Chapter Thirty-One
Although I felt some measure of relief after having talked to Cameron's mom, my nerves got the best of me the moment I spotted Jen across the room.
I had a feeling Jen suspected something was going on between me and Cameron at my welcome home party. I hadn't wanted to stick around and have her find out for sure.
But now that I was ready to tell Noah, I supposed I didn't have much more to fear.
That didn't ease the slight feeling of trepidation rising inside me.
Jen's face brightened when she saw me. She waved me over with a smile and hugged me when I walked up.
"It's so good to see you again, Lily. You've been here all summer and it feels like we've barely hung out."
"I've been pretty busy with school," I said.
"All the work of three year long classes crammed into one summer must have been intense," Jen agreed. "Not to mention, it must have been non-stop fun living in Cameron's mansion."
"Yeah, all those crazy parties." I laughed nervously.
I wanted to tell her, but I didn't know how she would react. Jen probably wouldn't freak out like I was expecting Noah to, but what if she disapproved? I had been half-counting on Jen to keep Noah from flying off the handle when he found out. What if she agreed with him that Cameron and I together was a bad idea?
"It's not just the parties. You and Cameron seem to be pretty close." She got a slight twinkle in her eyes. "Have you been spending a lot of time together?"
I stammered, not knowing what to say. Jen definitely knew.
She laughed. "It's okay. I won't say anything."
I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"Thanks," I said weakly.
She nudged me with her shoulder. "If you need help getting through Noah's thick skull, just let me know. I'm on your side. I've got an empty apartment you and Cameron can hide in. My friends and I all moved out, but the rent's paid up until the end of the year."
Jen thought we would need a place to hide.
"He's really going to flip, isn't he?" I asked mournfully.
"When does he ever not flip out when it comes to you?" Jen looked thoughtful for a moment. "But he might not. Noah's changed from the person he used to be when I first met him." She let out a small laugh. "Well, he's still pretty cranky, but he's definitely learned to tone it down."
"I'm just so worried what will happen if he finds out."
Jen raised an eyebrow. "If?"
"When," I corrected. "I'm planning on telling him tonight after the show."
"Just get it over with. Like ripping a bandage off a wound."
"What if he actually beats up Cameron?" I swallowed down the lump of fear in my gut. "What if Noah kicks him out of the band? Darkest Days means everything to him. It would kill Cameron if that happened."
"August wouldn't let him," Jen reassured me. "Noah might freak out a bit, but eventually I think he'll learn to accept it. As long as Cameron is serious about you." Jen eyed me. "He is serious, right?"
"Yes." I nodded fervently. "He's not playing with me. We're—" I paused, blushing. "We're in love."
Jen mimed a swoon. "You two are so cute together."
"You don't disapprove?"
"Why would I? Cameron, for all his faults, is a good guy underneath it all. We all just want him to be happy."
"I think I hurt his feelings earlier," I confessed quietly. "We were supposed to tell Noah before the show. I chickened out. But I'm okay with the idea of telling my brother, now."
"So you'll confront Noah after the concert's over?"
"Not right away. I have to do something else first."
The lights went down. The audience began cheering and hooting. The concert started with a clash of drums and guitar.
From my vantage point backstage and to the side, I could see all five members of the band. The twins, for all the tension between them, played the crowd together as easily as I remembered. They shredded back to back, and even switched guitars mid-song.
August's brow was furrowed, ice blue eyes concentrated solely on his drums, arms nearly a blur as he pounded away.
Noah's crooning voice emitted from the speakers. He strode from one side of the stage to the other, his dark eyes burning the audience to their very cores with his passionate singing.
Jen's full attention was on Noah, her expression slack-jawed with awe. Even after having been dating so long, she still seemed captivated by his performance. I supposed once a fangirl, always a fangirl.
But Cameron… something was off about his performance. He grinned and winked and teased the crowd as usual, but there was something in his expression. His full heart wasn't in it. His eyes were lined with pain.
And I knew I was the cause.
I just had to hope that what I had planned for after the concert helped heal some of that hurt.
The concert was almost over, the band playing their last song before the encore, when my phone buzzed again.
"I'll be right back," I yelled in Jen's ear.
She nodded, not taking her eyes off the stage.
I went to the back door, nodding to the bouncer. With the staff pass around my neck, I had free rein.
When I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of Cameron's parents dressed in their conservative business attire. It was completely at odds with what everyone else backstage was wearing.
I waved them in.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"It's no trouble at all, sweetie." Sharon spoke over the music into my ear as she pulled me into a hug. "I'm just so glad you said something."
"Do you two mind waiting here? I don't have staff passes for you, so you can't go any further."
"We don't mind at all," Sharon said.
I left them and headed back, hoping to catch Cameron as he left the stage after their last song.
I was in luck. Cameron was the first one out. His bright red hair glistened with drops of sweat. His damp t-shirt clung to every ab. His dark rimmed eyes were even smokier, his eyeliner having smudged from the heat of the stage lights. I swallowed hard as my heart sped up. Arousal threatened to flood my system.
Maybe I wasn't so different from Jen when it came to our attraction to rock stars.
I ran up to him as one of the assistants handed him a towel to dry off the sweat.
"Cameron!"
He looked my way. His mouth twisted.
"I'm sorry," I blurted out before he could say anything. "I didn't mean to pull away. I just panicked."
He stared at me. He nodded once.
"I get it. It's cool."
"No, it's not." I took his hand in mine and squeezed. "I'm really sorry I hurt you. I promise, I'm telling Noah tonight."
"I said it's cool," he repeated. His lips twisted in a sick smile. "I'm used to it."
I knew he was referring to his parents. My heart ached, but I knew everything would be better soon.
"I have something to show you. Come with me."
I tugged him along toward the back door, avoiding the controlled chaos of roadies and tech crew and assistants.
"We can't take off yet," Cameron said, worried. "I've still got to do the encore. We're just taking a break."
"This will only take a minute."
We turned the last corner. Cameron stopped, almost tripping in his surprise.
"Mom? Dad?" His voice was full of disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
His mother gave him a wavering smile. "We wanted to see you play one of your shows."
It was almost gut-wrenching, to see a hint of hope flicker across Cameron's face before it was replaced with a look of cynicism.
"How did you even know there was a show tonight?" he asked, brow furrowed.
"Lily invited us."
Cameron looked to me in confusion. "Why did you…?"
"I think you guys should talk." I faced his parents. "Tell Cameron why you've never come to one of his concerts before."
Sharon's
expression turned hesitant. "Sweetie, we're not exactly the rock concert type." She gestured to herself and her husband, indicating their business suits. "Wouldn't it be embarrassing to have your boring old parents show up?" She gave him a small smile. "You certainly wouldn't be able to get up to your usual antics with mom watching over your shoulder."
Cameron looked utterly befuddled.
Grant continued. "Growing up, you were always off having fun with your friends, playing music, and getting into trouble. We knew the last thing you wanted was your mom and dad hanging around."
"I would have loved for you to come to one of my concerts," Cameron said. "I thought… you didn't care."
"Cam, honey, of course we care," his mother said, gently admonishing him. "We always knew you'd accomplish great things. We just wanted to stay out of your way and let you live your own life."
She took him in her arms. He stood stiffly, his own arms at his sides.
"We never meant to make you feel like you weren't welcome in our lives." Grant shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable, but powered on. "We never invited you to our business events because we knew you'd hate them. Hell, I hate them half the time. Boring and stuffy, full of snobs and suck-ups." He shook his head ruefully. "The last thing we wanted to do was subject you to those things."
Cameron's frozen stance softened. He slowly brought his arms up to return his mother's embrace.
"I always thought—" Cameron's voice cut off, not finishing the sentence.
"You were always such a free spirit," his mother said, smoothing his hair back, revealing both blue eyes. If she was taken aback by the heavy eyeliner, her expression didn't reveal it. "We never wanted to do anything to discourage that."
"I'm sorry if we hurt you, son." Grant clapped Cameron on the shoulder, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "You should know that we've always been proud of you."
Cameron swallowed hard. That hopeful look had returned.
"If you want to be involved in my run for mayor, you're more than welcome," Sharon told him.
"I dunno," Cameron said with a choked laugh. "My fans might not be the kind of people you're targeting for votes."
Sharon and Grant shared the laugh.
I breathed a sigh of relief. My chest felt a million times lighter. I had worried whether or not making Cameron confront his parents was the right thing to do.
When Sharon had texted me back, wondering why I'd ever thought she didn't want Cameron to be there, I'd been astonished. She and her husband honestly had no idea what their words and actions had done to their son over the years.
As soon as I told her, she insisted on talking to Cameron then and there. The fact that he was currently on stage at a concert made no difference. Sharon and Grant had left in the middle of a dinner to make their way to the venue.
Cameron's mom had said the only important thing was setting things right with their son.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cameron and his parents were still reconciling when one of the twins came running, streaking down the hallway, out of breath.
"Yo, dickface, we're going on in thirty seconds!" The twin had a look of panic about him. "August's going to gut you if you don't get your ass on stage."
Cameron cringed and turned to his parents. "I'm sorry, I've got to go do the encore."
"Can… we watch?" Sharon asked hesitantly.
Cameron's face brightened, ecstatic. "Of course!"
With a rock star at our side, the bouncer easily let us breeze through.
"I'm sorry I sprung this on you," I whispered to Cameron just before he went on stage.
He stopped and looked at me. Sweat rolled down my back, half from the heat flowing off stage and half from nerves that Cameron was still upset with me.
He gave my hand a quick squeeze before grinning.
"I've got to go put on the best fucking rock show of my life." He winked. "Need to impress the 'rents."
Cameron ran onto the stage to a roar of cheers, joining the rest of Darkest Days.
"This is so interesting." Sharon glanced this way and that, taking in every detail as she clung to my side. "I've never been backstage at a concert before."
Grant looked around at the carefully controlled chaos of roadies and concert staff rushing around. He winced at the blasting music coming from the speakers.
"It's, ah… quite loud," he said, shouting over the noise.
"You get used to it," I shouted back.
Cameron did put on the best show of his life. He played to the audience, urging them to shout louder, jump higher. He strutted from one end of the stage to the other, leaning over the barrier to clap at his fans' hands. He laughed and grinned, dropping to his knees and hopping up on amps, a whirlwind of energy.
He didn't, however, take off his shirt. I had to assume that was for his parent's benefit.
When the concert was over, Cameron ran off stage first. His parents congratulated him with hugs and smiles.
"I'm sorry we can't stick around longer," Sharon said regretfully. "We left our guests in the middle of dinner quite rudely. We should probably get back."
Cameron nodded. "I'll let you know the next time we have a show. I'll get you special VIP tickets. It'll be awesome."
"We'd love that."
Before leaving, Sharon gave me a hug goodbye.
"Thank you so much, Lily," she whispered in my ear. "I want you to know you're a very welcome part of our family."
My heart swelled at those words. Family. For so long it had just been me and my brother.
It was a nice feeling, being part of a family.
Which reminded me. Noah. I had to tell him.
I looked around backstage, but didn't see him.
Cameron took my hand. "You need to come with me right now."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
His didn't answer, his gaze burning into me as he pulled me along. He led me through the busy backstage area and down a less crowded hallway.
He opened the door that read artist lounge on the door. He guided me inside the room with a hand on my back.
An empty room.
I flushed, my cheeks going red when I realized what this was.
Cameron closed the door behind us and locked it. My heart began thumping wildly in my chest at the sound the lock clicking.
"I—" I began to say.
He gave me a carnal grin and approached slowly, like he was a predator approaching its prey.
In all the times we'd had sex, it had never been anywhere other than in Cameron's mansion. In my bedroom, or on one of the sofas, or in the pool.
I'd never imagined doing it backstage at one of my brother's concerts.
Well. Maybe I'd imagined it once or twice. Or a few dozen times.
But I'd never thought it could actually happen. The last thing Cameron and I wanted was for us to get caught.
"Are you really sure—"
He cut me off with his mouth on mine. I let out a muffled squeak, heat pooling between my legs.
When he'd kissed the very air out of my lungs, he slowly pulled back an inch.
"Thank you," he murmured against my lips. "You were right when you said I should just talk to my parents. I guess I was afraid of having all my fears confirmed."
"I never meant to hurt you by pulling away in front of Noah," I said softly. "I just got scared." I met his eyes. "But I'm not scared anymore. I'm going to tell my brother right away."
"Not yet."
I frowned, confused. "You don't want to tell him?"
Cameron shook his head with a wicked smirk. "First, I need to bury my cock so deep inside that sweet cunt you'll be feeling me for days."
I flushed, my inner muscles clenching and throbbing.
"You want to do it… here?" I asked, nerves and excitement fighting for dominance.
"I can't wait until we get home." He dragged his hands up my inner thighs and under my skirt, his fingers burning a trail into my skin. "I need to get inside that sweet pus
sy and make you come on my cock."
My insides quivered, both at his touch and at his words.
"What if someone walks in?" I asked. It was a token protest. I was already leaning into him, our bodies mere inches apart.
"I locked the door."
"Isn't that suspicious?"
He smirked. "Who gives a fuck?"
"Better make sure your dad doesn't hear that language," I teased.
Cameron made a face. "Please don't bring up my parents at a time like this."
He pulled me into his arms and gave me a blistering kiss.
I heard the rattle of the doorknob.
My heart jumped.
"It's locked," Cameron whispered against my lips.
But it must have been a crappy lock because the door swung open anyway.
We froze.
In the hallway, just outside the door, stood Noah.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Noah looked confused for the briefest of seconds, as if he'd been expecting to see something else.
Moments later rage exploded across his face.
"You motherfucking—"
Cameron had no time to duck. Noah launched himself across the room and cold-clocked him in the jaw. Cameron's head snapped back.
I cried out in surprise.
Noah readied his fist to punch again. I threw myself at my brother, clinging to his arm, pulling him back.
"Noah, stop!"
Cameron had been sent reeling back from the force of the punch. He straightened and rubbed at his jaw gingerly.
"All those times you punched me in the side, you were really holding back, weren't you?" he said wryly.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," Noah hissed. He glared a burning hatred in Cameron's direction. I clung to him tighter, but he didn't move to throw another punch.
"Noah, listen to me," I said insistently. "Cameron and I—"
"You touch my sister, you die," Noah spat.
"It's not like that." I tried to use my best soothing voice. I placed myself in front of my brother, trying to block Cameron from view. Noah's brow furrowed, that patented pissed off Hart look out in full force.
Cameron hovered in the doorframe, looking uneasy. "Noah, it's not what it looks like."
Hard Rock Sin: A Rock Star Romance Page 19