Trouble in Disguise

by Sonia Stanizzo

  One good thing about their conversation—he never mentioned her affair with Nathan Harvey that was splashed over the internet. Being in the sky so much didn’t allow a lot of time to catch up on the latest news. And by the quick call, catch up on how his family was doing.

  * * * *

  Nate finished the last song of his set. The three new tracks he’d written over the past few days had gotten a great reaction from the crowd at Jovi’s.

  His muse for the lyrics was one sexy as hell redhead who wove into his every thought. He couldn’t get her out of his head and thought it would be cathartic to pour it all on paper. They were the best songs he’d ever written. It was like a damn had burst open, and all these new ideas poured out.

  Already he’d sold two songs to an up-and-coming singer Roan Blake who was getting a lot of attention from record companies, and Nate was sure he’d soon see the songs flying up the charts.

  Finding Toby sitting in a booth, he slid him a Heineken he’d grabbed at the bar and sat down.

  “You played good stuff tonight.” Toby pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose then clinked his bottle against Nate’s. “Looks like you’re building a following.” His gaze scanned the packed pub.

  “Thanks.” Nate took a sip of his beer.

  Toby smirked, “Although, the new tunes are too girly for me. Since when did you turn soft and start singing love songs?”

  Nate flipped him the bird.

  Toby laughed.

  “Just trying something different,” Nate explained.

  “Can’t imagine your band mates playing that stuff.”

  “It’s not for the band. Mike’s got new stuff written that we’ve been working on. Sounds good too.” If he said it out loud often enough, maybe he’d believe it. Not that they were crap songs; they were actually the best Mike had written—and mostly without his input.

  But the more Nate wrote and played his own stuff, the more the band’s songs didn’t appeal. Once he got back on the road and sang with Harvey’s Territory again, he’d enjoy the music more. He was keeping his fingers crossed and hoped it to be true.

  “Not long now and you’ll be leaving to go on tour again.”

  A sinking feeling weighed heavy in Nate’s gut, but he pushed it aside. The time to leave was approaching sooner than he liked. And Mike was bugging him to come home early because he wanted to record the new songs for the re-released album that would coincide with the next leg of the tour.

  “You don’t look too excited about it,” Toby said.

  How he felt must have showed on his face. “Enjoying my time off, that’s all,” he said as he picked at the corners of the label on the beer bottle.

  “And enjoying your time with Jade too?” Toby raised a questioning eyebrow. When Nate didn’t comment, Toby added, “Now she’s the one in hiding from the media while you get to live a carefree life. I hope this dies down for her soon.”

  Yeah, he did too. “I hate how I’ve put Jade in this position. The vultures keep circling her because they want to know where I am. I have an idea that might take the attention from her.”

  “Oh yeah, what?” Toby asked.

  “I’ll let you know when I’ve figured out the details.” He pushed his barely-touched beer away and rose from the booth. “I’ve got one more set. I’ll see you later.”

  With that, he walked back on stage, and the crowd cheered at his arrival. He sat on the stool, propped the guitar on his thigh, and played a song that spoke of love, the kind that lasts forever.

  Chapter 20

  “Seriously? I can’t even buy coffee without you people following me?” Jade snatched the packet of beans off the shelf, stomped over to the check-out, and slammed it on the counter.

  If she didn’t need her coffee fix so badly, she would never have attempted to dodge the media on her lawn to run to the grocery store. And in her haste to get to her car, she’d forgotten to take her Homer Simpson slippers off. And of course, the paparazzi were quick to take that shot, and a couple of them even followed her.

  “I don’t suppose you can call security and get these jerks kicked out of here, can you?” she said to the young cashier who stared wide-eyed at her and then at the two men standing behind her.

  “All we want is to ask you a few questions and we’ll leave you alone,” one pap said before the girl could answer.

  Jade paid and rushed out of the store. Tweedledum and Tweedledee followed.

  “Ms Brennan!” they called, running fast for two short, stumpy people and reaching her car before she did. “A couple of questions please.” They panted.

  She blew out a frustrated breath. “If I answer, will you promise to go away and leave me alone?”

  They nodded in unison. That would take care of two of them, but what about the five others outside her house? Maybe when they realized they’d lost their chance at an exclusive, she’d be old news and they’d pack up and move on.

  Mind made up, she said, “You’ve got one minute, and then I’m gone.”

  Both of their eyes lit up with excitement, like they’d won the lottery. Tweedledum asked the questions while Tweedledee pulled out his phone, she assumed to take video. Damn, she should have worn something cuter than the conservative work shirt and skirt.

  “Where did you meet Nathan Harvey?”

  “At one of his concerts,” she answered.

  Tweedledum’s shoulders sagged, and he gave his accomplice a disappointed look. “Oh, so you’re just a groupie he picked up at a show?”

  Tweedledee went to put his phone back into his pocket.

  “God no,” she exhaled on a huff of breath. Why did everyone think she was a groupie? Then she noticed the excited expressions were back and the phone pointed back at her face. She bit her tongue. Oh crap, she’d put her foot in it.

  “You’re not a groupie? This is a relationship? How long have you been together and hiding it?”

  “Oh, look at the time.” She flicked out her wrist even though she wasn’t wearing a watch. “That’s more than a couple of questions, and your minute is up.” She tried pushing past them, but they blocked the access to her car door.

  “Come on, Ms. Brennan, give us a little more,” Tweedledum begged.

  Jade slapped her hands on her hips. “Can you please get out of my way?”

  He ignored her request. “Why do you and Nathan keep such a secret relationship?”

  When they still wouldn’t budge, she moved to the passenger side of the car, unlocked the door, and got in before they could stop her. Then she ungracefully climbed over the console and dropped into the driver’s seat. Turning on the ignition, she pulled out of the carpark and flipped the paparazzi the bird.

  * * * *

  Toby hung up the phone when Jade walked into his office. Every time she came to see him lately, he wore a scowl at whoever he was talking to. Nine out of ten times it had something to do with her. And by the way he frowned and scrutinized her, she knew she was the problem again.

  Slumping into a chair, she waited for him to hit her with the latest. He blew out a long breath, yanked the glasses off his face, and threw them on the desk. This didn’t look good.

  “I see you’ve been busy again,” he said, placing his elbows on the table.

  Somehow, she didn’t think he meant busy teaching students and organizing excursions. “What’s happened now?” But she knew it must be about this morning’s carpark interview.

  Instead of explaining, he turned his laptop toward her. She leaned forward to get a better look at the screen and gasped. “Is that my arse?”

  That was her car, and her undies with bright pink bite me written across her cheeks. The paparazzi, the big perverts, must have taken a photo as she scrambled into the driver’s seat. She had no clue her skirt had lifted up in the struggle.

  Another picture showed her flipping them off as she drove away. There was also a very unflattering photo of Jade buying coffee in her Homer Simpson slippers, mouth wide open as she spoke to the cashi
er.

  The article’s heading wasn’t so great either.

  Nathan Harvey’s girlfriend, Jade Brennan, looks badly hungover and in need of sleep as she clings onto coffee beans.

  The article was even worse.

  The girlfriend of front man Nathan Harvey of Harvey’s Territory looked a little worse for wear when she was spotted buying coffee at her local grocery store in Brimland Point. Wearing a wrinkled shirt, skirt, and cartoon character slippers, she looked far from a glamorous rock star’s girlfriend.

  When asked if Ms. Brennan’s relationship with Mr. Harvey was only a fling, she replied, “God no”, confirming that the two are in an exclusive and serious relationship.

  After answering questions, she displayed odd behavior, jumping into the passenger side of her car to get to the driver’s seat before driving away. A source close to Ms. Brennan confirmed she’d been out drinking until the early hours of the morning, which explained her disheveled appearance.

  Close friends of Mr. Harvey are scratching their heads over this relationship and wondering how long it will take before his hectic touring lifestyle gets in the way.

  Could this simple primary school teacher be the one to bag herself a rock star? Only time will tell.

  Jade propelled from the chair like she’d been shot out of a cannon. “That’s a lie! My clothes were not wrinkled.”

  Toby pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s what you got from reading the article?”

  “Well, of course not.” She blew out a long breath and dropped back into her chair. “The whole thing is bullshit.” She rubbed her hands along her thighs. “How much trouble am I in now?”

  She could see incoming calls lighting up Toby’s phone, which he kept ignoring. She’d bet it wasn’t an influx of student enrollments. Parents would be furious at seeing their teacher’s butt splashed over the internet.

  “Parents are complaining. They’re questioning the morals of their teacher.”

  “And what did you say to them?”

  “I told them they can’t believe everything they read and that your work at this school is of high standard, and unless it affects class in any way, you will continue to teach.”

  Jade’s shoulders slumped, and she blew out a relieved breath. “Thanks, Toby. I’m so sorry I’ve put you in this position. What can I do to make it up to you?”

  “Stop getting your arse on the internet,” he said as he shook his head.

  “It’s not like I planned it,” she grumbled.

  Toby’s face grew serious. “I can’t keep saving you. If anything else happens, whether or not it’s your fault, I have to act on the parents’ concerns.”

  “I promise I’ll stay out of trouble.” She made a cross sign over her heart.

  * * * *

  Only seven students from grades four and five showed up to their music lesson. Jade wanted to cancel, it was hardly worth Nate’s time, but he insisted he wanted to continue.

  They hadn’t had time to talk about the latest internet scandal, and she didn’t know how he felt about what they had quoted her saying. Would he think she believed their time together was turning into something more? The lesson seemed to drag on forever. All she wanted to do was explain to Nate they’d made it all up and her feelings hadn’t changed. Doubt made a sharp twist in her heart. No. Nothing had or would change.

  Finally, class was over and she said goodbye to the kids and the parents picking them up. Nate was quiet as he packed away the instruments and placed the sheet music in folders. Her stomach tightened. Was he mad at her?

  “I’m guessing you saw what happened this morning?” she said. Her stomach fluttered with nerves.

  He nodded.

  Crap, he is mad. “I’m so sorry. They followed me to the grocery store, and they told me they’d leave me alone if I answered a couple of questions. But they took what I said out of context and turned it into a lie. I’m such an idiot. I should never have agreed.” The explanation flew from her mouth.

  He threw a folder on the floor and sheet music scattered everywhere. “You are not an idiot.” He stormed closer and dropped his hands on her shoulders. “Those fuckers had no right following you around.”

  “I didn’t confirm we were in a relationship. He asked me something completely different.”

  Sliding his hands up and down her arms as if to soothe her, he said, “They know how to twist words around and make up bullshit.”

  “Are you mad at me?”

  Nate’s eyes grew wide. “Why the hell would I be mad at you? I’m the one who put you in this position. You should be pissed at me. I’m sorry to have done this to you.”

  She dropped her forehead on his chest for a beat, taking a moment to drag in a steadying breath. Emotions which felt deeper than friendship stirred in her chest, but she pushed them away before she looked back at him. “I’m starting to understand why you use a disguise.”

  “Makes life easier,” he said.

  “Until I screwed it all up.”

  “You screwed nothing up. This will pass. I hate how you’re taking the brunt of it.”

  He cupped her face in his hands, and her gaze landed on his lips right before he covered her mouth with his. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his waist for support.

  “Lachlan forgot his school bag—”

  They sprang apart and twirled around at the interruption. Lachlan’s mother stood in the doorway gaping at them.

  “Mrs. McKenna… We were… I’m…” Jade’s shoulders slumped. There was nothing to say to explain what she walked in on. The look of disgusted horror on the woman’s face said it all. Jade was in even bigger shit.

  “You are not a fit role model for the children of this school. Mr. Lewis will hear from me,” she spat as she picked up her son’s bag and stormed out of the hall.

  Toby had been hearing from a lot of parents lately. And this time, she knew he couldn’t save her again.

  * * * *

  Nate and Jade finished packing up the equipment then went in search of Toby, who they found pacing in his office. They both took a seat like they’d been called in for detention.

  “Why the hell do you keep getting yourself in these situations?” He threw the question at Jade, but he didn’t wait for a reply. “I had a furious parent in my office claiming you were having sexual relations in the school hall.”

  “Oh please,” Jade scoffed. “It was a kiss.”

  “Yes, I know. When I eventually calmed her down, she agreed it was a kiss. But a very amorous one, inappropriate on school grounds. And she was also concerned with the amount of men you are seeing at the same time.”

  Devastation creeped along Jade’s face. Nate clenched his hands into fists. He’d dumped this on her. Now her reputation was damaged because of him.

  “Jade, I’m sorry, but until this dies down, I’ll have to ask you not to come back to school.” Toby grimaced like it pained him to say the words.

  “You’re firing me?” Jade squeaked.

  Toby slumped onto his chair, placed his elbows on the desk, and dropped his head in his hands. “No, giving you annual leave. I’m hoping this will blow over soon and you can come back to work.”

  “And if it doesn’t?”

  Not meeting her gaze, he said, “We’ll look into transferring you to a different school.”

  Nate couldn’t listen to this anymore. “This is bullshit. This has nothing to do with Jade. They can’t treat her this way. She’s a great teacher, and her personal life shouldn’t get in the way of that.”

  “Unfortunately, parents want squeaky clean teachers for their children. And as unrealistic as it sounds, I want that from my staff too.”

  “You’re damn right it’s unrealistic. Your teachers aren’t robots. They have lives.”

  “You don’t think I know that? But it should never bleed into their jobs, especially something negative. I tried calming the parents down as much as possible after the photos hit the internet. Most of them are understanding,
but it’s those few who kick up a stink until something is done about it. And after the kiss in the hall, I need to take action.”

  Jade nodded. “I understand.”

  Dammit, she shouldn’t just accept this. “No. This isn’t right. I’m the reason Jade’s in this mess.”

  Toby threw up his hands. “You’ve got a disguise to hide behind. Unfortunately, Jade has to shoulder the blame.”

  He’d been playing with this thought since he’d spoken to Toby at Jovi’s Pub. “What if I don’t have it anymore?”

  Toby and Jade both looked at him with confusion.

  “Don’t have what anymore?” she asked.

  “My disguise.”

  Chapter 21

  Jade sat in silence in Nate’s car, trying to process the bomb he’d dropped in Toby’s office. She hadn’t complained when he drove her to his house instead of her own. He’d mumbled something about more reporters waiting there after the relationship announcement.

  Surely he didn’t really mean he’d give up his disguise.

  When they walked into the house, Dorito greeted them. Jade picked him up and nuzzled his neck. “You’re getting better-looking each day. Your fur is so soft and shiny.”

  “That’s because I gave him a bath,” Nate said as he sat on the living room couch.

  Jade laughed. “A bath? Cats hate baths.” She sat next to him. Dorito moved from one to the other to get some love.

  “Not this cat. He lies in the water like he’s floating in the ocean in Hawaii. He’s such a weirdo.” To Jade’s surprise, Nate patted Dorito affectionately.

  “I think he likes it here,” Jade said.

  Nate gave Dorito another pat then put him on the floor. “He better not get too used to it, because I need to find him a new home soon.”

  The cat stretched and made his way to the corner of the living room and fell asleep on a bed Nate must have bought for him.