Page 88 of Not Another Rockstar
“They don’t know about us yet, and they like you well enough,” she said, not wanting him to overthink it. She wasn’t sure what her parents would think of anyone she dated; it wasn’t like she’d dated anyone other than Cillian before.
“How’s the cake coming along? We’ve got some hungry guests,” Anita said, joining them in the kitchen.
Axel cleared his throat and stepped away from Phoebe.
“Almost finished, but you can take out the first couple of slices,” Phoebe said calmly.
“Axel, could you take the first lot? I’ll grab the second. Need a snack to soak up all the shots Nick is buying everyone,” Anita said, and Axel saluted and left without discussion.
Anita didn’t snack; Phoebe knew this was just an excuse to talk to her. They hadn’t spoken much since Italy.
“You should end it before you ruin them all,” Anita sighed, once Axel was out the door with the first tray of plates.
Phoebe tried to remain civil. “I appreciate that you want to protect the band, but it’s not your job to get involved in our personal relationships.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Anita scoffed, and followed Axel out with the second tray.
Phoebe had the overwhelming desire to pick up the rest of the cake and hurled it after her, but it would be a waste to ruinsuch a delicious chocolate cake. Instead, she let the velvety rich frosting soothe her anger. If her brother and August supported her and Axel, she didn’t care what anyone else thought.
For the rest of the night, Phoebe kept her distance from Anita’s disconcerting gaze.
“I don’t think she’s listening to us,” Nick said, sipping his drink as they stood around the pool table.
Axel was talking to one of Nick’s school friends, a startlingly beautiful blonde, at the bar as he ordered a round of drinks. Phoebe jumped when August placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her jealousy.
“She has nothing to worry about,” Nick said to August. “Axel isn’t shy about telling anyone he’s already taken.”
“What were you saying?” Phoebe quickly focused her attention on the conversation, only to realise they were making fun of her.
“Nothing. I was just asking August if he could get you a knife,” Nick said, smirking at his friend.
“Why would he need a knife?” Phoebe asked, eating the pineapple from the umbrella on her drink.
“To cut the tension,” August chuckled, and stifled his amusement with a sip of his drink.
Phoebe ran her hand over her glass, collecting the droplets to flick at him. He grimaced, and she erupted into laughter.
“We were coming to say goodbye to the birthday boy.” Phoebe and Nick’s mum interrupted them, and Phoebe hoped her parents hadn’t heard the playful mocking about Axel. She didn’t think tonight was the right time for them to discover she was dating another rockstar.
“We really are so proud of you, darling,” Mum said to Nick, handing him a card.
“Please do your best not to make trouble for the boys while you’re staying with them,” she said, patting Phoebe on theshoulder. “We spoke to your agent, Lena, about your cancelled shows, and if you need to come home for a little while your brother and his friends are rehearsing for the concert, please don’t hesitate to call.”
As always, the boys were the light of her life and Phoebe was the burden playing with paints. She bit her tongue, not wanting to get into an argument.
“Sorry, Mrs Fletcher, but Phoebe can’t go home,” Axel said, setting down the round of drinks on the table beside them. “She’s the glue that holds us all together. We even have an art studio all set up for her at the house. Having made so much progress with her physio, it won’t be long before she’s ready for more shows.” He stepped close enough to make Phoebe flush, and her mum eyed him suspiciously.
“I’m glad to hear your hand is doing better,” Mum said with a forced smile. “We’ll have to come back up to town when you put on your next show.”
Dad gave her a reassuring nod, not wanting to get involved as usual.
“Look after each other,” he said, and gave Phoebe a tight squeeze.
Mum shot one last troubled glance at her and Axel, before kissing her brother’s cheek and saying their goodbyes.
“Sorry to interrupt, but can we steal the birthday boy?” Meghan, one of the back-up singers from the last tour, fluttered her long lashes at Nick, while her friend made intense eye contact with August.
“It would be a pleasure to be stolen by you,” Nick said, offering his arm to her.
