Page 13 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Yes, but not as a reporter,” I say.The platform shakes slightly as a subway train pulls in.
“It’s not that I want to give up my privacy, but I really appreciate their fandom,” he says.“They’re the ones who make it possible for me to play music.And some put so much effort into promoting me.It’s mind-boggling.”
“That feels like the answer you would give a reporter,” I say.
His mouth curves up slightly.“You are a reporter—and a very slick one, as I just witnessed.But it’s also my honest answer.There are compromises with everything.”
“Even with art?”I ask.
“I want to sell my art,” he says.“I’m willing to make a lot of compromises if it will get me where I want to go.”
“Is your no-dating policy one of your compromises?”I ask.
Nick stares at me as if surprised that I noticed.I may be focused on my career and burned out from my last experiences dating, but it seems like a waste for Nick not to be dating anyone.He shrugs, saying he has to get back downtown to prepare for the meeting with MusEn, and quickly enters the train before the doors close.
Chapter four
Nick
Yourno-datingpolicy.Ididn’t realize Maddie knew I had a no-dating policy.Not that it seems to be helping me now.I should have made it explicit, and maybe then people would believe that I’m not dating this fraudster.
That’s what I said to Maddie on the subway ride back anyway, and I teased her about keeping track of my dating life.She blushed.It’s the first time I’ve seen her blush.Cute.
But yes, my no-dating policy is one of my compromises.And for exactly this reason—I can’t trust that whomever I date is not going to backstab me.And also because Ican’tmake any long-term commitment.I need to put all my energy into making it as a musician and the family that I have—my band.
MusEn has rescheduled our meeting, so instead of meeting with them this afternoon, we’re in my one-bedroom apartment.Amira, Sayo, and Kyla are sitting crammed together on my couch.José is sprawled out on a chair next to my guitar rack.I’m pacing back and forth in front of my dining room table.Our last album is playing low through my speakers.
Amira looks up from her phone.“MusEn wants to confirm again that you’re not dating this Cara, even though you already told them that you’re not.They are not happy with the press about you and her now that it’s also public that she defrauded some older couple and served jail time.They’re even more worried now that she’s a bad association, and they don’t want to spend the money to clear your name when they haven’t even picked you up yet.Especially when this is so counter to your entire image of being open and down-to-earth, this vulnerable heartthrob.”
The Squirrelran an article today asking whetherIwas the hidden criminal associate who helped scam the older couple with “Cara” (whose actual name was Karigan).Apparently, the older couple had testified during the trial that “Cara” had a personable and attractive boyfriend.The Squirrelis alleging that it was me, without any facts, obviously, to back that up, with this horrific headline:Was Nick Devlin the Secret Associate Who Helped Karigan “Cara” Fonston Defraud an Elderly Couple Out of Their Life Savings?
Total clickbait.I’d like to sueThe Squirrelfor character assassination, but a lawsuit is the last thing I want to focus on right now.
“They don’t believe my denial?How can I persuade them?”I ask.“Maddie showed me that article about that woman’s jail sentence.As if I’d date her.”
“They’re wavering,” Amira says.“They don’t want to bet their money on someone who’s already starting with this PR liability.”
I fold my arms, frustrated.This psycho woman is ruining my chance to make it big?All these years of hard work, and some fraudster wants to piggyback on my success and drag me down in the process?
Not on my watch.
I don’t even know this woman.
“Should I give them some sort of sworn statement?”I ask.“Take a lie detector test?Find this retired couple and have them issue a response that they’ve never met me?”
“The damage is already done.It’s not that the label truly believes you’re dating Cara,” Amira says.“But now you’re associated with her.”
“We need a bigger story,” Kyla says.“The truth—the one-line retraction—never gets the same publicity as the original headline.”
Amira’s phone beeps, and she stares at her screen.“Nick, you seem to be working overtime.Are you dating Maddie?”
“No,” I say.
“She’s sitting in your lap.And you’re carrying her in your arms?”Amira asks, holding up her phone to show me the photos.
“What?Who caught that?”I stare at the images.Somebody photographed us last night on the fire escape.Wow.That is crazy.No privacy.Is this what becoming famous is really like?
“Tell me the truth,” Amira says.“It would be good if you were dating.We could run with that.Girl next door vibe.That would be a bigger story.”
