Love is a Lyric (Rockstars Anonymous)

by Michelle MacQueen

  This time, when she kissed him, it didn’t hold a goodbye. There was no sense of wrongdoing or betrayal.

  Only Ben.

  It would only ever be Ben.

  Drew tapped Piper on the shoulder, and she finally pulled away, remembering the crowd was there.

  “Um.” Drew suppressed a laugh. “Your mics are still on.”

  Warmth flooded Piper’s cheeks, but Ben only shook his head as he took her hand and dragged her from the stage. In sync, they ripped the mics from their ears and threw them at Melanie.

  Piper pulled Ben through the hall until they reached Drew’s dressing room. “We have forty-five minutes until he’s done with his set.”

  Ben grinned down at her. “Perfect.”

  They practically fell through the door and onto the leather couch. Ben’s touch seared into Piper through her clothes. All the weeks of pain faded away until there was only this moment.

  Ben kissed her like he’d never stop. He held onto her like he’d never let go. “Piper,” he whispered against her lips.

  She rested her forehead against his. “What could possibly make you stop kissing me right now?”

  The intensity of his gaze should have scared her. Instead, it brought her to life.

  “In case you didn’t get this by my embarrassing display, I love you. Not for the music but for you. I get why you lied to me.”

  “I never wanted to hurt you.” She reached up to straighten his glasses.

  “I know. Somehow, knowing you spent all these years protecting Quinn with the lie makes me love you more. I wouldn’t have a career if not for you.”

  She smiled. “You’d have found a way. You don’t need my lyrics to be great, Benji.”

  He pressed another kiss to her lips. “Maybe I don’t need your words, but I do need you.”

  She smiled against his lips. “I love you too, you know. I love the boy who found me hiding after my parents died. I love the rockstar who sings in front of thousands of people.”

  “Hey, you have done that now too.”

  She kissed his again. “Only for you. I love the man who needs a ridiculous rockstar support group to deal with the life.”

  He laughed.

  “You said you had to figure out who you are, but you’re all of those things, Ben. No matter what happens to Fate, nothing can take that away from you.”

  His next kiss was a promise, and she held onto it with everything she had.

  Neither of them knew what tomorrow would bring, but they’d get through it together. No more lies. No more indecision and doubts.

  She’d told Chase she loved Ben, but that she’d survive it. She knew now there was more to life than just survival.

  There was music.

  30

  Ben

  Ben was late, but how was he supposed to drag himself from bed when the sweetest woman in the world slept beside him?

  He wasn’t, that was how. Until he had to which was now, apparently.

  In two days, his entire life had changed. The world now knew Fate for what it was, a bunch of frauds. And even that couldn’t damper his mood because it didn’t matter, not really.

  He didn’t care what the world thought of him, only the beautiful girl who uttered the best words known to man.

  I love you.

  And they were only getting started.

  “Yeah, Mom. I get it.” Chase stood near the coffee cart in the hotel breakfast area, absently stirring his drink.

  Ben was already late, what were a few more minutes? He stepped up beside his brother and pulled a mug from the rack before filling it.

  Chase glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, one brow raised. “Actually, Mom, he’s right here.” Chase held out the phone.

  Ben hadn’t talked to his mom since going to hide at Chase’s, so he took the phone and wedged it between his shoulder and ear. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey, Mom,” she repeated. “Hey, Mom? Is that all you have to say to your poor mother after she’s left out of the loop? Again!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  His mom sniffled and Ben shot Chase an alarmed look. “Benji… my boy is in love with my Piper.”

  “She’s not your Piper, Mom. She’s mine.” He grinned.

  “She’d probably say she’s her Piper,” Chase added.

  Ben set the phone on the cart and hit speaker so they could both hear their mom. “I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do until it happened.”

  “But you knew you loved her.”

  “Well… yeah.”

  His mom sniffed again.

  “Tell her to stop crying,” Ben hissed at Chase.

  “Mom.” Chase leaned in. “Benji is scared of your emotions.”

  “I am not.” He scratched the back of his head. “But this is a happy thing, not a crying thing.”

  “I know,” she wailed. “It’s just you and Piper… my heart is going to burst, boy.” As her crying grew louder, people at nearby tables looked their way. A few had their phones out taking photographs of the rockstar talking to his crying mother.

  “Mom.”

  She kept crying.

  “Stop.”

  No luck.

  “Okay.” Ben reached forward, hit end, and snatched the phone, tossing it to Chase. “Call her back once I’m gone.” He poured his coffee from the mug into a paper cup. “I have a meeting to get to.”

  Chase waved him away. “Tell Drew and Noah I said hey.”

  Ben shook his head. The secret of Rockstars Anonymous was out, at least with those closest to them. There was a time he dreaded these meetings, where Melanie would lead them in exercises and they’d have to share their struggles with the rockstar life.

  But that was then.

  Now, Ben couldn’t wait to sit around with the strangers who’d become his friends and figure out how to deal with their fame together. They didn’t need booze or drugs like so many others he knew.

  The group was a substitute for those vices.

  He caught a cab outside, noticing the looks from people on the street. He’d revealed himself to them the night before, shown his true self.

  And now he couldn’t hide behind makeup and contacts.

  It freed something inside him knowing he no longer had to be anyone else.

  The cab pulled up outside the breakfast diner Drew texted him about. He entered, noting the only people present were familiar faces.

  “You’re late.” Melanie fixed him with a glare as she stood from the table.

  “Aw, Mel.” Noah pulled her back down. “Let the bloke enjoy his morning. He’s earned it.”

  Drew grinned. “All hail the gutsiest dude I know. One of us is down, men… and woman.” He winked at Jo.

  Jo rested a hand on her still-flat stomach as if it was all she needed.

  Ben slid onto a chair. “No Dax?”

  “Nah.” Drew shrugged. “He couldn’t make it work to fly in last minute. But don’t fret, we have technology.” He lifted a tablet and tapped the screen. It rang twice before Dax’s face appeared.

  After the hellos, Melanie leaned forward. “I’m proud of you all.”

  “Ah shucks.” Drew shot her a silly grin. “Whatever did we do to deserve your praise?”

  She shook her head at his joke. “When I started this group, I had to force each one of you into it. You were my clients, and I’ve seen so many stars burn brightly before fading because they can’t handle this life. But here I had five rock stars, some established and others newcomers. I saw something in each of you that made me think you were the ones who’d survive the jungle. Yet, no one does it alone.”

  She looked to each of them in turn. “You hated each other when we began. You were rivals. Over the years, I’ve seen that hatred turn into a grudging respect, but now I think our mission is complete. You don’t need formal meetings anymore because you’re all bonded, you’re friends. And from what I’ve seen, you’ll be there for each other whether I push you i
nto it or not.”

  “Wait.” Drew pushed his chair back and stood. “You’re saying Rockstars Anonymous is over?”

  Ben’s brow scrunched. “Sit down, Drew. Of course, she’s not saying that.” He looked to Melanie. “Right?”

  “Actually…” She looked down at her hands.

  “No.” Ben joined Drew in standing.

  “What do you mean ‘no’?” Melanie looked up at them, her face flushed. “I thought you’d all be relieved.”

  “You thought wrong.” Drew’s jaw clenched.

  Melanie surveyed the table. “You’re all busy. Drew, Noah, Jo this is only the beginning of your tour. Dax, the label has big plans for you. And Ben… well…” Her eyes held the truth. They didn’t know what he’d be doing or if Fate would continue making music.

  Yet, even as his career hung in limbo, he knew two things. He wanted Piper more than anyone in the world, and Rockstars Anonymous meant something. They weren’t just a support group full of grumpy rock stars anymore.

  “Ben is going to keep making music.” Drew’s eyes dared anyone to contradict him.

  No one did. Instead, they all nodded, bolstering the hope inside Ben.

  Ben remained standing. “Rockstars Anonymous has to continue. We aren’t finished yet.”

  “What he said.” Drew crossed his arms.

  Noah rose to his feet and pushed out a breath. “I kind of love you fools.”

  Dax’s words came from the tablet. “This can’t end.”

  Jo didn’t stand, but tears glistened in her eyes. “I need you guys. We’re having a baby.” She hiccupped back a sob.

  Drew was the first to move, rounding the table to pull Jo out of her seat and into his arms. “I thought you said it wasn’t ours.”

  She sniffled. “Yeah, well, it’s not like I have anyone else to do this with.”

  “A ringing endorsement.” Noah wrapped his arms around Jo’s other side.

  They all laughed. Ben held a hand down to Melanie. “What do you say? We aren’t Rockstars Anonymous without our expert handler.”

  She put her hand in his and stood. “You guys really want this?”

  They each nodded and muttered variations of yes.

  Drew pulled away from Jo and clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Okay, first order of business. Let’s figure out how to save Ben’s career, shall we?”

  Ben nodded, unable to voice how much their support meant to him.

  He pulled out his phone as he sat down and sent out a text to the person he now knew had supported him all along.

  Ben: I love you even more than yesterday.

  His phone buzzed right away with a response.

  Piper: I love you forever.

  And he had no doubt she would.

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  The series continues in Love is a Dance Step. Don’t miss Drew’s epic romance. Dive in here: michellelynnauthor.com/dancestep

  About Michelle

  Michelle MacQueen is a USA Today bestselling author of love. Yes, love. Whether it be YA romance, NA romance, or fantasy romance (Under M. Lynn), she loves to make readers swoon.

  The great loves of her life to this point are two tiny blond creatures who call her “aunt” and proclaim her books to be “boring books” for their lack of pictures. Yet, somehow, she still manages to love them more than chocolate.

  When she’s not being terrorized by her niece and nephew, Michelle is usually lounging in her ridiculously large bean bag chair creating worlds and characters that remind her to smile every day.

  Want to see more books by Michelle? You can view them here: michellelynnauthor.com/macqueenbooks