Page 7 of Not Another Rockstar
Axel let out a sigh of relief; at least she was safe from the hungry press. He waited there a moment, to make sure she was okay, only to hear her muffled sobs on the other side of the partition. His desire to strangle Cillian returned.
Anita blew up his phone. He didn’t want to leave Phoebe, but he doubted Cillian would be attending the conference in his current state. If one band member was missing there would be questions, but if two didn’t attend then there would be rumours of B.O.A. breaking up before the sun rose.
The press conferencewent by quickly, and Axel sat in awe of Nick’s professionalism. His secret talents included smiling through trouble. August, at the end of the table, was unaware of the chaos because he’d been at a meet-and-greet for fans with disabilities. Axel envied his blissful ignorance, but he was sure Nick would fill him in soon.
After signing some albums, and offering a quick thank you to fans, Axel returned to the bus. To his relief, he heard no sobs, but the bus was too quiet and the glass of water still sat empty on the table. He exhaled, hoping she hadn’t left before he made sure she got back to her hotel safely.
He opened the partition, expecting to find his bed empty, but found Phoebe curled up in his hoodie with his pillow cradled against her body. Her boots were still on, and a box of tissues sat beside her. Axel sighed; her tears must have knocked her out. Carefully, he slipped off her heeled boots, put her tote bag on the floor and slowly covered her with his duvet. Better she was here, and close to those who loved her, than alone in a hotel.
If someone had told him this morning Phoebe Fletcher would be asleep on his bed, with her mascara-stained eyes and purple hair fanned over her face, he’d have called them crazy. However, it was a sight he could get used to.
Shaking away the thought, he closed the divider and got to work transforming the breakfast area into his bed for the night.
The following morning, water dripped down Phoebe’s face as she washed away the mascara stains with Axel’s array of skincare products.His shaved head probably gives him a bigger budget for skincare,she thought, drying her face. At least she no longer resembled a swollen panda.
Closing the sliding bathroom door behind her, she rolled down the sleeves of Axel’s hoodie, then found a pair of his grey sweats and pulled them on over her dress.I hope he doesn’t mind,she thought.I wouldn’t take them if I wasn’t so freaking cold!She’d wash and return them when she could.
He’d probably stayed with the others last night,She hadn’t meant to take over his bed, but she couldn’t even remember falling asleep.
Axel being a foot taller than her meant the sweats bunched at her ankles, but the oversized set made her feel safe and she enjoyed the spicy tang of his cologne. She had never noticed how good he’d smelt; then again, Axel never got close enough for her to find out. She ran her hands through her hair, unable to believe where she was and how she’d got here. Flashbacks of Cillian’sdressing room tormented her and she rubbed her eyes, wishing them away.
After crying herself to dehydration last night, her thirst drove her to the kitchen. Phoebe opened the divider and stumbled over her bag with a loud curse. She winced as a low groan told her she wasn’t alone. Axel sat up in a makeshift bed in the middle of the breakfast area.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Phoebe said. As if she wasn’t feeling enough already, her brain added embarrassment and anxiety to the mix.
“Too late to be sorry. I’m up now.” Axel stretched his tattooed arms above his head.
Confirmed. Axel Adler is NOT a morning person.
Despite having been around each other for the last five years, she knew very little about him.
Phoebe averted her eyes from his bare, muscular chest.Drumming is certainly a good workout.Sometimes he’d perform shirtless, so she shouldn’t have felt bashful, but she’d never been alone with a half-naked man other than Cillian before.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep here. I only closed my eyes for a second,” she said, hoping he wasn’t put out about having to sleep on the breakfast table. “Also, I borrowed some sweats, I didn’t want to stay in my dress and it’s cold.” She stumbled over her words, and her brain told her to shut it.
“They look good on you.” Axel’s yawned words were barely audible as he got up.
She didn’t know what to say, and thankfully he filled the silence.
“You fell asleep last night without eating.” Axel grabbed the blanket from the pull-out and tossed it onto the cushioned bench beside her. Her stomach groaned on cue.
“Just give me a second to put the table back together, and I’ll order us some breakfast,” he said gruffly, and when he turned around, she tried not to stare at his broad shoulders.
She didn’t have the energy to argue. To give him some privacy, she went back to the bedroom with the navy blanket. To her relief, she heard him turn the heating on. What she didn’t expect was for him to appear in the doorway and offer her a cup of tea.
“Thank you.” Phoebe smiled softly and took the mug eagerly.
“You said you were cold,” he said, placing a handful of sugar sachets in her hand before she had a chance to ask.
“I don’t think I need that many.” She blushed, nervous about how to be around him. He seemed just as uncertain as he kept his distance, lingering in the doorway with his hands in his pockets.
“The sugar is good for the shock. My mum used to make sweet tea after a bad day.”
The detail was far more intimate than she was used to getting from him. She put the sachets she didn’t need down beside her and sipped her tea. She felt him watching her like she was going to burst into tears at any minute.
“I should go,” Phoebe said, not wanting to overstay her welcome.
Axel scrubbed his hand over his shaved head and glanced over his shoulder to the door as though waiting for something. She hoped he hadn’t called the others. She couldn’t handle seeing them, certainly not Cillian.
