With You: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 1)

by Jessica Marlowe

“All right, enough about Jack and his now bigger oversized head due to that goose egg. The show must go on. That is, if you girls are ready?” Elliot said.

  Six middle fingers and they were out the door.

  They reached the Garden in record time. As they entered, the crew looked worried. Jack couldn’t blame them. He looked and felt like shit. Brian and Viv waited just inside the entrance.

  Brian took one look at him and asked, “Are you okay? What the fuck happened?”

  “I’m fine, I fell in the shower and hit my head.” He touched the bump that seemed to have gotten bigger. “Ow, fuck.”

  “And he squashed his nuts,” Elliot said.

  Brian leaned closer. “I thought you were…drunk.”

  “That too,” Jack said.

  “What do we do about Ken Clarke?” Brian asked. “What’s the plan?”

  “Who the fuck is Ken Clarke?” Buzz and Curt asked at the same time.

  “Fucking shit,” Elliot said. “I was so worried about Jack choking on his puke, I forgot to tell you. He’s from Harmony, here to check up on us or some shit.”

  Jack moaned. Nice going, asshole. The timing couldn’t be worse. Next year their deal was up, and Dex would renegotiate. He told them they needed to keep their shit together. Hidden Captions was headed to triple platinum, and they’d sold out shows all over the country, and the European sales were way up.

  A rather smug-looking guy dressed in a gray three-piece suit with purple tie and pocket square made his way through the crowded backstage. The crew wasn’t cooperating with him.

  “That’s him,” said Brian under his breath as the guy approached. “Ken, I thought you were taking your seat?”

  “I’d rather see the show from here. Everything okay? You guys are late,” Ken said.

  Without skipping a beat, Jeff stepped next to Jack. “Jack hit his head. We’re taking things slow. You understand, right?”

  Ken reached out and tried to touch Jack’s head. “Back off, man,” Jack said knocking his arm away and stepping back. The room spun, and he lost his balance but didn’t go down. Elliot put his hand on Jack’s back to steady him.

  Jeff stepped in front of Jack. When Ken tried to maneuver around him, Jeff growled, “Stay.”

  It seemed Mr. Ken Clarke didn’t like to be ordered around. He tried to muscle closer, but this time when Jeff turned on him, he stopped.

  Turning back to Jack, Jeff ushered them to the dressing room and closed the door. He put Jack through another round of concussion protocol. Even though he passed, Jeff said, “I think you need to—”

  Jack raised his hand. He sat on the couch where last night he’d sat with Emily. In less than twenty-four hours, his life turned upside down twice, first when they met, the second… Gotta stop thinking about her. It was over. He’d respect her wishes. “I’m okay. You know, as okay as I can be for getting drunk and falling before a gig. Mostly the drinking though, pretty sure that caused the falling.”

  After a single loud knock, Brian opened the door and entered. “That guy is an asshole. He’s grilling the crew to see what really happened.”

  Jack’s head pounded. He knew everyone stared at the ever-expanding bump, so he brushed his hair forward to cover it.

  Elliot stifled a laugh.

  “What?” Jack asked.

  He shook his head. “Now it looks like a second head, it has…hair.”

  Jack brushed his hair back.

  “It’s getting bigger,” Curt said. “Maybe we should cancel, you fell, it’s a valid excuse.”

  “Because I was drunk.”

  “We’ll leave that part out,” Brian said. “The crew won’t tell that guy anything. They love you guys, and they’re loyal.”

  “It’s not right to lie. I fucked up, I should own up to it,” Jack said, running his hand carefully through his hair.

  “It’s not just about you, Jack,” Elliot said in a low voice. “If it was one of us, you’d be all over covering it up. Let’s vote, show of hands, who thinks we should cover Jack’s ass and say he fell and hit his head, leaving out the details of any other dumbass behavior?”

  Five hands shot into the air.

  “Thanks, guys. What about the gig?”

  “That’s up to you,” Buzz said. “Do you have it?”

  “I hate to disappoint the fans.” Jack stood and walked around the room. “I seem to be steady, better than I deserve. My throat’s a little raw, from, well, you know.” He sang a few lines from the opening song. Not great but not terrible. “What about it, Black, can you sing lead on a few songs tonight?”

  “I got you covered, brother,” Elliot said, without hesitation.

  “I’m stopping the show if I see any signs you’re in trouble Jack,” Jeff said. As he opened the door, he slammed into Ken Clarke—who’d been listening at the door—knocking him on his ass. Jeff stepped around him and the band followed. He nodded to Brick, Miller, and Polson. “No one gets near them tonight.” They nodded and followed the band to the stage.

  chapter

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  All things considered, the gig wasn’t a train wreck. Jack’s voice was off, and Elliot sang more than a few songs. Viv kept a constant supply of water so Jack would stay hydrated. He’d fucked up the middle to “Welcome Home,” but Curt covered for him. He had to walk off stage at one point and didn’t return for several minutes. Elliot let the audience know Jack was under the weather but wanted to finish the gig. The audience responded with cheers and applause, and when Jack returned, they erupted even louder.

  Curt suggested they skip the encore, but Jack refused to hear it. The fans had been great, and they wouldn’t short change them. He suggested they do “Tempers Flare.” They hadn’t done it live in a while, but they were all good to go with it, so they went back on stage and killed it.

  As the song ended, Elliot wandered over to Buzz. Curt and Jack joined them. “How about doing the new song you wrote? Can you remember it?” Elliot asked.

  “We haven’t worked on it yet,” Jack said. Now that Emily was gone, he wasn’t sure he wanted to share it. Ever.

  “Just you and the acoustic, man, like you played it for us.” Elliot looked at Curt, who gave them a thumbs-up, and Buzz nodded in approval.

  “All right,” Jack said. He walked to the side of the stage and handed Holden his guitar. “Give me the Martin.” Acoustic in hand, Jack walked back on stage. Buzz, Elliot, and Curt were still there. That settled his nerves more than alcohol ever could. He put the guitar strap over his shoulder and walked up to the microphone.

  “Thank you, guys, for coming out tonight. We hope we lived up to—” Before Jack could continue, the audience showed them the love. He waited for them to settle down before continuing. “We have a new song we’d like to play for you tonight.” Closing his eyes, Emily’s beautiful face appeared. “It’s called ‘With You.’”

  He played the intro, and the audience fell silent. Not even a whistle. All the emotions he’d felt while writing it flooded back. His voice reflecting his love, he sounded way better than he deserved. His heart pounded in his chest. He remembered her kisses and the tender way she’d made love to him. He’d respect her wishes, but he was in love with her. Before he knew it, he played the last chord. Jack’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. Shit, did I just bomb? Jack opened his eyes.

  The audience exploded with cheers, whistles, and woo-hoos. The volume was deafening.

  Elliot pushed him off stage, with Curt and Buzz in front of them. They didn’t stop until they reached the safety of the dressing room. They all had tears in their eyes.

  J

  “Hey, man, you gonna be okay?” Curt asked.

  Jack just nodded.

  Curt promised Nicki he’d come right back after the gig, and he couldn’t wait to see her, but he’d never seen Jack like this before. Breakups sucked, but Jack looked beaten. Jack was a force of nature; nothing kept him down. And he was always looking out for eve
ryone else. “Anything I can do?”

  Jack raised his head, and the sadness in his eyes was so deep, Curt had to look away.

  “Nothing to do, man, she’s gone, doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “Maybe in a few days…” Curt knew from Nicki that once Emily made up her mind, she was set.

  “Yeah, Jack. Give it a few days, she just needs some time,” Buzz said.

  “Her fiancé cheated on her, she needs time, but there’s more to it than that.” Jack dropped his head on the back of the couch.

  Wow, Nicki hadn’t told him that, but Curt understood. Since Shauna pulverized his heart nine months ago, he’d been having fun, not interested in being attached again. Until Nicki. She hid behind a layer of makeup and clothes, but on the inside, she was sweet. Curt suspected that was her way of keeping the world at bay. Everyone had their defenses, but Nicki’s were just more outrageous than most. He missed her.

  “If you want to talk…” Curt said. “I’m outta here.” With one last look at his best friends, Curt rushed back to Nicki with a smile.

  J

  Buzz stuck around because he was concerned about Jack. He was brooding. Jack never brooded. Elliot brooded. He wished he knew what to do for his friend. Ever since they were little kids, Jack had been there for him. The best thing Buzz could do for both of them was keep his shit together. Jack needed to focus on himself right now, even if he didn’t want to.

  Buzz thought about Sally. That breakup had pushed him off the cliff. He’d loved her, but she’d blamed him for all her shit. Better not to go there. He needed to be strong. He’d call his sponsor as soon as he got back to the hotel. No way Buzz would let the guys and his family down. He’d put them through enough.

  Emily had been so compassionate, and he couldn’t thank her enough for hooking him up with her friend Vince. Sobriety was a journey, he’d said. He understood the extra burden of traveling, and if this guy could do it, so could Buzz.

  “I’m going, you guys coming,” he asked.

  Jack just waved.

  Elliot shrugged. “Something I gotta do first,” he said, looking at Jack.

  Buzz eyed Elliot. He was up to something. “Later.”

  J

  Elliot watched Jack. He knew Jack was thinking about Emily. Not that he was a mind reader. This was Jack; he always thought of others, never putting himself first.

  Jack hadn’t hesitated to get on a plane with him when Siobhan had miscarried. He’d never been more terrified in his life, but Jack kept reassuring him that Siobhan was okay. Jack was one of the few who knew the struggles he and Siobhan had gone through.

  God, he loved her. He would do whatever it took to get her back.

  Elliot smiled as the plan formed in his mind. He knew how to get Jack to act. He’d give Jack a few more minutes to stew and then the plan would be afoot.

  J

  Emily. She was all Jack could think about. Last night, in this room, she’d offered compassion to his friends, and then this morning with Todd and him when he’d found out Sid died. He missed her, but he’d made his decision. He’d leave her alone like she asked. She’d been through so much. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her more pain. He felt like his heart was pumping cut glass. But it would pass.

  Jack dragged himself off the couch. The sooner he got back to his room, the sooner he’d be left alone with his misery. Elliot had his own shit to deal with.

  He hadn’t seen the record company guy, so hopefully he’d get back to the hotel without having to deal with Ken.

  As he opened the door, Elliot’s hand rested on his shoulder. “Hey, man, let’s get a drink.”

  “No way. I’ve had enough,” Jack said.

  “Okay, then come with me while I get a drink,” Elliot said. “You know it’s bad to drink alone.”

  “I need to go back to the hotel and sleep it off. I don’t want to be around people.”

  Jeff waited outside the dressing room and got them to the exit without incident.

  “Listen, man.” Elliot paused as they got in the SUV. “I need liquid courage, I’m calling Siobhan. One drink?”

  Jack sighed. Elliot wanted his help. How could he refuse? “Okay.”

  “Great. I know just the place.”

  Elliot gave Jeff the address of Quivers Irish Pub.

  Jack rested his head on the back of the seat. “What are you up to?”

  “Nothing.”

  Tabitha still worked at Quivers.

  chapter

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  As they walked in, Elliot looked around but didn’t see Tabitha. It was after eleven on a Friday night and Quivers was packed. The hook-up competition had been in full swing for a while. Jack and Elliot wove their way up to the bar.

  “One drink,” Jack reminded Elliot. “You want courage, not drunk, when you call Siobhan.”

  Elliot smirked. “No problem, I’ve already seen what overindulgence can do to a man.”

  “Fuck you.”

  They waited several minutes before a tall, dark-haired bartender made his way down the line of bar patrons. “What’ll ya have?” he asked in a faint brogue.

  “Seltzer,” Jack said.

  Elliot had no intention of getting Jack a drink. Yet. The bartender eyed Jack suspiciously. No one ever ordered just a seltzer at Quivers. Jack pointed to Elliot.

  “Pint of Guinness,” Elliot said.

  The bartender placed their drinks on the bar, still eyeballing Jack.

  Elliot threw a twenty on the bar. “Keep the change.” The bartender went away happy. He watched as Jack glanced around the bar. He was looking for her. Good.

  Elliot turned and smirked as he spotted a tall dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty walk up to the bar and accidentally on purpose bump into Jack while trying to get the bartender’s attention. Jack shifted to give her more room but didn’t notice her.

  The beauty didn’t give up that easily. “Sorry.” A confident smile spread across her face. “It’s so hard to move around in here on a Friday night. Even harder to get a drink. I should’ve stayed home.” Her full, red lips formed a pout.

  Jack raised his hand, and the bartender walked over. “This young lady would like to order a drink,” he said without looking at said lady.

  The beauty didn’t appreciate being ignored. Shunned fury covered her face. She ordered a drink and pulled the bump routine on the guy on the other side of her, who paid for her drink. She cast Jack a “your loss” look over her shoulder and turned back to her second choice. The entire scene was lost on Jack; he hadn’t seen any of it because he stared at his seltzer as if the bubbles held the key to the universe.

  Elliot was sure this was the right way to go. Jack needed a nudge. Elliot looked up and smiled, as the nudge entered behind the bar, coming toward them. Excellent.

  “Hi, hot stuff, long time no see.” Tabitha greeted Jack with a kiss on the cheek.

  “Tabs, gorgeous as always,” Jack said.

  Hands planted on her hips, she turned to him. “Elliot, you still taken?”

  “’Fraid so, my dear,” Elliot said, showing her his wedding band. He never took it off and never would. “Looks like you’re stuck with sour puss here.”

  Tabitha cocked a brow. “Jack, tell your bartender what the problem is.” When she leaned on the bar, the deep V of her black shirt revealed more than just a peek at her fine tits.

  Elliot smiled when Jack sat up. Outstanding.

  J

  When Jack was single, just seeing Tabitha would turn him on. Of course, he only sought her out when he was single. She was a classic Irish beauty: long red hair, almond-shaped green eyes, fair skin, dusting of freckles, tight body, nice tits, fun personality, and an excellent listener. They’d been friends for ten years. With benefits for almost as long. That worked for them both but only when he was single.

  Tabitha was only single because she had one focus. Graduate from grad school and then get her dream
job. She was getting her PhD in psychology, and she had to be getting close. “How’s school?” Jack asked, setting aside his problems to talk to an old friend.

  “One year to go,” Tabitha said, straightening up at the sound of her name. She ran down the bar filling orders.

  Jack eyed Elliot. “Did you know she was working tonight?”

  “Yeah,” Elliot said with a grin. “You looked like you could use cheering up. Who better than your friendly bartender with benefits? You are single, after all, aren’t ya?”

  Jack sneered at Elliot. “Yes.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Elliot took a sip of his beer.

  Jack glanced at Tabitha. They always had a good time, but they weren’t in love. She didn’t have time for a relationship, and Jack respected her drive in pursuing her dreams. Nothing got in her way. They were happy with their arrangement, neither giving nor asking for more than an occasional fuck.

  But only when he was single.

  Tabitha’s hand waved in front of his face. “Sorry, what?” Jack asked, trying to focus on her.

  “What happened to your head?” she asked, touching his bump.

  “Long story.”

  “The doctor is in, sweetie.”

  A sad little laugh escaped Jack’s lips. “Met a girl, lost the girl, got drunk, slipped in the shower, hit my head.”

  “There’ll always be another girl, Jack.” Putting up her finger, she walked to the other side of the bar to help a customer.

  “Not like this one,” Jack whispered.

  Not wanting to talk anymore, Jack turned to Elliot, who had hardly touched his beer. “Dude, how late do you plan on calling your wife? Drink up, already.”

  “Hey, not everyone’s in your league downing six mini bar bottles of vodka before a gig,” Elliot sniped back.

  “Fuck me. Sorry, man.”

  “Jack, you need to stop thinking about Emily. She’s gone. Tabitha is right here, ready, willing, and able. You said you’re not going after Emily, so you’re moving on, right?”