Phone Calls From a Rock Star (19 page)

“
Hey, how’d the video shoot
go?”

Nick explained the last few days to him and
Rob nodded his head, finally noticing me. He smiled and my ability
to talk left me in a whoosh. “And you are?”

“
Rob, this is my friend,
Iz,” Jake said.

Rob’s smiled widened. “Nice to meet you,
Iz.”

“
You, too,” I squeaked. He
turned his attention back to the guys and explained the same thing
Amanda had fifteen minutes ago before he waved and left.

“
Star struck much, Iz?”
Ronnie asked through a bout of hysterical laughter. I would have
gladly thrown anything at him, even my shoe, but I was still
flabbergasted and didn’t have the energy to expend. I stuck my
tongue out at him instead.

By the time Flyby finished and Controlled
Environment took the stage, the crowd was rowdy and ready to
explode. Jake positioned me just off stage where I had an excellent
view—and not only of him but also the front row bimbos. This would
definitely be a night I’d not soon forget.

It was one thing to go to a concert and sit
in the front row but it was an entirely different thing to be right
off stage, so close to the band. I witnessed all their little
quirks, delighting in the way Nick shook his leg nervously as he
waited for a new song to start or the way Matt and Ronnie threw
guitar picks at each other between songs. And how close Jake’s
mouth was to the microphone—that little quirk sent sparks though my
body.

When they played the song we danced to at
the Fall Festival, my legs grew weak, and when they did the one he
wrote about our night together, tears fell down my cheeks. He
turned sideways and smiled at me, making it all the more wonderful.
My heart jumped through hoops, and I had a strange urge to run on
stage to throw my arms around him. I didn’t, of course, because I
didn’t think he would appreciate it too much. Plus, the security
guards were pretty hefty, and I could just imagine one lifting me
easily and carrying me off stage. That would be embarrassing. And
Ronnie would never let me live it down.

They finished after two encores, and I was
finally able to wrap my arms around Jake. He was sweaty, and I knew
he’d probably stink up my shirt, but I didn’t much care. What’s a
little perspiration between friends, after all?

I followed them backstage where Flyby and
Society Lost were hanging out. The Flyby boys were celebrating
already and began handing out drinks. Jake declined and my heart
surged. I knew he did it for my benefit.

Society Lost left to go onstage, and Jake
and the guys excused themselves to go shower, leaving me to gape
stupidly at the Flyby band members. Jake finished first and quickly
took his place by my side. He snatched two flutes of champagne and
handed one to me.

Jake’s aftershave wafted to my nose and it
drove my body into a frenzy. The smell was musky and so Jake that I
was afraid I was going to start sniffing him like a dog.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Is there a
problem, Iz?”

I knew my blush had to be brighter than a
sunburned bottom. “You…um…don’t smell anymore.”

Here she is folks, Ms. Tact. I wished for
the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

He laughed and draped an arm around me.
“Thanks.”

“
I mean, you smell good,” I
tried to amend.

He tugged on my ponytail and placed his lips
very close to my ear. “I know what you mean.”

His eyes caught me again, and I was helpless
to look away. I barely heard Rob leading the countdown.
“Five…four…three…two…one…”

Then Jake cupped my cheek and leaned in
toward my face. My free hand moved to his shoulder and wound in his
hair. I knew he was going to kiss me, and I knew it wasn’t going to
be a chaste, friendly kiss like he’d given me before. I was right.
His lips pressed against mine in a feather light touch at first and
then returned with a little more pressure. He smiled against my
lips and parted his slightly. My heart went a little wild as I
melted into him. His hand found the small of my back and held me
firmly as he continued to kiss me. I sighed, content at last.

Catcalls and applause over my shoulder
caused us to break apart, and I buried my face in his chest. He
laughed and rubbed my back as Nick clapped his shoulder.

“
It’s about time, man,” he
teased. “I know you’ve been wanting to do that since the day you
met her.”

Huh?

I lifted my eyes to his, head spinning, and
I hadn’t even taken a single sip of my champagne. “You did?”

He smiled and pecked my lips. “Very much
so.”

I couldn’t form a single, coherent thought.
“Why?”

He tossed his head back and laughed before
gently stroking my cheek. “Because you’re you, Iz.”

Maybe Annie
was
right.

Chapter Fourteen

I woke up on New Year’s Day, wrapped tightly
in Jake’s arms. We’d stayed at the concert/party until three in the
morning before returning to the hotel. I had been very nervous
about sharing a room, let alone a bed, with Jake since our kiss but
he we’d both been so exhausted, he’d just pressed his lips to mine,
a little longer than usual, and bid me a goodnight.

I nestled under his chin, listening to the
steady beat of his heart. My feelings for him had definitely
changed—maybe they’d been there all along like Annie had constantly
hinted. Maybe I’d kept them buried, believing my years-long crush
on Lance had more merit. Or maybe I just figured someone like Jake
could never return the feelings of someone like me.

I wiggled closer to his sleeping body, if
that was even possible, and ran my fingers lightly over his t-shirt
clad chest. The firm muscles under the thin material caused another
tremble to shake my body. He was just so perfect. He was my rock.
He was my confidant—my best friend. I couldn’t screw this up or let
this opportunity pass.

“
Are you cold?” he mumbled,
breaking my train of thought. His arm tightened around
me.

“
No,” I said. I lifted my
head to smile at him.

“
Good morning, angel,” he
said, eyes closed, as his lips twitched into a sleepy smile. My
heart soared.

I leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“Morning.”

He turned his head and yawned, running his
hand up and down my back. “Do you have to go home today?”

My face fell as I rested my cheek on his
chest again. “Yeah. My parents will be home sometime tomorrow and
Seth will be home tonight.”

“
We’re heading out in the
morning, too,” he said, his words rumbling in his chest.

I bit the inside of my cheek as I
contemplated the words I needed to say – the questions I needed to
ask. I traced an invisible circle on his t-shirt. “Jake?”

“
Hmm?”

“
What does this mean?” I
asked tentatively.

“
What does what
mean?”

I suppressed a groan - I really needed him
coherent at this moment. “This. Us. I mean, well…this.”

He chuckled and squeezed my
shoulder. “Do you mean are we an item? A couple? That sort of
thing?” I nodded, cheeks burning in embarrassment. I didn’t dare
look at him. “Do you
want
us to be a couple?”

I closed my eyes to think carefully before
answering. No one had ever made me feel the way he had. No one
treated me with as much respect and consideration. At this very
moment, wrapped in his arms, I felt safer than I ever had in my
entire life. And I was comfortable with him – able to tell him
anything. Yet, he still managed to make me nervous and excited with
just a look or a touch. Yes, I wanted him. I wanted there to be an
‘us’. I lifted my head, and he opened his eyes. “Yes, I do.”

He stroked my cheek, tiny smile toying with
his mouth. “It’ll be hard, Iz. You’ll be away at school, and I’ll
be on the road. You’ll hear rumors or see pictures that will look
bad.”

I put my head back on his chest, comforted
by the sound of his heart. “I know all that. I can handle it.”

He picked up a few strands of my hair and
dropped them, repeating the action over and over. “We won’t see
each other for long stretches of time.”

“
We can talk on the phone.
Or email.” I wasn’t giving up without a fight. “Don’t you want us
to be together?”

He kissed the top of my head and lifted my
chin so I could look in his eyes. “I’ve wanted nothing else since
the night I met you, Iz—but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

His eyes were honest and suddenly
vulnerable. “How will I get hurt?”

“
Angel,” he sighed. He
shifted our bodies so we were both on our side. He cupped my cheek.
“The tabloids write stuff about me all the time, especially since
Monique and I split, and it’s not always true. The entertainment
news shows assume stuff and speculate and blow things out of
proportion. And if anyone finds out about you, groupies for
example, they may bug you constantly.” He flashed a wry smile. “You
could get mobbed.”

I didn’t return his smile. “I’m not scared.
Besides, it would all be worth it because I would have you.”

He stared at me for an agonizing moment
before leaning in and kissing me tenderly. “Okay. I guess we are a
couple,” he muttered against my lips.

My heart soared as I kissed him back. He
chuckled against my lips before easing into an upright position.
“How about if I order us some breakfast?”

***

“
Okay, Iz,” Nick said,
handing me my cell phone. I hadn’t realized he had it. I furrowed
my brow, trying to figure out how he got it in the first place. “I
programmed all our numbers in there in case you need something and
you can’t get a hold of ‘the man’.”

“
If you need anything at
all, you can call any of us,” Ronnie added.

“
Why do they call you the
bad boy band again?” I asked in all seriousness. I honestly wanted
to know.

Ronnie threw his arm around my shoulders.
“Because we are bad, baby. Make sure you spread it around.”

I punched him lightly in the stomach just as
Jake and Matt walked back in the room. Butterflies fluttered in my
stomach and my cheeks blazed when I caught Jake’s eye and he gave
me a wink.

“
We loaded up your car,”
Matt said, plopping on the bed. “We shoved some concert t-shirts
and DVDs and CDs and stuff like that in there. You can give it all
your friends.”

I nodded as Jake removed me from Ronnie’s
arm. I didn’t want to tell them that at this moment, they were the
only friends I had. Jake read my sudden silence as sadness that I
would be leaving him soon so he pulled me in front of him, wrapped
his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. That
was definitely part of it, sure, but loneliness was sitting in the
passenger seat of my car, waiting to accompany me back to
school.

“
Hey, Iz,” Ronnie said.
“Promise me you won’t sell that stuff out of the trunk of your car,
huh?”

I barked out a laugh and gazed at all of
them. I was going to miss them so much. A lump formed in my throat
at the thought of being away from them for an extended period of
time. “Are you sure I can’t drop out of school and follow you guys
around? I’ll work! I’ll do the ‘check, check, check,’ thing in the
microphones before each of your shows.”

They all laughed except for Nick whose green
eyes bored into mine. “No, Iz. You are not dropping out of school.
You go back and work hard and make us proud.”

I nodded, my eyes unable to leave his. “I
will, I promise.”

His face relaxed and a slow smile spread
across his lips. He pulled me from Jake’s arms to give me a fierce
hug. “I know you will,” he mumbled in my hair. He edged back to
kiss my temple. “Keep in touch, will ya?”

“
Yeah,” I said, fighting
pesky tears.

Matt hugged me next, promising me he’d keep
Jake and the others out of trouble. I giggled.

Ronnie grabbed me enthusiastically and swung
me around. “Any money you make on that loot you have to split with
me,” he whispered before kissing my cheek.

I glanced at them all one more time as Jake
took my hand and led me out of the room. He walked me to my car in
silence and leaned against it. He tucked a stray strand of hair
behind my ear. “I’m really going to miss you, Iz. It was amazing
having you here with me for a few days.”

I grabbed fistfuls of his jacket and rested
my forehead against his chest. The lump in my throat was growing to
boulder size but I still managed to squeak out a few words. “I
don’t want to go back, Jake.”

He placed a knuckle under my chin and
pressed his forehead to mine. “I know you don’t, but you have
to—-that’s where you need to be right now. Keep your chin up and
ignore those idiots. Keep trying to talk to Cammy and Annie.
They’re good girls, Iz—they’ll forgive you. It will take a little
time, though.” I nodded and he kissed me. “Stay away from the
alcohol. That’s not you. You’re better than that.”

“
You and the guys drink,” I
pointed out, why, I didn’t know.

“
Rarely,” he said sternly.
“And I’m nearly of age. The others already are.”

“
Well you don’t need to
worry because I don’t plan on doing that ever again.”

He caressed my cheek, gentle smile on his
face. “Good.” He kissed my forehead and worked his way to my lips.
I sighed into him, my arms snaking around his neck.

“
I’ll miss you,” he
whispered.

A couple tears escaped, and he wiped them
away. “I’ll miss you, too.”

He stepped away from the car and opened the
driver’s door. “Drive safe, please, and call me when you get home.”
He waited for me to get inside and bent to drop one more kiss on my
head. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”