Page 35 of Legendary Rock Star
“Let it—and me—go.” Maggie stepped back and said, “I’ll see you soon. Don’t go anywhere.”
Effie said, “We’ll always be here for you.”
I stayed next to my mother, who’d been stoned in most of my memories. Right now her vision seemed clear. I said, “That’s how normal families say goodbye.”
She ran her hand over my cheek and said, “We’d be happy to call you soon, Phoenix.”
Forgiveness meant forgetting the past. I had no hopes of that unless I knew for sure they didn’t want money. I said, “Let’s see what happens.”
And then I turned to Maggie and asked, “Are you ready?”
“Let’s go,” she said, and we walked out of the restaurant together. A moment later, we were riding back to the studio in the golf cart.
Today was a disaster. My heart still pounded and I leaned down to talk to her, but instead I kissed her. She was the only person in the world that mattered.
I needed to do right by her, as no one else stirred my soul at all.
10
Maggie
Until todayI had no idea how much I wanted to know about Phoenix’s past. I ignored my desire to win and forgot my doubts about him in those moments.
But after meeting his parents, I think I understood him a little better.
While I had my parents, Phoenix had his agent, an uncle, an aunt and some cousins who took him in and didn’t steal from him.
Part of me wondered what living without parents might be like. Mine loved me, and didn’t steal from me. But they kept me in that small town and living in their basement for too long.
I was here to change all that and win.
It was extraordinary and commendable that Phoenix had straightened himself out.
At least, it would be, if he wasn’t using me, and if he really meant what he said about not taking profits from our recordings until I talked to Mark.
I’d find out after I won this competition.
If I was honest with myself, though, I’d have to admit he was rather sexy when he took charge at dinner.
As the golf cart dropped us off at the studio, I realized we were the first ones back.
So we had time. I wanted to talk to him without the cameras in our faces. I tapped his muscular shoulder and said, “We have a few hours until taping. Can we talk?”
He glanced around, realizing we were practically alone. There were just a few staff, and they were all preoccupied. He said, “You’re right. The others aren’t back from whatever ambush was prepared for them.”
“Right?” I nodded. I felt goosebumps. Being alone mattered. I ignored the zip in my veins from touching him when I went on my tiptoes and said, “So call Hank and let’s go.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and asked, “Where are you thinking?”
I couldn’t wait to tell him. The buzz in my skin made me feel alive when I said, “To your house. To the studio where we sang together.”
His eyebrow sparked like I’d propositioned him. He asked, “Really?”
I needed to apologize for my silence. So I nodded, but made it clear that I wanted to talk business. “We need to talk, and I figured the scene of the crime would be the best spot.”
He texted on his phone and, a second later, took my hand. “Sounds perfect. Let’s get going.”
We walked to the side door to head out as I asked, “So who was the waitress?”
