Lie to Me (Rising Star Book 1)

by Lee Piper

  Reid releases me, and I stumble backward. With a pointed look, he turns, jogging to the coastal promenade.

  “Besides,” he calls over one shoulder, “how else are you gonna face your fear of crowds?”

  My jaw hits the concrete. There is gravel rash on my chin.

  He knows.

  Reid knows my secret.

  And the scary part? He could very well use it against me.

  “Hey, Tobias?”

  “Uh oh. I know that tone. What do you want?”

  I’m surprised a muscle isn’t sprained, my eye roll is so huge.

  “And I also know you’re rolling your eyes at me.”

  Just as I’m about to skim a pebble across the water, I pause. “How the hell do you know that? I had my back to you. Don’t tell me you’ve got X-ray vision?” I place one hand on my hip. “For the record, I’m not wearing any panties and the thought of you eyeballing Gwendolyn is beyond creepy.”

  “Gwendolyn?” Tobias is momentarily distracted by the name I gave my vajayjay back in high school. His rock splashes into the first rippling wave before disappearing from sight. “What the fuck? Who names their pussy after an Odin Sphere character?”

  I hold up my index finger. “Firstly, can you never say the word pussy in my presence ever again?” I then raise my middle finger. “And secondly, huh?”

  “Odin Sphere.”

  I’m ninety-nine percent certain my face is blank.

  “You know, the console game?”

  Shaking my head, I stare at him, mystified.

  Tobias sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as though I’m an obtuse teen he’s forced to educate on all things nerd. He takes a deep breath. “Gwendolyn is the Valkyrie princess of Ragnanival. She’s the youngest of two daughters—”

  I yawn. It’s obnoxious but oh so satisfying.

  Tobias grits his teeth. “Forget it.”

  “You’re such a geek.”

  “Whatever, Gwendolyn.”

  “Hey, stop talking to the girl downstairs. My eyes are up here, buddy.” Sadly, the gesture of pointing to said body parts is moot since Tobias is too busy selecting another pebble to notice. Cue eye roll, only this time at myself.

  Since Reid short-circuited my brain at the basketball court, writing lyrics became impossible. Thankfully, work was a welcome distraction. Even pregnant women with low glucose levels didn’t faze me, and some of them were downright nasty. Deciding it was best to avoid any and all nipple rings, I chose not to go to Rising Star to watch Reid’s band perform. Besides, Jasper is in full detective mode. He’ll give us the inside scoop at our next band practice. So after a quick shower, I issued Tobias a pebble-skimming challenge he couldn’t refuse. Winner takes all doughnuts.

  It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. It took a solid half an hour of apologizing before Tobias forgave me for my fuck-up last night. I’d like to say we’re back to normal, but we’re not. He’s wary, and I’m overcompensating. Doesn’t help that my emotions are all over the place since bumping into Reid either.

  “Your turn.”

  Blinking, I force my thoughts back to the present. It’s time to channel my inner pebble-skimming ninja. Crouching low, I draw back my arm and quickly swoop it forward, flicking my wrist. My gaze follows the stone as it skips across the water no less than five times before dropping into the sea.

  “Yes!” There’s no room for false modesty in the face of a victory this sweet. I give a celebratory whoop, or three, and pump my fists high in the air. Heck, I even throw in a hip thrust for shits and giggles. In fact, I’m midway through chanting my own name while running in a circle with my T-shirt over my head when Tobias puts a stop to my gloating. Sore loser.

  “What was your question already?”

  It takes a moment to untangle myself from my T-shirt, but eventually operation Come Up for Air is successful. After taking a deep breath to calm my raging adrenaline, I think back to what I was going to ask him. “Oh, yeah.”

  Now it’s Tobias’s turn to roll his eyes.

  Bending, I choose another rock. It’s small, smooth, and black with four white stripes running across the length of it. Standing upright, I turn it over in my palm, testing its weight and championship winning potential. Perfect.

  After glancing at Tobias’s expectant expression, I clear my throat. “Do you think I’m brave?”

  He stares at me for the longest time. It takes everything I have not to cry, “Joking!” before running back to the car.

  Finally, Tobias breaks the awkward silence. “What kind of question is that?”

  Shrugging, I look down, wiping excess sand off the pebble.

  Tobias shakes his head and, spying another rock, picks it up. Facing the ocean, he draws back his right arm, calling, “Seven,” before propelling it forward. It skims across the water, jumping into the air five times before disappearing. “Fuck.”

  There’s no withholding my amusement. I snort at the hilariousness that is Tobias attempting to skim a rock.

  When I can at last look at him without smirking, Tobias points at me. “If you can skim that thing seven times, I’ll answer your stupid question.”

  My eyes narrow. “It’s not a stupid question.” Turning away from him, I crouch low and extend my throwing arm back. With a deafening battle cry, I hurl my pebble toward the ocean.

  Seven.

  Throwing arms up to the rock-skimming gods, I close my eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of victory.

  “You’re so fucking strange.”

  When I glance at Tobias, his gaze is full of genuine warmth. A weight lifts from my shoulders, so I grin back at him. “Time to answer my question. Am I brave?”

  Tobias searches the sand for another rock and, after finding one, picks it up. “Yes.”

  “I knew it.”

  “And no.”

  “What the hell? You’re not making any sense.”

  He brushes the sand off his piss-weak excuse for a pebble and smiles. “Yes, you’re brave. Not many people have the balls to threaten Jasper with a nail gun.”

  I light up at the memory. A group of us were hanging outside one summer when Jasper and I got into a fight over which brand of electric guitar was better crafted, Fender or Gibson. I became so furious with my brother’s arrogance, I picked up Dad’s nail gun and pointed it at his gonads. Luckily for Jasper, Tobias stepped in and suggested the compromise of both being legendary.

  “Fun times.”

  Tobias laughs before skimming his rock. It jumps six times. I give him a round of applause while he bows in acknowledgement.

  “On the other hand,” he continues, his expression serious, “you’re one of the most frightened people I know.”

  “Now, wait a minute—”

  He holds up one hand, stopping me. “Hear me out.”

  I huff, turning away and wishing I’d never brought up the freaking question in the first place.

  “Yes, you’re brave, of course you are, but you’re terrified too.” Tobias clasps my shoulder gently. “Come on, Shiloh.” He gives me a small shake. “You’ve gotta admit you turn and run at the first sign of a challenge.”

  I narrow my eyes at him.

  “Take last night for example. What the fuck was with you?”

  Shaking off Tobias’s hand, I move away.

  “By the looks of it, you would have preferred a lobotomy to getting on stage, and once you were…” He shakes his head.

  “I know, I know.” I groan. “It was bad.”

  “And then there’s this business with Reid.”

  “Stop. Just stop, okay? Look, I’ll admit it, I sang like shit last night. I just wasn’t expecting… I mean, there were so many…” I stop, growling in frustration.

  Tobias stares at me, his head tilted, waiting.

  After a minute of silence, I take a deep, calming breath. “I’m sorry. I was having a bad night. It won’t happen again.”

  Tobias steps close and wraps me in his arms. His touch is so familiar, so comf
orting, the tension in my body dissolves. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

  Shaking my head, I burrow into his chest.

  He sighs. “I’m stronger than you think.”

  My voice is muffled by his shirt. “I won’t offload on you like that.”

  “It’s what friends do.”

  “You’ve got enough shit going on. I’m not gonna add to it.”

  He holds me tightly, murmuring in my ear, “I’m better now, I promise.”

  My gaze meets his. “You don’t understand. Finding you like that…” The breeze blows tendrils of hair into my face, and Tobias gently moves them out of my eyes. “I thought I was too late.” My voice catches. “I thought I was too fucking late.”

  Tobias exhales, cursing. He pulls me against him, resting his cheek on the top of my head. “I’m so sorry.”

  The remainder of the week is spent rehearsing our new song. Jasper rides my ass about needing to make it through to the third round, and it’s freaking annoying. Does he honestly think I don’t know this? Yesterday, I dealt with the aftermath of a sherbet doughnut gone wrong. Getting paid to make music rather than have icing thrown in my face isn’t something I’m likely to forget. So between his incessant nagging and the camera crew following us like a devoted pet with gastrointestinal issues, it’s getting harder and harder to breathe.

  On Sunday, all of the bands are called on stage for the voting tally and elimination. With nerves wreaking havoc on my insides, I follow Jasper and Tobias to the red U-shaped torture device posing as modern furniture.

  “This is so uncomfortable,” I say.

  “Shut up,” Jasper hisses. “They’re recording.”

  Reid sits opposite us, next to his lead singer, Drake, and Willow. Even though Reid doesn’t glance my way, Willow smiles and gives me a small wave. I wink back, ignoring the gravitational pull coming from the man next to her. He’s like a black hole drawing me closer, luring me toward a supernova.

  I blink, turning to my brother. “Calm your farm, they can’t hear us.” Flipping my long hair over one shoulder, I shrug. “Vivienne is too busy blinding the cameraman with her pearly whites. Why is she hosting anyway? I thought she was the director?”

  “She is the director. And the producer, and the host.”

  I snort. “Someone wasn’t hugged enough as a baby.”

  He groans. “You’re so fuckin’ irritating.”

  “Bite me.”

  Tobias glares at us both. Jasper and I roll our eyes at him but remain quiet. For two minutes.

  Then my brother leans in close. “Where’s the audience?”

  “There is no audience on voting night.” Thank fuck. “It’s all pre-recorded. There are retrospective interviews with each of the bands and then footage of us trying not to piss ourselves while waiting for the final tally.”

  He mutters a curse.

  When Vivienne names the bands going through to the next round, she waits a full ten seconds between each announcement. I hate when hosts do that on TV. It’s the worst kind of power trip. As Reid’s band is called, the genuine smile that lights up his face is a harpoon to my gut. He used to smile at me once. The skin around his eyes would crinkle, and he’d get this adorable crease where his cheek met the corner of his lips.

  I sigh.

  Three other bands are announced. I white-knuckle the couch.

  Then after an excruciatingly long silence, our band is named. Beyond relieved, I pull the boys in for a group hug, complete with a kiss on each forehead. Jasper pushes me away in mock disgust before charming the veneers off Vivienne. I can sense Reid’s gaze and my body heats in response, but I refuse to show how much he affects me. He knows my secret. I need to keep my distance from him now more than ever.

  After the acid rock trio from upstate has been eliminated, Vivienne turns to the remaining contestants. She grins while I fight the urge to shield my eyes from the stage lights hitting her incisors. “Next week, we have an extra special surprise for you.” She pauses. “Are you ready to hear it?”

  There are sporadic murmurs in the affirmative.

  Vivienne turns her attention to the camera and tries to raise an eyebrow. “And what about you, viewers? Are you ready for the surprise?” In the background, her PA nods like it’s her job.

  Once again, Vivienne sweeps her gaze across the competitors, daring anyone to interrupt her moment of glory. “Bradley Reading is joining us on Rising Star.”

  “Bradley Reading?” Tobias whisper-shrieks. His voice is two octaves higher than usual.

  “He’s here for the week to give his expert opinion on which bands are likely to make it through to the final.”

  “Wait.” I subtly nudge my best friend. “I’ve heard that name before. Remind me who he is again?”

  Oblivious, our host faces the camera, her arm gestures becoming more and more animated.

  Tobias turns to me. “How could you fucking forget Bradley Reading?”

  Sheepishly, I shrug.

  He gazes heavenward. After taking a deep breath, Tobias faces me again. “Bradley Reading is the country’s most prolific music scout. He’s renowned for singlehandedly orchestrating the international stardom of no less than eleven bands over the past decade. The guy’s a fucking genius.” He pauses. “He has a killer beard too.”

  “Love a good beard.”

  I raise an eyebrow at Jasper. “Really? That’s what you got from the conversation?”

  He shrugs.

  Tobias shakes his head, his eyes wide. “This is huge, guys. Really fucking huge.”

  “You’re right.” My brother’s expression is oddly serious for someone who was fangirling over a beard not two seconds ago. “We can’t just coast through to the next round. We need to bring it, and then we need to own it.”

  “Agreed.” The boys give each other a discreet fist pump.

  They turn to me. I swallow, cough, then give a weak smile.

  The remainder of the day passes in a blur of doughnuts and overactive pre-pubescents. After managing to wash the sickly sweet stench of chocolate syrup off my body, I collapse on my bed. The shadows cast from the tree outside dance across the ceiling like a private shadow puppet performance—minus the puppets. It’s so flipping boring.

  Earlier, Jasper and Tobias went out to celebrate, but I’m not in the mood to party. I planned to pen a new song, only the rhythmic thump of my soccer ball connecting with the back fence did nothing to entice the words to come.

  I think I’m broken.

  “Damn you, Reid Tate.”

  Willow would know what to do. Jumping up, I throw on some tight black jeans, high-heeled boots, and a fitted red-check button-down shirt. Grabbing the keys, my phone, and some cash, I shove them in my pockets before stepping out the front door.

  “Evening.” Reid’s slow drawl kick-starts my libido.

  A flood of biblical proportions soaks my panties. I picture Noah down there, rounding up pairs of animals in preparation for the end of the world. My visceral reactions to Reid are getting beyond a joke. I need to tie this shit down.

  “What are you doing here?” My eyes dart left then right. “I didn’t hear you pull up.”

  He shrugs, and it’s the sexiest damn sight I’ve ever seen. Well, apart from seeing him naked. I shake my head. Now is not the time to test the craftsmanship of Noah’s ark.

  “Do you normally hang out in front of people’s houses, darkened alleyways, and deserted basketball courts?” I ask, referring to the last few times we’ve spoken.

  “Do you?”

  Touché.

  “Not usually.” For some reason, I feel the need to explain myself. “Look, at Rising Star, I needed to chill before our song, okay? And the other day I wanted to work off some…” I nibble my bottom lip. “I mean, I figured writing would be…” Throwing my head back, I groan. “Why the fuck am I still talking?”

  “You tell me.”

  Hands on my hips, I glare at Reid. “Enough with the dark and mysterious already.�
��

  Even though his expression is guarded, I get the distinct impression he’s laughing at me.

  “I fucking hate how my mouth turns rogue around you.” Reid’s gaze drops to my lips, and somehow, I bite back a moan. “It’s beyond frustrating. I mean, why on earth would I vent to you? We’re not together and you definitely—”

  “Shiloh.”

  One word. One single word and my knees are ready to shimmy off my legs. Hell, they’re ready to tap together like castanets on Flamenco Night. Maybe it’s because he steps closer? Maybe it’s the way his eau de man-musk creates utter chaos in the crucible that is my insides? I don’t know. I don’t know a goddamn thing except I can’t stand upright when he looks at me like that.

  Like he wants me.

  Reid blinks, and the light in his eyes slowly fades. His gaze then travels the length of my body. It’s not a soft caress. His stare feels more akin to fingernails scratching heated, oversensitive skin. Abrasive yet perversely pleasurable.

  Or maybe I’m reading a hell of a lot into nothing because he turns his back and walks away. “Come with me.”

  “Excuse me?” Damn straight I shriek. This isn’t the Victorian Age. I’m not the serf to his goddamn lordship.

  “I said, come with me.”

  Oh hell no. Crossing my arms, I stay where I am. “I’m not a fucking dog. You can’t order me to heel and expect me to obey.”

  He pauses mid-step. I gulp. Reid turns and deliberately strides over to where I’m wobbling precariously in my heels.

  Stopping not even a foot away, he smirks. “Is that so?”

  Raising my chin, I ignore the plague of locusts swarming my stomach. The jerks are proclaiming my defeat is nigh. I ignore them. “It sure is.”

  He buries his hands in my hair, pulling me forward. We’re so close, the silver flecks in his gray eyes dance before me and his warm breath sends shockwaves down my spine. I think I hear angels weeping. Wait, no. That’s my pussy. Poor love, she’s a slobbering mess.

  “Bullshit.”

  The unexpected movement, the abrupt word, and the intensity of his stare don’t scare me. I mean, it’s Reid. He was my first love. He would never hurt me. Well, not physically. So I decide to poke the rattlesnake with a stick to see what happens. A dark part of me hopes he will bite.