Page 44 of Legendary Rock Star
A tear escaped me as I said, “Me too. I wish you’d been honest with me about Fiona Desiree and not used me to get ahead. And I wish I’d done better preparing for tonight. Things might be different then.”
“I’m not using you.” He wiped the tear away while he said, “For what it’s worth, I wish I had told you about Fiona, too. I knew the show turned on me after the song came out.”
I said, “Maybe they’re all right and I’m the fool.”
“Trust me.” He pressed his forehead to mine and said, “Mark will make you a super star. He’s better than the judges.”
I kissed his cheek. I shouldn’t, but it was goodbye. Even if he was right, it didn’t mean I deserved another shot. I’d self-destructed tonight. All I could say was, “I need to work on my performance for tomorrow. Good night.”
He held my wrist and said, “Wait.”
I turned toward him and he kissed me.
This had to be the last time. My foot went up and I held onto him like we were the only people in the world and no one else mattered.
If only kisses like his lasted, I’d be happy, forever. But as the kiss ended, I held onto him and asked, “What was that for?”
He straightened my clothes and said, “In case I don’t get another chance.”
My heart sank.
Tomorrow, I had to get through the elimination round. I wouldn’t lose. But I refused to ask for his help. What if he was the biggest user of them of them all?
I’d not know until later. At least this way, if I lost, it would be because I didn’t do the work. So I needed to do all I could.
The next dayI didn’t see Phoenix except in the public practice for the group song. I tried to talk to him, but he seemed distracted, and he was on his phone a lot during breaks.
Hopefully it was because he was making things right with Mark.
I threw myself into my own practice with a new arrangement and the hours flew by. Then it was time for hair and makeup, and I headed onto the stage. My name was called first.
This time I sang the song in a way that worked better with my voice, and the audience went to their feet to applaud. The stuffy British judge said, “Maggie, that was better. You should have sung like that yesterday and you might have avoided the bottom three.”
The rest of my stage moments went smoothly, but as I left the stage to head to the after room, I saw Phoenix lined up for a solo. This was wrong. I ignored my handlers and went over to him.
I took his hand and said, “Phoenix, do you have more secrets for them to expose?”
“No, they’ve found every skeleton.”
I nodded. Good. “They can’t have any more surprises in store for you, then.”
His lips were thin and he stared at the stage when he said, “Doesn’t matter.”
I cupped his face and turned it toward me. I said, “It does.”
His gaze met mine and for one second the world didn’t exist. Heat coursed through me when I said, “Look, I was reading online that you have a lot of fans that are rallying around you on social media about Fiona Desiree. You’re getting your second chance, regardless of the show.”
“Maggie, thanks.” He stared into my eyes like this was the end.
I went on my tiptoes and said, “Don’t let them rattle you anymore.”
“I don’t intend to,” he said quickly, and then he kissed me.
Unlike his other kisses, this one was different. It had the sad taste of goodbye and I didn’t want it to ever end.
When it did, I realized the cameras were on us.
The last of the judges had just said, “Sawyer, your hip hop made us bounce tonight.”
