“You’re taking a day off work when I get back,” I warn him.
He smiles. “Gladly.”
We stare at each other for a few long seconds before he gives me a more chaste peck on the lips and lets me go.
“The longer we stand here, the more I want to tell you to cancel your tour,” he admits. “And I know how much you’re looking forward to it. So I should just leave. Now.”
I nod, slowly. If it ever really came down to my career or one of my men, I know what I’d choose. I know none of them would ever want me to make that kind of choice, and that’s why I love them. Asher’s just sad that I’m leaving. I know exactly how he feels.
“I’ll be on TV just after midnight tonight,” I remind him. “I’ll be wearing something pretty and thinking about you.”
He smiles. “It’s a date.”
He leaves before I start to cry. I wipe away the hot tears, telling myself I can’t keep crying if I’m going to be on TV later. I’ll look awful. My eyes will be puffy. No amount of make-up can cure puffy eyes.
I sniff as I swallow the lump in my throat. It can’t be this hard every time. Surely. I’m just emotional right now because of everything else that’s been happening. It’s been a hellish week. I’ll be fine once I’m on the promo trail. Maybe. If my fans don’t decide they hate me when I make my big announcement.
Just like that, the tears dry up. My stomach begins to clench instead. It’s not going to be easy to do this, but I know I have to. I won’t lie to the world about who I am inside. If it makes them hate me, so be it. Tonight, I reveal my secret to the world. I wonder if it’s ready.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eli
Eden’s covering it well, but she’s been on edge all morning. Her frantic energy as she rushed around packing her things was the first tip-off that something was up with her. Then she claimed there was way too much to do to let Nick tempt her into something sinful. He knew as well as I did that something was wrong, but neither of us brought it up. I get the feeling his reasons for that will be different from mine.
“Okay,” she says, looking around. “Everything’s packed up. We’ve checked everything’s locked and that I haven’t left anything electrical switched on that doesn’t need to be. I think we’re ready to go to the airport.”
“Security know what’s going on,” I add in, being the one to go out and speak to them last night. I was ready then, too. The case I packed to come here when Skyler went missing contains several days’ worth of clothes and toiletries, and now also a couple bottles of the lube Nick bought. He doesn’t know about that yet, but he will later.
He doesn’t have a case, but I’m guessing that’s because his apartment is in L.A. and he plans to stop by. Yeah, we haven’t talked much. Last night’s chill out session seemed to be what Eden needed and I think it was good for all of us.
“Let’s move,” I say, picking up her case and mine.
She opens the door for me and Nick takes the keys from her before I head out to her car. She already insisted on taking hers. Last night. She also mentioned she wants the next time she steps into mine to be on a dark and lonely road, where she can haul me into the back seat with her. That comment sent some raised eyebrows my way, but neither Nick nor Asher seemed particularly jealous about it.
Nick locks the front door as Eden dashes ahead of me to pop the trunk. I get the cases inside and she darts into the drivers’ seat before I even get it closed. Nick steals shotgun so I get into the backseat.
“Ugh,” Eden says, before passing her phone to Nick. “Amy sent me an itinerary.”
She starts the car as Nick clears his throat theatrically and begins reading out the list. I’m curious as to how much of Eden’s time is going to be taken up by work so I listen intently.
“Wait. You have how many interviews tomorrow?” I’m sure I heard that wrong.
“Three sounds like a lot but that’ll be a couple hours each, max.” She shrugs as she drives the car out through the gates. “I’ll be done before dinner. What’s after that?”
“She has you shooting a music video for a couple days,” Nick says. “That sounds kind of cool. Can we come with you to this stuff?”
I watch Eden’s face in the rear-view. She takes a minute to answer and frown lines are starting to crease her forehead. “Depends what the set up is for each thing. I already asked for seats in the audience for the first interview tonight. So you can both be there.”
It’s when she plans to reveal she’s in a relationship that’s a little less conventional. That’s her main source of panic. She’s afraid to see how her fans take it. I know it would hurt her if they aren’t accepting, and knowing how shitty people can be, I dread the news hitting the public’s ears almost as much as she’s dreading telling the world.
We’ll be powerless against any backlash. I don’t like that feeling. But I know why Eden has to do this, and all we can do is be ready to get her through it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eden
The day passes in a blur of dull activity. Travelling and meeting security Eli booked, checking into the hotel and figuring out my interview outfits, eating a light dinner and trying not to let my nerves get the better of me as we head to the TV studio. Suddenly, when we’re on our way to the first interview I realise, this is it. I’m coming back into the spotlight with news my fans won’t expect. I try not to dwell on how they might react. I just keep my breathing steady, and work on my posture. I haven’t been in front of the public in a while like this. I need to find my inner rock star right now, and she’s being elusive.
“Are you okay?” Eli asks quietly, squeezing my hand.
I nod. “Just trying not to freak about how many millions of viewers this show has.” Or the fact that it’s live. Ugh. My stomach is churning just thinking about that. Who the hell decided this was a good idea for my first back to work promo?
“You’re going to be awesome,” Nick tells me, stroking my other hand.
Just feeling both of them close bolsters my confidence. I take a few deep breaths. “I’m going to be awesome.”
He leans in close and kisses my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “If you get nervous, just think about us naked.”
I burst out laughing. “Why would it help to be horny?”
“When does it ever not help?” He grins at me. “Anyway, I just meant because we’ll be in the audience. But I don’t want you to think of everyone else naked. Just us.”
He strips me with his gaze and I wonder why the hell I didn’t take them both to bed the minute we got to the hotel. It’s too late for a quickie now, and it’s kind of hard to be fast with two men besides.
“Just us,” Eli says with a smile.
“Okay,” I tell them. “You both need to be naked later so I don’t have to imagine it. Now stop making me think about sex. I don’t want to have it on the brain when I go talk to Gina, in front of all those millions of viewers she has.”
Nick chuckles as he sinks back into his seat. Eli leans in and kisses my lips briefly. Then the limo stops and my stomach begins churning again. It’s closer to becoming reality now. I’m so screwed.
We’re escorted into the building where I tell my security to wait at the car for the end of the show. I have Nick and Eli. I don’t need them now. Everything happens in a blur once we’re inside. A stage manager introduces herself and shows me my marks while the stage is being set up. Then she gives Nick and Eli their seat passes and leads them to where they need to wait to enter, before taking me back stage to my dressing room and leaving me with hair and make-up girls who seem friendly enough. They decide on my look and move into their routines, chatting excitedly the whole time. I end up signing a few copies of my last album before they leave, telling me a runner will come get me when it’s time to go onstage.
I sit in front of my polished reflection, trying to soothe the terror out of my stare. I’m starting to freak the hell out. The sound of the clock ticking feels too loud. My heart i
s beating like a drum. That damned runner needs to come get me before I do something stupid. Like leave the building.
Then I hear a knock and freeze in the seat for a second. Too late to escape. I walk to the door and a gasp catches in my throat.
Skyler raises an eyebrow at me, one hand on her hip. “What? You think I didn’t know you scored this interview? Why the hell didn’t you get me tickets?”
“Um, what?” I mutter as the presence of someone even less expected catches my attention.
Logan. He’s standing beside her, his expression carefully guarded. When my gaze meets his, my face warms and sparks of heat burst through body. I bite back the questions that flood through me on seeing him. He’s in work mode, alert and on edge.
I turn my attention back to Skyler and just catch the fading smirk. Oh, she knows exactly what she did hiring him. We’re about to spend months on tour together. I’ll have to see him all the damn time.
I’m going to kill her. As soon as this damned interview is over.
My nerves are already frayed as it is. I’m glad Nick and Eli had to go into another room to get into the audience. I feel better knowing they’re here, but I’m glad they don’t know Logan is. This situation is messy enough.
“I needed a new bodyguard when the last one decided to quit on me,” Sky starts, closing the dressing room door over. “At least this one knows the deal with the whole, y’know, immortal thing.”
I manage to refrain from rolling my eyes. It’s bullshit and she knows it. I’ve seen that little knowing smirk before.
“Whatever,” I tell her, sitting back down and checking my make-up.
It’s flawless, considering the artist just left. My lips are a vibrant ruby and my skin has a glorious shimmer to it. She even made my eyelashes look fuller without falsies. My hair was teased into a perfectly poised up-do by the wardrobe girl who also happens to be a stylist. The little leather mini dress and peep-toe boots complete the Rock Goddess look. I’m my record label’s vision of a sexy good girl from the album covers now, a modern icon.
What’s everyone going to think of me when they find out I’m not the sweetheart they pegged me for? My pulse begins to pound. My stomach twisting into vicious knots. Am I really going to do this?
“I love that dress,” Sky tells me, flopping onto the couch behind me. “You have to keep it so I can just borrow it.”
I snort. “You still have a bunch of ‘just borrowed’ stuff to give back.”
She laughs. “The last time you said you didn’t want it back.”
I remember that last time. The denim skirt was cute as hell but I knew what she’d done while she was wearing it. I wasn’t going to wear it again even if the stain did come out. “I take back what I said. And you’re not getting this dress.”
My gaze drifts to Logan but he turns away, appearing as vigilant as ever. It’s his job to protect Skyler now. I swallow as a sense of possessiveness crashes over me. I want to crush my lips to his and force him to acknowledge me. The pull of his presence is so strong. He’s one of mine.
No, Eden. He isn’t. You can’t have it both ways.
I can feel my skin heat under the make-up. Luckily it’s too thick to reveal my shameful feelings. I force myself to ignore the heat flashing through my body because he’s near. He doesn’t feel this and I wouldn’t either if I hadn’t taken him as my fourth.
I blow out a breath, and try to calm my racing heart. The host will be ready for me soon. I’m just considering sinking a glass of wine when a girl with a headset knocks and opens the door, to tell me Gina’s ready for me.
I get to my feet, and push all the negative thoughts out of my head. It’s time.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nick
“I don’t know if she’ll do it,” I say, as myself and Eli and move toward our seats at the back row of the audience. I would have thought friends of guests would have seats at the front, but apparently there are always a few seats saved at the back for unexpected visitors. They don’t like to leave vacant chairs anywhere close to the front. The camera pans to the audience occasionally and it’s those few front rows that get the camera time.
“You don’t?” Eli raises an eyebrow at me as we move along the row.
“You saw how nervous she was. I don’t think she’s ready for the world to know.” If she’s not, it doesn’t matter. She can take all the time she needs. Even if it’s a little hard to hold my own tongue around friends, I couldn’t care less if she decides it’s nobody’s business but ours.
Eli glances around. “I think she’ll surprise us.”
He could be right. Eden has always been full of surprises. Her desire to take several lovers being the biggest so far. I mean, besides the whole thing with that asshole Logan. And that was a desperate times kind of decision.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
I gaze across the audience as I take off my jacket. Feels like the stage is miles away. Eden probably won’t even be able to see us back here. I wish she’d let us come backstage, but I can understand why she didn’t want that. She was anxious about this whole thing. Having us hovering around while she’s nervous probably wouldn’t help. Considering we’re part of the reason she’s feeling that way.
“Is it hot in here?” Eli takes off his own jacket carefully.
He took a few minutes to decide to put the lube in the hidden inner pocket of his jacket before we left the hotel. Our after show plans included tipping a limo driver which I’d already taken care of, and some sneaky manoeuvring of supplies which Eli had arranged. Eden had been too inside her head to figure out we were up to something. I know she’ll appreciate our efforts when we take her mind off her big reveal later on.
“It’s the lights,” I tell Eli, motioning above. “It’ll be worse for Eden.”
All of this is worse for her. I know that. What happened with Logan might be shit for us all, but it’s worse for her. She made the decision, and now she’s trying to control what happens. I just hope it works out.
The stage manager announces show time just before the cameras go live and the host begins her opening monologue. I see Eden on the side of the stage before she enters, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. When she walks on, she looks confident but I know inside she’s shaking. I wish I could be beside her right now. I glance at Eli, see the tension in his face and realise he’s just as nervous as Eden is right now. If I didn’t think it would freak him out, I’d reach over and squeeze his hand. I smile when he glances at me, but he barely notices. He’s focused on Eden, hanging onto her words. It’s all going to be fine. Whatever she says. Then the bomb drops from her ruby red lips and I stare at our Goddess, playing back her words. No. That can’t be what she said.
But it is, and she’s not trying to retract it. I glance at Eli and this time he looks right at me, his lips in a grim line. Shit. It just hit the fan.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Eden
Gina is a supremely confident red-head with a background in journalism and a few literary prizes under her belt. She introduces me and I walk on to the stage to thundering applause, trying to stay calm under the scorching lights. A stage where music is coming to life is one thing, a set like this with a room full of people watching and waiting to judge what I’m saying is something else entirely. I don’t like this, but it’s the first of many and I’m going to have to just suck it up.
I sit down, smiling as the audience’s applause dies down. Twenty minutes and you’re done. No sweat. Or probably, some sweat but it’s not going to show. I hope.
“Miss Eden Rose Masterson, it’s a pleasure to be sitting here with you tonight.”
“It’s an honor to be on your show, Gina.”
“A little bird tells me you have a tour in the pipeline. What can you tell us?”
Start soft, yeah, I know how this works. “It’s a joint tour with the Hellcats. It kicks off in a month right here in L.A. and tickets will be on sale tomorrow through my website.”
I nod. “I’ll play the old favourites too.”
“Now, I have to ask, because everyone’s been talking about the break-up. I mean, the two biggest names in rock right now couldn’t make it work. Then Hunter shows up a week later to the RLMA’s with a new girlfriend? How are you coping?”
“It was hard. We were together for a long time, but when something isn’t right, sometimes you just have to move on. We weren’t meant to be. I’m over it.” Ugh. I hate this part. Being interviewed feels so fake and slimy in general, but talking about my personal life as if it’s the public’s right to know every detail? It feels shitty. I realise in that moment I’m allowing myself to care about the public’s response, and I shouldn’t. Their acceptance would be nice, but I don’t need it. When all is said and done this is my life, not theirs.
“Well, it’s been months now. Are you back on the dating scene, or just enjoying the single life?”
“Actually, I’m in a serious relationship.” I hear a couple gasps from the audience and I just hope I can keep my composure if things turn ugly when I fully unpack my big secret. Right now it feels as if I’m shocking them enough by daring to jump back into a relationship.
“Oh? Are you seeing someone special?” She smiles and I catch the slight smirk she quickly corrects.
She has dirt on one of my men, I know it. Probably Nick. He was notorious for collecting women like baseball cards. My stomach churns and I just hope it isn’t audible for the mic. above my head.
I smile and nod. “I’m dating four men. At the moment I’d prefer to keep their identities private. They’re not famous.”
The silence in the room is unnerving. Gina is staring a little, as if I just shocked her. Yeah. She was expecting me to admit to dating a playboy night club owner, not to tell her my situation is way more complicated than that. A few whispers begin to pulse through the crowd. I ignore the impulse to listen more carefully to hear what people are saying. It’s not going to help my already frayed nerves.
Bad Blood (Rock Goddess Reverse Harem Book 5) Page 6