Page 73 of My Rock Star Neighbor
Nick turns to me and says, “Thanks much.”
I can’t.Not like this.Not in front of a million fans who will dissect it.What if they say I kiss like a fish?
I shouldn’t have agreed to this.
I don’t reply, but I see the moment Nick registers that I’m not saying yes.I must look stricken, because his brow furrows.
He swoops me up into his arms—all in one fluid motion, before I even have time to react—and leans forward into the microphone, “I’m definitely going to kiss her on the lips, but not in front of you guys, you pervy people.We don’t want to stop once we start.”
A roar of approval goes up as Nick carries me off the stage.And then we’re alone in his dressing room.
He puts me down.
“Okay.”He grips my arms, his face full of concern.“I’ve never seen anyone go pale so quickly in my life.Why don’t you want to kiss me?”
I owe him an explanation.He totally saved us right there.
I take a deep breath.“My last boyfriend said I kissed like a wet fish.”
His eyes widen.“There’s no way you kiss like a wet fish, Maddie.”
“How do you know?”
“Who even was this guy?I haven’t seen you dating anyone since I moved in next to you.”
“We dated for about two months last year.I only brought him home once.”And then Nick had played his guitar next door, and I’d thought,What if Nick hears us fooling around?
“He was probably just pissed you broke up with him.Did you break up with him?”
“No.”
Nick runs his hand through his hair in a frustrated motion.“But you’ve kissed other guys, right?”
“I have, but it’s not like I’ve dated anyone seriously.Maybe it all ends so quickly because I kiss like a wet fish.”I can’t believe I’m telling all this to Nick.Can the floor swallow me up now?
Nick shakes his head.“I can absolutely promise you that you don’t kiss like a wet fish.We’ll work on this.”
“I don’t want to kiss you if I kiss like a wet fish.”I fold my arms like a petulant five-year-old, but so be it.
A knock sounds on the door.
“Come in,” Nick says.
“I wasn’t sure if it was safe to come in,” Amira says.Hah.Even Amira is beginning to believe our relationship is real.
“We’re finishing this discussion tonight back home,” Nick says to me.
“They want an encore,” Amira says.“Another song.Although I’m sure if you want to sweep Maddie off her feet again, that will create quite a swoon.”
Nick ruffles my hair.“I’m off.”He winks at me in full sight of Amira.“But I’m looking forward to later.”
The door closes behind him and Amira.Outside, the bass is thrumming, like it’s responding to my current heartbeat.I close my eyes and sink down onto the couch.
Why did I admit that my last boyfriend said I kissed like a wet fish?
I put my head in my hands.What is there to discuss?I don’t want to repeat how I kiss like a wet fish.And what does Nick think is going to happen later?
I should escape, but it might not be safe if that psycho fan is outside.I’m stuck.
