last girlfriend had never stayed at my house overnight because I hadn’t wanted to see her first thing in the morning. And Maggie wasn’t even my girlfriend, but I knew her soft smile would be even sweeter in the morning, without a spot of makeup.
For now, we walked together in silence to the golf cart that took us to the lunch place the studio had set up for us.
My desire for her was growing, and that was bad.
What the fuck did I say when we finally sat down and the cameras zoomed in on our faces?
We arrived at the restaurant and headed into the dining room that was half-filled with cameras. They made the place look shiny and fake from outside.
Maggie must have been nervous because she couldn’t stand still as we waited to be shown to the table, surrounded by a camera crew. I fixed my tie again as she said, “I can’t believe Wyatt is out.”
The show. Yes.
“He was a nice guy. He knew my young cousin in Pittsburgh.”
“Yeah?” she said. Her entire body was tense.
She needed to get used to being comfortable on TV if her dream included performing. And I wanted to help her, despite wanting to win myself. So I smiled at the camera and said, “Next week we air again, so it’s better to just focus on enjoying every moment we can while we have time off.”
She pressed her side closer to me and sparks rushed through me.
“It’s hard to do that when I’m so nervous,” she said. “I’m not sure I want cameras watching me bite down on chicken.”
Or showing her with me.
She was in a tough spot. I kept that to myself and nodded as we stared at the door and waited for the host to signal we could relax.
I said, “The show wants to show a softer side to the remaining six before they cut two more people.”
