Cocky Rockstar: Gabriel Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 10)

by Faleena Hopkins

Bobby reaches over to comfort me as we pull into the parking lot. “Hey, don’t! She won’t fire you.”

  “Yes she will! She doesn’t have an evolved or forgiving bone in her body, despite how she presents herself.”

  “Ironic for a woman who owns a yoga studio.”

  “Right? She barely even practices! She’s a trust fund baby who bought Om This to make her feel important around her rich friends, took the Teachers Training to give her facade credibility. If she taught my class she will be pissed I made her look bad. She will fire me the second she gets me alone.”

  My eyes widen as I spot my Thursday morning die-hards filing out of the front door. Ducking down I cover my head and decide a second later not to be such a wuss. “Oh fuck it. Why am I hiding? Let me out.”

  “I’m almost there. Just hang on.”

  “Stop the car!” He slows and I jump out while it’s still moving.

  This could be graceful and superhero-esque if I had any luck today.

  I don’t.

  Instead I go rolling and scrape up my right arm. “Ouch!”

  Some of the my students run over, Laura yelling her concern the loudest. “Oh my God, Paige! Are you okay?!”

  Climbing up with the help of Najma’s offered hand, I limp toward the studio. “I’m so sorry I missed class.”

  Najma mutters a tentative, “It wasn’t the same, that’s for sure,” as she walks with me and Laura back to Om This.

  Others who saw my tumble join us.

  Ashley jogs up, joking, “Why jump out of a perfectly good vehicle?”

  Dee Dee asks with concern, “You okay?”

  “I don’t know. Walk with me, okay?”

  “Of course!”

  Jodi runs up for the left side and winces at my arm. “Oh, honey, you need to wash that out soon!”

  And though she was almost to her car, Susi — who has been to every Thursday class I’ve ever had — rushes back to see why I wasn’t here. “Class was awful! Where were you? Are you sick?”

  Laura points to my car, now parked with Bobby waiting for the verdict. “Paige, is that your boyfriend?”

  “If he was my boyfriend, I would have broken up with him by now. He’s my brother.”

  He and I lock eyes as I walk inside Om This where the two Lindas are talking to Shelby. They’re best friends who always introduce themselves by saying, ‘Yes, we’re both named Linda. You’ll get used to it.’

  Linda N. glances over at our entrance, takes one look at me and says, “What the fuck happened to you?”

  Linda M. mutters, “Only you would cuss before nine in the morning.”

  “Is there a schedule on cussing? If so, clock me in.”

  Shelby comes forward with a single glance over to Studio 1. “Jordanna’s in there.” To everyone else she says, “You guys go with her.”

  Beth comes out of the bathroom with her phone to her ear, “No, I just changed and I’ll be at the office in two shakes of a lamb’s…what the hell? I’ll call you back.” She joins the march.

  Jordanna Stevens is stacking bolsters with her usual amount of sloppiness. Her long black hair is pinned up like a geisha’s and her outfit flows as she moves. As she spots us her lips tighten and her blue eyes dart around. She’s trying to decide how to handle this.

  “Well, Paige, you look…tired.”

  “She just fell out of a car!” Susi announces while others back up the claim and murmur concern. Those who did not see my stunt, give each other looks.

  Words won’t come out of my mouth, I’m so anxious. I can see behind her eyes that she is furious I’ve put her in a position where she cannot tell me what she really thinks.

  She clears her throat and blinks too many times. “So, you fell out of a moving vehicle and missed class. Well, that’s…normal. I mean, acceptable. As an excuse not to be here.”

  Awkward.

  I try to speak but still…nothing.

  She brightens and adds, “And I had such a wonderful time teaching you all. It was a gift in disguise. Not your arm getting hurt. You know what I mean.”

  Weakly I nod, waiting for her to lose her mind as soon as they all leave.

  Beth’s phone rings. “Oh, I have to go to work. I was just dying of curiosity, but Paige, you’re okay?”

  “Uh huh.”

  Everyone except Shelby says goodbye, some reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze. Linda M. even gives me a hug. “Call if you need me?”

  “Promise.”

  The room empties leaving only Shelby and me with the predictably two-faced Jordanna Stevens. Her head tilts and she crosses her arms. “I can’t wait to hear this, because that car couldn’t have been moving very fast to create those little scratches.”

  My lips part, but a male voice echoes off the walls instead of mine. “I ran into her car back on Piedmont.”

  Jordanna and I look over.

  “Ben Cocker,” he smiles extending his hand, and damn if he isn’t more handsome with those white teeth shining on us.

  Shelby and I exchange a look.

  That’s when it hits me for the first time. “Wait, Ben Cocker?”

  Shelby tries her best to appear cool. “Like related to Gabriel Cocker, Ben Cocker?”

  “He’s my cousin, yeah.” On a glance back to Jordanna he says, “But I’m way better looking than him in person.”

  She giggles. “I’m Jordanna Stevens. So nice to meet you, Ben.”

  Running a steady hand through his thick, sandy hair, he throws her a sexy smile like cupid’s arrow just hit him.

  They’re perfect for each other.

  She’s a nightmare and he runs strangers off the road. Great match!

  PAIGE

  I start backing away. “Gonna go clean this arm up.”

  He didn’t hear me.

  Neither did she.

  Ben’s voice is deeper than before as he asks her, “So uh…you have a partner, or is this all yours?”

  Jordanna gazes up at him. “It’s just me.”

  “Impressive.”

  “You think so? I mean, it’s hard work running your own business but it’s so fulfilling, you know?”

  Shelby and I almost gag. As soon as we’re out of the room she whispers, “We run this place! You even do the damn bookkeeping!”

  “I know!” Outside I see Bobby waiting on the sidewalk with his hands wringing. I hurry out to tell him what happened, and Shelby follows.

  Bobby keeps his voice low but he is clearly freaked. “He said he was going to help, but if he fucked things up even more then I am going to kick his ass, I don’t care how tall he is!”

  “It’s okay! She’s flirting with him! She’s totally forgotten about me!”

  My brother and I fill Shelby in on the car accident, the police officer, and Ben taking the blame.

  “You said you weren’t lucky, Paige, but it sounds to me like you’re the luckiest person alive.”

  Bobby and I look at each other.

  She has no idea about our lack of rent money.

  Recounting the ways she thinks I lucked out, she finishes with, “And you have that date with Gabriel Cocker tonight!”

  Like I’ve been slapped I take a step back. “I forgot about it! But I can’t go!”

  “What do you mean you can’t go?” she demands.

  Bobby mutters, “You have a date with who? Wait, what the fuck? The rockstar Gabriel??”

  Shelby blinks, confused. “How come Bobby doesn’t know?”

  Staring at her I struggle to answer that question. I can’t tell her it’s because he didn’t come home for three days and my life is a mess. This dinner date that any other girl would die for is the last way I want to spend my time. I need to find a way to make money and make it fast. I’m running on three hours of sleep and I have four classes left to teach today. Those are still not enough and never would be. Yoga teachers don’t exactly rake in the dough. That’s not why we get into this field.

  I exhale and firmly say, “Because I’m not going,
that’s why I didn’t tell Bobby.”

  Shelby’s jaw drops

  I turn on my heel and walk inside, right into Ben. He flashes Jordanna’s business card that has a heart hand-drawn on it, and mutters, “Outside.”

  Frowning I hesitate and follow him.

  As soon as the door closes the four of us make a circle, with Bobby constantly shuffling his feet.

  “That woman is crazy,” Ben quietly says.

  Shelby rolls her eyes. “Duh. Thank God you saw it because I was about to warn you.”

  I blurt, “Wait…you were faking interest?”

  He shrugs. “She was going to fire you. It distracted her.”

  He’s looking at me in a disarming way, and then determination flashes over his dark green eyes.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  He takes my good arm and pulls me from view of the windows. “Go out with me, Paige.”

  Bobby explodes with anger. “No fuckin’ way! You’re a psycho!”

  “I’m not going out with you!”

  He smirks from Bobby to me, “I’m not a psycho. I just have a lot of insurance and I was in a bad mood this morning for reasons I’m not going into right now.” He shifts his intense gaze back to me to explain why he wants to date me, “When you stood up for your brother that was amazing…”

  Shelby interrupts him, “Excuse me.” She stands between us, craning her neck. “You’re clearly used to getting your way with these handsome looks of yours and this slammin’ body, but you ran into my best friend here so not only are her brother and I not allowing you to keep talking nonsense but she’s already got a date tonight…with your cousin Gabriel!” Over her shoulder she cocks her eyebrow at me. “See what I mean? Luckiest girl alive.” She swings back to him. “I however am available.”

  Bobby mutters, “I thought you live with your boyfriend.”

  Shelby says, “Shhh!”

  But Ben’s locked on me, confused. “When did you guys start dating? I didn’t know Gabriel was seeing anyone, and he hasn’t been in Atlanta for months.”

  Shelby sucks on her lips.

  I do the same.

  Bobby is glaring at him.

  Ben looks around. “Why is nobody talking?”

  On a reluctant breath I confess, “I won a date with him. We’ve never met. It was a radio contest. But I wouldn’t go out with you anyway. Because you are indeed a psycho.”

  He smiles his charismatic smile, eyes glittering with amusement. “If anyone in my family heard you call me that, they’d think you were the crazy one.”

  “You ran into our car!” I cry out.

  In a low, steady voice Ben says, “He said my mother sucked…well, I won’t repeat it. But nobody talks about my mom like that. I needed to get him out of the car so I could kick his ass. I’m just like you. I look out for my own. Plus I have a temper. It runs in the family so get ready when you meet my cousin tonight.” He turns on his worn boot heel and heads off, his perfect ass ticking slowly as he runs a hand through his sun-kissed hair. Over his shoulder he locks eyes with me and asks, “Where are you two going tonight?”

  “I’m not telling you!”

  Laughing, Ben jumps in his old beat-up truck and pulls away like he’s got nothing but time. Bobby, Shelby and I stare like we’ve got nothing but shock.

  “Where is Gabriel taking you?” Shelby asks.

  “Who knows,” I mutter. “I’ve been kind of busy.”

  GABRIEL

  There are a couple half-eaten sandwiches on Ethan’s fully stocked bar that are waiting for my mouth. He thinks one of those is his but he’s mistaken. Since his pregnant fiancé keeps interrupting our pool game with texts and phone calls, I’ve taken it upon myself to enjoy both the roast beef with swiss cheese and the turkey with avocado. He won’t notice until they’re gone. Not my problem.

  Gauging where the cue ball is in geometric relation to the green number six ball I bend over, slide the pool stick back and forth over the slope between my index and middle knuckles, and aim. I pull back and take the shot. I relish the cracking sound, nothing like it. There’s something old school about this game that makes a man feel like a man. And since I made that corner pocket as I intended to, it’s time for chowing down.

  “Highness, I know you want the baby out of you now. It’s almost time. Hang in there.”

  I snort under my breath and vow never to be in his shoes. Sure they’re in love, whatever, I just don’t see myself ever settling down. With all the ass I get touring, why would I want to block the river of pussy flowing my way? No man would willingly do something that fucking stupid.

  “Princess, stop swearing. Our daughter can hear you from the womb, and I want her to be a lady.” He locks eyes with me and grins on a wink. He doesn’t even see me stuffing this roast beef in my mouth. It’s the one he wanted most.

  Love.

  It blinds you.

  “Okay, look,” he continues, heading off while rubbing the back of his head. He’s dressed in jeans and a graphic T-shirt, with sneakers kicked off and holes in his socks. I stare at them and open my mouth wide enough to shove an even bigger bite down my gullet before he catches on.

  “I’m sending a foot masseuse over there to rub your feet right after this lunch meeting with Albert Fucking Cosnick. I’ll even tell Dolores she’s coming.” Ethan pauses and leans on the arched doorway, facing away from the game room. I polish off the rest of his sandwich as he says, “Yes, the masseuse will be female. And no I’m not fucking her.”

  I almost choke from laughter. He’d told me Charlie has gotten weird in the final pregnancy stage. Jealous as hell. He thinks it’s adorable.

  “Highness, I’m not sending a dude to rub my wife’s feet, so breathe deeply. You’re panting.”

  I go take another shot and miss this time.

  My mouth is as full as a squirrel hoarding his whole winter stash.

  “Yes, I know you didn’t realize it was going to be this hard. But you know what Hannah said. When our little Kaya is in your arms you will forget all about these mood swings and beg me to impregnate you again. Who is that talking in the background? Are you calling me in the middle of your meeting? Go take care of your corporation, you nut. I love you. You sure you can’t shorten the day and come home early?”

  I explode, “Oh, come on, give me a fuckin’ break over here! It’s your turn!”

  He waves at me without looking back, saying into the phone, “If you decide to leave work early give me a call. I’ll kick Gabriel out of the mansion and show you what a real massage is.”

  The turkey and avocado is in my hands now and I can’t open my mouth any wider than this. Half is devoured before he hangs up and walks to his pool cue. “What am I again? Stripes or solids?”

  “Stripes. You make me ill with all that gooshy crap, Ethan. Pussy, meet whipped. And you’re the pussy.”

  Lazily chuckling, “I won’t deny it,” my cousin gauges the eleven ball. It glides into the side pocket with a bank shot. “Who’s the best pool player in the world!? I am. That’s right. Me!” He looks over to the empty plates. “What the fuck!?”

  I swallow down the last chuck of deliciousness. “What? Missing something?”

  “You ate my lunch! That I made for you!”

  “I thought it was all for me.”

  “You’ll never change, will you?”

  “Don’t see any reason to.”

  He glares at me. “Remember that time you took the last deviled egg at the BBQ?”

  “Which time?”

  Growling he aims at the green-striped fourteen ball, takes the shot and misses, accidentally knocking the eight ball into the corner pocket and losing the game.

  “I thought you were the best pool player in the world? Oh right, that’s me.”

  He tosses his stick on the table and grumbles, “When are you leaving town again?”

  My phone rings and I pull it out of my black jeans, chuckling, “You love me, don’t act like you don’t.” As
I answer the phone I ask him one final, disgusting question. “You want the sandwiches back? I could stick my finger down my…hello?”

  Maggie sounds impatient, but that’s her normal way of speaking. “You haven’t texted me back. Confirm the restaurant so I know you’ll be there.”

  “What do I care where we’re going if the driver is taking us there?”

  She pauses at my logic. During that beat a call comes through from my cousin. I put her on hold without telling her, and say, “Yo, Ben. I’m here at Ethan’s and I just kicked his ass in pool.”

  Ethan shouts, “I got the eight ball in! He didn’t beat me!”

  I put it on speaker and tell Ben, “That’s still losing.”

  He responds, “Yeah, he still lost.”

  “It’s not really losing!” Ethan argues.

  Ben and I both say at the same time as I hold the phone up, “Yeah it fuckin’ is.”

  “Whatever.”

  Ben’s voice changes to overly casual as he asks, “Hey, uh, Gabriel. I heard someone won a date with you on a radio station.”

  Taking it off speaker I hold up my finger out to Ethan and say, “Don’t even start!” He rushes me, grabs the phone before I can react quickly enough.

  Ethan chortles while putting the phone back on fucking speaker, “What’s this? Someone thinks going out with Gabriel is a prize? Has she met him?”

  Ben seems distracted though, because he doesn’t join in on the hazing. “Gabriel, you still there?”

  “Yes. Why. Hurry this up. It’s ridiculous and I don’t wanna talk about it.”

  There’s a long pause to the point where we think the call got dropped. Finally Ben’s voice comes through, again overly casual. “Where you going?”

  “To Rays on The River – why?”

  “I was just curious where something like this would go down. You meet her yet?”

  “No.”

  “See her?”

  “No, I’ve never seen her. Why are you asking?”

  I can almost hear him shrug as he says, “You know. Just curious.”

  Ethan and I are staring at each other.

  He has no clue why Ben’s acting so weird, either.

  Slowly I say, “You said you were curious twice. What’s up?”