Page 60 of The Librarian and the Rock Star

“Yes,” I agreed. “Those would definitely be classified as ‘limo to lobby’.” Jack tilted his head to the side for a second, then laughed when he realized what I meant.

“Oh my God, it’s him!” I heard a scream from behind us. Jack gave me a little squeeze before turning around.

Two young ladies in perhaps their early twenties were standing behind us with their mouths half open. After a slightly awkward pause, the blond girl said, “Um, you’re Jack Vegas, right?”

He released me and held out his hand. “Yes, hello. Nice to meet you both.”

“Tina,” she said, “And this is Brittany.” He shook both of their hands, smiling as if this happens every day. I guess for him, it does.

“Could we get a picture?” Brittney said excitedly.

She held out her phone to me. “Sure,” I said, and I backed them all up a few feet so their faces were lit up by a streetlight. “Smile,” I said, taking three quick photos.

I handed her phone back, but then said, “Wait.” I dug in my purse for my phone, and then took my own photo of the three of them grinning wildly. “Is it okay if the band puts this on their social media? Kelly can say these are the happy people coming to the big Vegas Mud Disco show here in Montreal tomorrow night?”

“Oh my God,” Tina squealed, “You’re playing tomorrow night?”

Jack frowned. “Yeah – it’s been on all of our pages, I think. Didn’t they do posters around town?”

“I didn’t see any,” said Britney, “And I walk around downtown a lot.”

“Dammit,” Jack muttered under his breath. Then with a big smile, he said “Well, perhaps you lovely ladies could help us spread the word. We’re playing at Tremblay Concert Hall tomorrow night, and I know there are still some seats available.”

“Thanks so much for letting us know,” Tina said. “Yeah, we’ll scream at all over the internet!” She grabbed Britney’s hand and ran away, as if being so close to Jack for too long was too much to take.

“Fuck,” muttered Jack with a clenched jaw.

“Paul really is trying to screw you guys, isn’t he?” I asked softly.

“What makes you think it’s Paul?”

“Kelly and I were having a little chat yesterday, and it was just a working theory.” Jack gave me the strangest look as if he was pondering whether or not he should be angry. “How about we chat all about it later?” I said. “Right now we’re both really hungry and that should be our mission.”

“Mission?” Jack laughed, breaking the tension. “I just love the way you speak, Keira.” The way he switches moods so quickly was a bit strange. Sometimes I felt like I was getting whiplash from trying to keep up with him.

Wrapping his arms around me, he kissed me sweetly, while backing me up against the store window. Suddenly we were pressed against each other, bodies entwined, lips searching for more. It was definitely not ladylike behavior for a public sidewalk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash. I jumped and turned to see a man taking a photo of us while a woman standing beside him giggled.

Jack gave them a positively murderous glare. “If you had asked me for a photo, I would have said yes. But sneaking up like that is a real douche move, guy.” He walked toward them very slowly, in the most threatening, menacing manner. The woman actually screamed and began to run, while the man held up his hands. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry – I’ll delete it.”

“You do that,” said Jack, in the lowest growl I had ever heard. The man desperately stabbed at his screen then held it up to show Jack. “See? It’s gone.”

“Run,” Jack said flatly. The man obeyed, and caught up with the woman within half a block.

Jack turned back to me, calm as a clam. He took my hands in his, entwining our fingers. “I’m so sorry if that scared you. I will do anything for fans who ask politely, but sneaking up on someone is stalker behavior. I won’t have it, and the only way to deal with those people is to freak them out so they never do it again to anyone else. That was fake rage, I swear.”

I exhaled the breath I didn’t realize I had been holding, and noticed my hands were shaking. “I just hope he doesn’t mention anything online and say you threatened him.”

Jack smiled and shook his head. “No, they never do. They realize that they look like the asshole, not me. And all of the real fans know that I take pictures with them anytime they want.”

Wrapping arm around my waist again he said, “Let’s stop at the first restaurant that catches your pretty little eye, okay?”

36. Thai Food and Promotion

As we strolled arm in arm north on Mont Royal, I saw a little Thai restaurant that didn’t look very busy. “How about this?” I asked.

Jack gave my arm an excited little squish. “I love Thai food! Patio or inside?”

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