Page 32 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Nick, you’ve expressed in some prior interviews that you’re not interested in dating right now,” another reporter says.“What’s special about your ‘friend’?”
We should have practiced more.What on earth is he going to say?
“I realized that I looked forward to catching up with her after a long day, and I missed chatting with her when she was traveling, so there was that,” Nick says.
Aww.That’s sweet.If so not true.He was always asking me when I was traveling, so he could practice late.Our conversations when I was home often consisted of: “Nick, I’m going to bed now, so you need to be quiet.”
“She’s fun, but also level-headed, and she has her own career, so she is definitely not dating me because I’m a musician,” he adds.
“Or so you think,” Christina says.
Nick takes a step forward.“Don’t engage,” I whisper and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his back.He stands still.
“That’s why you kept your relationship private initially,” the other journalist who has spoken already says.
At least this guy is offering a softball interview.
“Exactly,” Nick answers.
“Most women would want to make any relationship with Nick Devlin public.Why didn’t you?”another reporter asks.
“I said I’d answer questions,” Nick says.“Not her.”
“But your label went public with the fact that you’re not dating the YouTube star because you’re involved with someone else.”
“Yes,” Nick says.“I’m not dating that woman.I had never even met her before that night.”
“Did you both agree that it should be public?”asks another reporter.
That’s a question that can be twisted if I don’t answer.They can write that Nick answered yes, while his date was silent.At least the flashes have stopped going off.
“Yes,” I say, still from behind Nick’s back.
I feel Nick nod in agreement.
Whatarethey going to think at The Intelligencer?
I add, “Of course, once this other woman claimed to be his girlfriend, I wanted to set the record straight that Nick was not dating her.”
“And I really appreciated that she was willing to say that publicly, but we’re also hoping that once we set the record straight, we can have our privacy back,” Nick says.“I don’t want this to hurt her career.I’m sure she’d prefer to be in your seat rather than here.”Nick places his hands over my mittened ones.My bright-red mittens that Iris knitted for me.What if they become some weird meme?
“I’m sure she’s quite happy being with you or, as the case may be, giving you a back hug.”Christina sticks her recorder in my face.“Here’s an easy question for your ‘friend.’I’m sure many women envy you as his girlfriend, but what specifically attracted you to him?”
Does Christina regret giving him up?Did that article give her the break she wanted?How could she hurt him like that?It makes me want to defend him, in my own way.
I release Nick’s back and take my place next to him, on the other side, away from Christina.Nick turns to me and, very earnestly, putting his hand up to shield his mouth from view, whispers, “You don’t have to do this.”
I nod and face the reporters but keep my hood and scarf up, which means I’m practically yelling to make my voice heard.
“He’s a good guy,” I say.“I like that he’s open and honest about his feelings.”
“But Maddie, I’m in the groove.Can’t you put your earplugs in?This could be my next hit.”
I don’t dare look at Nick because I’m afraid he’ll look skeptical.
“He’s good at communication—maybe because he’s a songwriter.”
Christina makes a scoffing noise out loud.She did refer to him as a “fortress.”
