Page 61 of Legendary Rock Star
She traced the buttons on the console like she wanted to hear my demo as she said, “You learned your lesson the hard way.”
It was true. I grew up fast in that moment. But I wasn’t sure that was enough. My voice was unusually gravelly and I choked on my words as I said, “I don’t want to ever hurt you like that.”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
She said bluntly, “Did you drink last night?”
“I wanted to,” I said, and came closer. Her hair smelled like strawberries.
She bumped into me with her hip and asked, “But did you?”
“No. I’d never do anything so stupid again in my life.”
Success meant no more drinking for me. And with Maggie I had the world.
She pressed the play button and sat back to listen to my song as she said, “Good. Then I trust you’ve learned your lesson.”
My lyrics made it clear that I wanted Maggie back. Now she was here, and she loved me. I’d be stupid to send her away. I took the seat beside her, the same way we’d been when we recorded our album, and said, “I hope so too, because I want you in my life, Maggie.”
Her eyelashes fluttered and she pressed closer as she asked, “You do?”
She was right. I’d learned my lesson. And I’d do everything in my power not to destroy my life now that it was this good. With Maggie, I had everything. I curled my hands in her hair to hold her closer as she tipped her face up to kiss me, and I said, “I love you, more than anyone else in the world.”
“I love you too,” she said. And then I met her lips.
The truth was out there now.
No more hiding.
And Maggie tasted even better than the last time. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was because I realized that love mattered more than any of the other noise, including the last beat of my sad song that played behind us.
18
Maggie
I wokeup to the earthy aroma of coffee near me. I sat up on the couch I’d crashed on a few hours ago.
I jumped up, as I needed to get back to the TV studio, now.
Sneaking out was bad. But as I woke up and rubbed my eyes, I saw he’d set up a delicious spread with hot rolls.
My mouth watered as I stood up and then rushed to my bag to grab my overnight supplies and clean up fast.
Soon I’d eat rolls like that again, but I wasn’t going to lose the competition on some bread technicality.
I needed to say goodbye and go.
Phoenix hadn’t been in his recording studio, but I rushed into the living room just as he opened his front door.
My heels skidded to a stop. A gray-haired man with an old school presidential hair cut, wearing gray slacks and a white shirt with the top button open, came in.
I tossed my small bag on the counter and stepped towards them.
Phoenix’s face was dimpled in a smile. He made my skin all warm and tingly when he came over to me and took my hand while he said, “This is Mark.”
His agent. I held out my other hand for Mark to shake and said, “Mark, it’s nice to meet you in person. But I need to get back to the studio.”
