Page 52 of Legendary Rock Star
Still? I thought we were done talking about him now. I squared my shoulders and said, “I’m doing the best I can. I don’t want to lose who I am.”
His lips thinned as he said, “Well, congrats. You’re safe with Jane.”
I didn’t even need to fake surprise. I went to join my friend, who still rocked purple leather, and hugged her.
The host moved on, announcing dramatically, “Finnigan, you’re in the bottom three.”
Then, as if it wasn’t already obvious to everyone, he tried to create an air of suspense before saying, “Sawyer, you’re in the bottom three.”
Sawyer joined the others, and then we all stood together again, as the show wrapped. We’d all been here before.
“Tomorrow, Finnigan, Sawyer and Rihanne will sing to stay, but one of them will go home,” the host said. “Tune in and find out tomorrow which one.”
Sawyer whispered to us, “That’s not grammatically correct.”
I laughed. True, but it didn’t matter.
The host then joined us and said, “Good luck everyone.”
The lights went off and I closed my eyes. I was safe for now, but this still needed my absolute focus.
I will not lose because of a man, or because I’m falling in love, I told myself. I was not like Phoenix. I had to fight for everything I wanted. And being a solo star was exactly what I planned.
15
Phoenix
The judges had gottenit right, for once. I showered as if I’d been on the stage earlier and not on my couch. I could feel the bright lights burn through my skin even though I hadn’t been there.
Maggie had been amazing and the judges had finally acknowledged her brilliance.
Mark’s text caught my attention the moment I stepped out of the shower and checked my phone on the sink counter.
The studio wanted me to write a Christmas love song. An all-new romantic Christmas duet.
I pulled on the cotton pajama pants I wore around the house and wished it had been Maggie who’d called.
I missed her the most right now and wished I could hold her in my arms. Instead, I settled into my studio and wrote out a composition that sprang from my heart.
As I worked on the second bridge to tweak it, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw the caller ID.
My heart woke up and adrenaline shot through me as I answered. “Maggie, I’m glad you called.”
“I had to,” she said. “I wasn’t even sure you’d answer.”
“You were amazing tonight,” I told her.
She let out a small laugh and said, “You should have been a judge. Everyone here misses you, including me.”
In another life we’d be together. But not in this one. I asked, “Do you miss me?”
Her voice was melancholy. “I didn’t give my all to this competition when you were here. My total focus, like I would have if I hadn’t been falling for you.”
Everything inside me stilled as I asked, “You fell for me?”
A small sob echoed in my ear. Her words were like daggers to my skin as she said, “I wanted to believe you and your promises. I let you distract me, and you walked away from me.”
The only promises I’d made to her were to fix the deal for the Christmas songs and set up a meeting with Mark. I wanted more, but she saw me for what I was. Someone who didn’t deserve another shot.
