The Rocker's Muse

Her forehead wrinkled. “You want me to hang out with you and your groupie up there?”

“I doubt she’s still there. If she is, I’ll kick her out.”

“You’re so respectful.”

“I offer respect based on whether someone deserves it.”

“Thanks, but I’m gonna head back to my room.”

Good girl. I don’t blame you.

Stay away.

“Okay.”

She slipped the scrunchie off of my wrist. At first I thought she was taking it back, but instead she flung it at me playfully as the elevator doors opened.

Then she left without saying another word.

I held the doors open, smile plastered on my face and not even feeling guilty for how much I liked watching her ass as she walked away.

CHAPTER 11

EMILY

Backstage in Chicago, I leaned against a partition, drinking a soda and watching the show. Tristan was performing one of Delirious Jones’s most popular songs, “Maybe You.”

This was always the song where I noticed if his voice was faltering, because it required him to really belt out certain notes. My heart was in my throat as I listened closely, praying his voice wasn’t getting worse. I almost hoped I’d lose my keen sense of hearing so I could tell him he sounded better and mean it, because he’d surely ask me. So far, though, he sounded good. Relief washed over me.

Then I hiccupped.

Goddamn it.

Hiccup.

I should’ve known not to drink it so fast. Every time, this happened.

I focused on my hiccups a moment, and evidently the song ended. Everything from there happened so fast.

I heard him calling my name.

Tristan calling my name.

Tristan calling me to the stage.

My eyes widened.

No. No. No.

I moved farther into the backstage area, but someone from the crew pushed me to the stage. Tristan waved me over, but I couldn’t move. He waved me over again. One foot in front of the other, I made my way slowly over to him.

Then I was right next to him, under the blinding lights.

Tristan asked me a question, one I was too shocked to comprehend—I had no idea what it was. Then he put the mic in my face for an answer. A giant hiccup escaped into the microphone.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

And I was living my biggest nightmare.