The gig is in Seattle and it’s raining. The rain always brings me down. It’s the type of weather when one thinks about staying in bed all day and I can’t do that anymore. I can barely stay in a bed at all. I sleep on the sofa a lot. It’s small and there’s no empty space where another body should be.
With the hood up on my black jacket I walk along the sidewalk. No one recognizes me, not that anyone can even see me as I walk along. It’s dark, but lights shine from the different stores.
I slow down and look inside the window of a book store. There are several books sitting upright on a table inside. One of the covers has a man looking up into a night sky, full of stars. The title is, ‘Star Struck’ and the name of the author is K. Reed.
A little sign on the table says there’s a book signing by the authors of all the books on that table tomorrow. It says they’re all new authors and everyone should come and welcome them to the literary world.
I walk on and think about how Peyton said she wanted to write romance novels and wonder how that’s going for her. She was going to find an agent, I wonder how that went.
Her brother, Tyler, I did check on and he made a full recovery and has a little boy now. Silas has his ways of finding out tidbits of information for me. It’s hard because I want to forget about them all so bad, but can’t.
Why is it some people come and go out of your life without you thinking about them all the time and sometimes never again?
Peyton lingers, her family lingers and there are times I think I can smell her. I know I’m crazy and that’s exactly why it had to end. It was all too crazy. No one should have that much hold over another person, ever.
My cell rings and I look to find Max calling. “Hey there, bloke,” I say as I answer.
“Hi, Hunky Kip,” Zoey’s sweet little voice greets me.
My voice goes all high as I hear it’s her. “Hey, baby girl. How’s my best girl?”
She giggles and melts my heart. “I’m good and being good too.”
Her brother’s voice I can hear in the background, shouting, “Nu uh, she ain’t being good! She hit me in the face.”
“You better be quiet, Zane or I’ll do it again!” she shouts straight into the phone.
“Zoey,” I say. “That’s not nice to hit your brother.”
“Well, he ‘served it. He told me you ain’t gettin’ me no pony,” she says sulkily.
I’m not sure if I can hold onto my secret if she keeps up this torture. “Santa has to bring it, but he only will if you’re good. Hitting your brother is not good.”
“Oh! I’m sorry! I’ll never do it no more and I’ll give ‘em my ‘sert for the rest of my life,” she says and I believe she will.
“Maybe that’ll help. We’ll have to wait and see if that works, won’t we?”
“Dad wants to talk to you. Bye, I love you,” she says.
“Thanks man, she decked Zane good, the little monster,” Max says.
“Girls,” I say. “Can’t live with ‘em.”
Max adds, “Can’t live without ‘em.”
I laugh but it kind of hits at that empty spot in my soul Peyton used to fill. “So, still on for Christmas then?” I ask.
“Sure, buddy. That girl would kill me in my sleep if she doesn’t get to see her hunky Kip.” He laughs and I hear Lexi ask him something.
“Tell, Lexi hi for me,” I say as I find I miss her and how she talks so freely. Peyton was free like her. Peyton was a lot like her.
“Oh, this may be a touchy subject,” Max says. “So tell me if you don’t want to hear it, it’s about Peyton.”
I stop walking and think on it a second. “Yeah, I want to hear it.”
“Lexi went to the mall a few weeks ago and Peyton was there,” he says.
“In Houston?” I ask.
“Yeah, she was at a book signing with a group of young authors. They’re on a tour around the states. She had no idea of who Lexi was, but you sent us those pictures of you two and Lexi recognized her. Lex bought her book and noticed the name and how she signed her copy was K. Reed. I guess she’s using a pen name.”
I move forward slowly. “The name of the book?”
“Star Struck, Lexi and I read it. It sounds a hell of a lot like you guys story.”
“Oh, yeah. Did my character come off as a jerk?” I ask with a laugh, but my stomach hurts like I was just punched.
“Nope, a real confused young rock star who didn’t realize he wanted to be anything but one. Chip and Hayden got married and lived happily ever after with three kids and a dog named Petey.” Max’s words come out jokingly, but they make me want to cry.
“Well, what do you know about that. I told the girl that hanging out with me would help her be a better writer. Turns out I was right. Good for her,” I say and feel like I may fall apart. “Hey, I’ll look that book up. And talk to you soon, Max. Bye.”
I hang up and find myself in a daze. Seems she was able to get closure with the writing of that book. I bet she’s done with any feelings she had for me. Odd she’ll be right here in this very town tomorrow.
I turn back around and go back to the bookstore and purchase the book. I’d like to see just how our pretend lives turned out. I hope she made my character good looking.
Peyton
My back is aching as the tour bus pulls into the motel parking lot in Seattle, Washington. The new author book tour doesn’t have us staying in the type of accommodations big wigs stay in. The little motels offer subpar mattresses, and my back is not happy. Thank the Lord this is the second to the last stop. The next one is in Los Angeles.
After that, back home we all go from LAX. My first plane ride and I’m already nervous. I’m nervous about L.A. period.
That’s where Kip lives. Not sure if he’ll be home, but it is his town and though extremely unlikely, we may run into each other and if he sees me I don’t know how that will go.
Do I miss him? Like the desert misses the rain. But he and I have a crazy dependency on each other. Not only is it unhealthy, but it’s not a thing he wants.
It is a little hard for me to take that he hasn’t called or texted even once. But he must have his reasons. Whatever the hell they are. I have mine for not trying to get in touch with him as well.
The first month was the hardest. I didn’t sleep much. Then one night I did. After that it got easier and easier to be alone. Not that I’m ever really alone.
I found it therapeutic to write a fictitious story about Kip and I and what we had. It was brilliant and brief, much like a shooting star. But the effects will last a lifetime.
I wonder if he ever even thinks about me.
As I go into my small motel room I flip on the television. The local evening news is on and I sit on the edge of the bed and watch it. I’m curious as to what type of weather we’ll have for tomorrow’s book signing.
This is Seattle after all, so I suppose rain is in the forecast. Like always. A commercial comes on and I turn to unpack my bag and pull the dress I’ll be wearing tomorrow out and hang it up.
Music fills the air as the commercial comes on and I look over my shoulder to see the words, ‘Kip Dixon’ on the screen. The music is from one of his songs and it seems he’s playing a concert right here tonight.
Why did my stomach just flip?
It’s not like I could go if I wanted to. He hasn’t attempted to contact me in the last six months. It’s obvious he’s put me out of his mind and behind him. Just as I feared would happen.
For some damn reason I feel more alone than ever and tears just start flowing. I sit down and start bawling like a little girl who just found out her puppy got ran over. I feel so stupid, it was just his damn name!
I must be hormonal or something!
Even though the commercial is over, I turn the television off. I can’t risk seeing the commercial again. I go to the bathroom and start filling up the bathtub. I’ll take a nice bath and soak my memories of him away.
Kip
The
concert was lackluster in my opinion. I tried to pump up the energy, but it seemed to be sapped out of me. It just wasn’t there and I don’t know if I can find it.
I wonder if she’s in town yet.
I wish I hadn’t deleted her phone number. That was rash and completely uncalled for. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Why am I so afraid to love someone so much it makes me weak?
I’ve showered all the crap off me and see the book she wrote lying on the nightstand by the bed. My eyes fall on it and I can’t move.
A knock comes at the door. “Who is it?” I shout.
“Bobby, come on let’s drink, mate. I have a bottle of tequila out here.”
I glance at the door and then back at the book. “Rain check, mate. Good night.”
He grumbles some unkind words and I flop down on the bed and open the book. The first thing I notice is the dedication page.
‘This is for my falling star. What we had burned bright and ended way too soon. Just so you know, I’d do it all again anyway. No matter how painful it turned out, what you gave me was priceless. I will cherish what we had, and all you taught and gave me forever. Keep burning bright and may a love you can bear find you one day.’
Damn girl! Is she trying to make me cry?
I wipe the unshed tears from my eyes and start on chapter one. And would you looky here, there’s guitars on either side of the chapter. Little nuances of me are probably all through this.
I wonder if by writing this it made her completely get over me.
An idea comes to me and I flip to the end of the book to see if she has a web page or something. There’s a fan website. I grab my laptop and look it up.
Her sweet face pops up on the screen, and there she is and now I really want to cry. I touch the screen and wish I could feel her soft skin under my fingertips. She’s glowing and even more beautiful than I remember.
I join her fan club and write a comment.
Enjoyed your book. I think I know the couple you were writing about. They remind me of a relationship I had once, but fear fucked it all up. Anyway, I am your new number one fan. And always will be. I hope you find love too, P. Reed. I thought it clever to use a K as your first initial, I get it.
I know she doesn’t read this stuff, but it makes me feel slightly better to write it anyway. Somehow it feels like we are still in communication. I wonder if she’d like that.
As I go through her website I see that the book tour she’s on ends in Los Angeles the day after tomorrow. It’s at Skylight Book Store near Hollywood.
I laugh out loud as I recall how her brothers called me Hollyweird. She called me Pop Rock, and I secretly loved it. She stopped calling me that though towards the end. It was as if she was gaining respect for my music.
It makes me feel like writing a song about her since she wrote a book about me. It’s only fair after all. If she can mimic Taylor Swift then so can I.
Grabbing the small pad of paper and a pen from the nightstand, I write down the things that stick out in my mind about her. First I write, Summer Girl. That’s what I think about when I allow myself to relive our short time together. Her hair is blonde and reminds me of the summer sun.
Our camping trip and the river also remind me of summer. Her naturally tanned skin and long, toned legs. Well, they just remind me how good they felt when they wrapped around me.
I shake my head to clear it. This is a bad idea. It will only lead me to dream about her, and that always ends with me waking up and grabbing at the bed to find her. And she’s never there and never will be again.
Hidden Star
An Alpha Billionaire Romance
Book 8
By Michelle Love
Kip
A clattering sound echoes in the hotel hallway. I assume it’s the breakfast I ordered from room service and open my door to see it isn’t. A maid seems to have dropped her vacuum cleaner and a short man comes down the hall with the food I ordered.
“Good morning, Mr. Dixon,” the man calls out as he approaches me. “Fine morning, don’t you agree?”
I have a bit of a hangover from a little too much partying after last night’s show. I haven’t done a lot of it, but with Peyton in the same town as me, I kind of freaked out and drank too much.
“It’s okay,” I mumble as I hold the door open so he can come in and set the stuff on the table.
He hands me the newspaper as he walks by. “See you had yourself a good bit of fun last night.”
“It was okay, nothing great,” I say and open the paper to see my fake face on the front page. There’s Gina, an old kind-of girlfriend of mine who surprised us by coming on stage and singing a number with me. After the song ended she kissed me, yet another unwelcomed surprise.
“You should read what the reporter wrote,” the little man says as he places the crepes and coffee on the table.
I scan the article to find the writer is a douche bag. He says that I’ve seemed to have moved on from the plain Jane I announced I’d be marrying six months ago. He says how she’s disappeared off the face of the Earth and added an unnecessary, good riddance. Then he goes on to make claims that me and Gina are on again and hotter than ever.
“Bastard!” I shriek. “This could not come at a worse time.”
“The media is not always so kind, are they?” the man asks as he leaves the room.
I toss the paper on the bed and make myself a cup of the coffee he brought in. I can’t believe Peyton is in town and most likely will see this. My cell rings and I see it’s Gina.
Mistake number seven thousand, giving her my number. I answer though as she must be furious about the newspaper as well. “Hi, Gina.”
“Hey there, lover!” she says with a giggle. “When do I get a ring and proposed to on stage?”
An unsettling laugh I make. “So, you’ve seen the paper.”
“I have and man that kiss looks hot. Don’t you agree? I should make my way to your hotel room and try that out again.” Her words end in laughter, but I’m not sure she’s joking.
“About that, Gina, I’m sorry. I hope that doesn’t get you in trouble with the latest boy-toy.”
“I’m free at the moment,” she says. “Unless you want to make that story real that is. I’ve missed you, Kip. That was a lot of fun what we did last night.”
“Is that why you showed up unannounced?” I ask. “Because you miss me?” My body is tense and my mind races with all the reasons why I should take Gina up on her offer, but my heart still belongs to Peyton.
“We were good together and since we’re both in the same industry, we could help each other out. You know, make some beautiful music together, both in and out of the studio.”
“So, you want to make some music together and possibly go on next year’s tour with us?” I ask.
Her voice goes shrill as she squeals, “Kippy! Would that be something you’d like? I’d love it!”
I bet she would! She hasn’t had a hit in three years!
“I guess you should know I’m not sure if I’m signing back on with my manager. I’m not sure I want to keep doing this kind of music. I’d really like to make my own stuff, give that a shot.” I pause and wait for her groan.
She does not disappoint as she groans loudly then says, “Kip, that’s such a bad idea. I mean, you rock man. Why not keep that going?”
Because it leaves me empty!
“My life has been run by other people since I can remember. I’d like to try running it myself and see where that takes me. So, I won’t be taking you up on either of your offers, Gina. Thanks for thinking of me though. It’s flattering.”
“You still have it for Plain Jane don’t you?” she asks with a monochromatic tone.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t refer to her like that. Peyton is a sweet and wonderful woman who took my heart. I let her down, right when she needed me the most. That’s the reason I want to get in control of my life. It’s likely she’ll never trust me to be in hers ag
ain. But someday I’ll find another, I hope, and for her I want to be settled, not living a life that runs me.”
“You don’t see me in that roll?”
Gina is tall and blonde, gorgeous in every aspect, save one. She’s a user and always has been. All she really wants is to use me to get her somewhere in this business she’s been unable to get to on her own.
“I could lie to you and tell you maybe, but the truth is no. You and I don’t mesh well if you’ll recall.”
“Only because you refused to take me on the road with you. Even as a person who sells your damn T-shirts.”
“Yeah, so why do you think that was, Gina?”
“Because you are an ass.”
And on to the name-calling!
“Okay, it was all me and not you one bit. I’ll take the blame. Anyway, nice talking to you, sorry about the photo in the paper, though I doubt you are. It seems to me you may have had someone ready to take the damn picture. Manipulating always was your game, Gina. Sorry it’s not going to work out for you this time. Bye.” I end the call and toss the phone on the bed.
Just another reason why I want out of the spotlight. If it’s not your manager lining up your days and nights, then it’s another performer wanting to ride on your shirt-tails.
Thank God there’s only the show in L.A. left then I’m free!
Now to decide for sure if I stay free or sign back up for another year of this before I try it on my own. It may seem like the answer is clear, but I’ve never tried anything on my own and failure seems terribly daunting.
Peyton
The line to get my, and the other eight new authors’, books signed goes out the door of the bookstore and around the corner. Seattle is such a wet city, they sell more books here than just about anywhere else. It seems with this tour I may become a real author. Make a real living out of this thing.
I shudder with a chill as I think about the future. How nice it would be if I can really make this work. How much easier it would make my life if I could work from home. Especially now.
The Shameless Billionaire Series: Billionaire Romance Box Set (An Alpha-Male, Billionaire, Bad Boy, Bad Girl, Romance) Page 43
