Page 84 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“I need to tell my label the truth—that we were fake dating and now we’re really dating.Their PR experts can figure out what to do.”
“Okay.But I also need to be in the loop about whatever they are going to do, because this could affect my career.”I bite my lip.Will this revelation hurt my career beyond repair?
Nick pulls me close to him and strokes my bottom lip with his thumb.“I’ve wanted to do that ever since I first noticed that you bite your lip when you’re thinking hard.We’ll pull through this together, Maddie, I promise you.Don’t worry too much.”He kisses me hard and pulls me onto his lap.He massages my tight back, and I melt into him, giving myself over to the shivery feelings he is evoking.This is what I want right now.
Chapter twenty-four
Nick
Ipullthecoversup over Maddie’s bare shoulder as she sleeps.She looks content.My lips curl up in a satisfied grin.
I should be exhausted too.But my brain is on fire with new lyrics and ideas to try.
Her face is peaceful, with no mischievous glint lighting up in her eyes.I’m tempted to kiss her awake to see it.But she needs her rest.She seems okay after yesterday’s break-in, but maybe she’s not sharing her fears with me.
Is it one of my crazy fans?Or her investigation?
At least we’re safe in Luca’s apartment, but she’s going to be outthereinvestigating this.
I can’t protect her.My stomach clenches.
I run my hand through my hair.I haven’t given Maddie my usual disclosure that this relationship isn’t for the long-term.I wasn’t thinking straight last night.I wasn’t thinking at all last night.
I’m in deep.
But the last person I want to hurt is Maddie.I need to be upfront that I’ll be on the road a lot, and that’s no life for a relationship.My chest tightens with pain.
And it’s even worse now with social media.
Our Ciel date inspired mostly positive comments, but there were the usual negative ones.She’s trying too hard.She’s only dating him for the money.As if.Maddie hasn’t mentioned them, and she tried to reassure me that she wasn’t going to check the comments—based on Iris’s advice.
Will that really work?
Especially now that I’ve seen how Maddie reacted to her middle school bully.
I slip out of our room and downstairs to Luca’s soundproofed library, where I’ve stored all my guitars.
The best way for me to work out what I feel is to write it down and create music.
I pick up my guitar and strum the opening notes of the song in my head.
I write the last stanza down.
Idon’twant to tell Maddie that there’s an expiration date on this relationship.I can’t.Let me believe for once that this can work out.If it’s going to work out with anyone, it’s Maddie.
I rush back to our bedroom.
Unless the culprit is one of my crazy fans.Then it’s safer for Maddie if we break up.I crawl into the bed next to her and wrap my arms around her.She snuggles into me, and I breathe in her soft scent.Let me enjoy this for now.
Luca’s kitchen is stocked.I’m impressed.He must dine in more than I realized.He’s cooked the gang some late-night pasta, but I thought that was a one-off.Maddie peppers me with little kisses as she leans into me.I hug her tightly, and her stomach growls.
“Let’s feed you,” I say.
“He has everything here,” Maddie says.“This is better than a breakfast buffet at a fancy hotel.Does he host people here a lot?”
“Maybe clients?He’s not dating anyone right now,” I say.
I scramble eggs for our breakfast while Maddie burns the toast.
