My Fake Rockstar Boyfriend (Rock and Rogues, #1)

by Remy, Cate

  “Are you with her?”

  “Yes, hold on.” Candace’s voice sounded far in the distance. She was talking to Auntie Olivia. Tracy saw her luggage come down the conveyor belt and yanked it off.

  “Tracy, honey, are you there?”

  “Yes, Auntie, I’m back in Atlanta. I’m getting ready to leave for the hospital.”

  “I’m so glad you’re able to come, though you didn’t have to.”

  Tracy wheeled her luggage down the corridor to walk the long way to the airport exit. “It’s going to be all right. You’re going to get that new kidney.”

  “I am blessed. Tell that fiancé of yours I said hello and that I’ll be speaking to both of you later. Bye, Tracy. I love you.”

  She couldn’t let her aunt go into surgery believing the lie that she and Deacon were engaged. “Auntie, there’s something I have to—”

  “Tracy.” Candace was on the phone again. “The nurses are here to prep Auntie for surgery. I got to go. See you when you get here.” She hung up.

  Tracy felt the world tilt on its axis. She broke into a jog to get to the airport exit, all the while praying her aunt would pull through.

  TRACY GOT TO THE HOSPITAL at six-thirty. Early morning traffic was hectic. She rushed to check in as a family member, and was directed to a waiting room where she could expect to hear news of her aunt’s surgery. Candace was there waiting for her.

  She hugged her sister. “I tried to get here as fast as I could. Do you know how she’s doing so far?”

  Candace shook her head. “The surgeon said the procedure would take at least three hours. I already called the babysitter to let her know I won’t be there until after lunch.” She raised an eyebrow as she looked at Tracy. “You had anything to eat since your flight?”

  “No. I’m not hungry. I just need coffee.”

  You look like you’ve been up all night.”

  “I have. All of yesterday, too.” Tracy rubbed her eyes.

  Her sister caught her hand before she could put it down. “What happened to your ring?”

  Tracy looked at her bare finger. She couldn’t tell a lie anymore. “The engagement’s off. Deacon and I talked. It’s best that I spend time with my family here.”

  “Oh, Tracy, you two looked so happy on Photogram.”

  She chewed on her lip. It did look that way. It felt that way a lot of times, too. “This is still new. Please don’t say anything to anyone else.”

  “I won’t,” her sister promised. “It’s not my business to tell. But, sis, I just feel so sorry for you.”

  Tracy wanted to get away from talking about the situation. “I’m going to go to the cafeteria and see if I can find coffee.”

  She took the elevator to a different floor and found the cafeteria. While she was there, she took a few extra minutes to order a couple breakfast sandwiches. She wasn’t hungry. Her stomach was tied all up in knots, yet she figured she better put something in it.

  She took the bag of food and coffee to the floor where the operation was taking place. Her sister was still in the waiting room, tapping her foot and staring at the local morning news on television. She handed Candace one of the coffees and breakfast sandwiches. They ate in silence.

  An hour later, a woman in blue scrubs came out to the waiting room. “Family of Olivia Jordan?”

  Tracy stood, along with her sister. “Yes?” Her words echoed in the waiting room.

  “I’m Dr. Hill, the surgeon who operated on your aunt. The surgery went well. She has her new kidney.”

  “Thank God.” Tracy let out the air she’d been holding in her lungs. She gave her sister a hug.

  Dr. Hill smiled. “Your aunt still has a long road ahead. We need to see if the kidney will take. She’ll be in the hospital for the next couple of weeks, but you’re looking at a full recovery time of up to one year.”

  “Where is she?” asked Candace. “Can we see her?”

  “She’s in her room, recovering. She’s drowsy from the anesthesia, but you can come in for a few minutes to see her. Follow me.”

  Tracy grabbed her luggage and followed after the doctor. She turned when Candace tapped her on the shoulder.

  “What are you going to say to Auntie about your engagement being over?”

  “Nothing. Not right now, at least. I want to give her time, and me, too.”

  Candace nodded and hugged her again. “I’m so sorry about you and Deacon ending things.”

  Tracy walked down the hall with her. Each thought of Deacon caused a tiny ache. “So am I.”

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  “Thanks for coming out. Have a good night, Indianapolis.”

  Deacon exited off the stage to loud applause. When he got backstage, his manager was clapping. Ash had a stack of papers tucked under one arm.

  “You and the band did great tonight.”

  “All those rehearsal sessions on the bus are paying off.”

  “Any word from Tracy since the text she sent about her aunt’s surgery going well?”

  “No.” Deacon wished he heard more from her. He thought about her every day. “I told her to take as much time as she needed to be with her family.”

  “But the tour is still going on. Do you know when she’ll be back?”

  He decided now was the time to put a stop to this once and for all. “She’s not coming back.”

  His manager stuttered. “W-what did you say?”

  “We broke off our engagement. I told her she fulfilled the contract. I gave her the rest of the money.”

  Ash threw the stack of papers on the floor. “Are you crazy? That was a ninety thousand dollar contract.”

  “I know exactly how much it was.”

  “And you just let her go? Like that?”

  “It’s already done, Ash. You can stop screaming or you can find another client to manage.” Deacon walked past him. He heard his manager’s footsteps hurrying after him.

  “You still have another month to complete the tour. What are all your fans going to say when they learn you and Tracy aren’t together anymore?”

  He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “They’ll have to accept it. I’ve given them a new album, a tour, and a lot of great music over the years. I don’t owe them anything else. I wish I realized that before I got involved in this stupid stunt.”

  “This so-called stupid stunt is what got you where you are today.”

  “No, my music did. I should have trusted in my ability to create songs. Instead, I let you talk me into a bunch of ridiculous PR and social media stunts.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to make an announcement tomorrow that Tracy and I are no longer engaged. Then I’m finishing the tour.”

  He left Ash standing with his mouth agape.

  LOS ANGELES, ONE MONTH later

  Deacon stood on stage as the lights shone down on him. The crowd was cheering as they waited for him to play the last song of the night. He scanned the faces in the crowd. He wished he could feel as excited as they were. This was not only the last night, but the last song of the entire tour.

  He and his band came a long way, starting in Tampa and now ending in LA. But for him, it wasn’t just about the music. It was about Tracy and how she was at home in Atlanta with her aunt and her sister. He looked at a TV monitor with an automatic camera focused on him. More than anything, he wanted to be able to look out and see Tracy’s beautiful face instead.

  His band waited for him to signal for the next song. Instead, he shook his head at them and reached for his guitar. He spoke into the mic. “This has been a great tour. I’m glad I got to be here with you all tonight.”

  The crowd whooped and hollered. He waited for them to calm down before he finished. “This next song is something I found the words to as we played this tour. It’s a song for someone special.” He played a few chords on his guitar. Emotions in his mind and heart gathered as he thought about Tracy. “The song is about a woman I loved, but I realized it a little
too late.”

  Nick and Luka grew quiet behind him as he launched into the melody of the special song he had written. Deacon let the music flow out into the crowd. It filled the speakers. Then he began to sing.

  He felt all his emotions pour forth from his body and manifest into the lyrics. He forgot about space and time, only thinking about the song and the words and the woman for whom it was written. He was vaguely aware of the hush that fell over the audience.

  And then, the song was over.

  “Thank you for coming out this evening. Good night.” He didn’t wait for any applause as he took his guitar and walked off stage.

  The audience started to cheer. The sound they made was like thunder. Without turning to wave, he continued his way backstage. His manager ran to greet him.

  “Deacon, you were amazing. That song is already going viral on the internet. You have to record it and release it as part of an extended edition on your album.”

  Deacon cut him off before he could say more. “That song isn’t going to be recorded. I performed it once and that’s it.”

  Ash look confused. “Why? That makes no sense.”

  This time, he didn’t hold back the truth. “Because I didn’t write the song for money or fame. I wrote it for her.”

  “Tracy?”

  “Yes. And she’ll never hear it because she’s gone.”

  Ash looked weary. “What am I supposed to do if you aren’t willing to turn a profit?”

  “You can leave. Or you can continue to be my manager if you do things right from now on. No more stunts. I learned my lesson.”

  He left Ash to think about his choice. Deacon knew he would be doing plenty of his own thinking about his mistakes and the woman he lost because of them.

  ROCKY’S LIVE CONCERT Hall

  “Tracy, I need you to set up for the next band hitting the stage for open mic in fifteen minutes.”

  Tracy responded to the directions she received from her supervisor. “I’m on it, Clay.”

  Her supervisor took a minute to set his computer tablet on the corner of the bar. “You know, it’s good to have you back.”

  She looked around at the familiar concert venue, with its dark concrete floors, questionable stains on the rails and walls, and the ever-present smell of stale beer. “I’m glad to have stability again. It’s been a pretty wild summer.”

  Her chest crew heavy as she thought of Deacon and the adventures they had on the road. He opened up a new world for her that she never imagined she would ever step into. Although it was fast-paced and stressful at times, she experienced going to new places and meeting new people. But most of all, she got to know Deacon, the real man behind the rock star.

  She really did want the best for him. It just stung a lot knowing she wouldn’t see again.

  Deacon was so resilient. He probably already moved on. He had a world ahead of him with his new album reaching double platinum already. Another Grammy was definitely in the works.

  The speakers at Rocky’s poured out the strains of an electric guitar. She recognized Deacon’s voice on the speakers. People in the crowd started to cheer and clap as though the song were live. “I never heard that song before,” Tracy said.

  The bartender walked up to her and Clay. “It’s Deacon’s new solo. He sang it once in concert a couple days ago in LA. I asked the DJ to search for the video online and then play it through the speakers. Pretty cool, huh?”

  Tracy’s supervisor looked uncomfortable glancing back at her. “Mike, tell them to turn it off. They can play something else until the next band comes up.”

  She saw what he was doing and shook her head. “No, Clay. They don’t have to change the music because of me.”

  “Are you sure? I want you to be comfortable working here again after...” He struggled to finish his sentence, but she knew what he attempted to say.

  She talked quickly so she wouldn’t have to hear it. “This is a concert venue. Deacon’s new album is a hit. I can’t expect not to hear his music while I’m working.” She turned away from the men. “I’m going to set up.”

  She left them at the bar and went to get her camera equipment ready. As she did, she felt a slight twinge in her eyes. She couldn’t cry here. It’s silly, she told herself. Deacon was a world-famous musician. Life goes on and his life would go on. Without her in it.

  She maneuvered through the crowd, careful not to bump her camera into anyone’s beer. People danced and chattered. They hardly paid her any mind as she walked through the dimly lit space. She was thankful. She remembered the last time someone spotted her and asked about her relationship status. Now it was business as usual. Tracy got her earplugs in and the camera ready for the next band on stage.

  It was all over within two hours. The music, thumping bass, and light theatrics came to an end. As the crowd started to disperse, Tracy dismantled her equipment. Soon, the place was near empty except for the bartenders cleaning the bar and janitors bringing out the mops.

  “Need some help?”

  “No, thanks, I—” She turned in midsentence as she recognized the voice.

  Deacon stood behind her. His warm hazel eyes and sensuous smile were unmistakable. She thought she was seeing things. “Deacon, what are you doing here? I thought you were on tour.”

  He stepped forward, hands in the pockets of his well-fitting jeans. “Tour’s over. The band and I played the final leg in LA.”

  “Shouldn’t you be relaxing?” She didn’t know what to say to him. “You were away from home all summer.”

  “I’ve been away from you, too. That’s why I came here to find you. I missed you, Tracy.”

  “But you’ve been so busy. The tour, your album, TV appearances. I just heard your new song.”

  “I’m not releasing it.”

  “But it’s beautiful. The melody, the lyrics.”

  He gave a firm shake of his head. “It’s not for release. I sang it once and I won’t sing it again.”

  She was surprised. “It’s not like you to not take advantage of what could be a hit.”

  “That was the old me. I didn’t write the song to make a hit. I wrote it because of someone special in my life.” He came forward and took her hand. A current passed between them. “The song’s about you, Tracy.”

  Her heart started to dance a fast beat. “Me?”

  “Every word of those lyrics describes how I feel about you and how I wish things didn’t end the way they did.” He stared down at her ring finger. Then he looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry for being selfish with this whole fake couple stunt. It may have kickstarted the band’s comeback, but I caused a lot of damage to you in the process.”

  She took a fortifying breath. “It was stressful. When I started to develop feelings for you, it made me feel silly, like I was caught in a big game.”

  A look of shame and remorse crossed his face. “I hate how I made you feel.”

  “I still remember when you told me you loved me.”

  “I wasn’t saying them for show. No one was watching or listening.”

  She planted her feet on the concrete concert floor. “You really were in love with me?”

  He squeezed her hand. “I still am, but I saw what I already put you through. I didn’t want to cause any more trouble.”

  “Deacon, I wish I had trusted that your feelings for me were real because I was starting to fall for you, too.” She paused. “I...I feel that way still.”

  Hope formed in his gaze. “I want to ask you a question.” He reached into his back pocket and removed a small blue box. “My question is real this time.” He opened the box. Her diamond engagement ring sparkled under the concert floodlights. She felt her heart in her chest as Deacon got down on one knee.

  “Tracy Jordan, will you marry me?”

  She smiled, joy chasing away all the hurt from months before. “Yes, Deacon. For real, I will marry you.”

  He took the ring and slid it on her finger. She heard a few people applaud in the distance. She la
ughed as Deacon stood and swept her up in his arms. He spun her around and before placing her back on her feet, gave her a sweet kiss on her lips.

  “This isn’t exactly a paparazzi-friendly time,” she teased.

  He kissed her again. “That’s exactly the way I want it.”

  Tracy couldn’t have agreed more.

  Epilogue

  Six months later, Trinidad, Jamaica

  Tracy stared at the gold wedding band on her ring finger as she and Deacon prepared to take one more photo with the wedding photographer. The tiny row of diamonds on the band glittered in the romantic ambient lighting of the gazebo.

  “Tracy, I want you to show off your wedding band and engagement ring,” the photographer instructed while he adjusted his camera. “Put your hand on Deacon’s arm while you pose. I need the two of you to get in real close.”

  “That won’t be a problem.” Deacon joked as his arms encircled Tracy’s waist and drew her against him. His eyes were full of light and love as he gazed down at her. A little mischievous smirk formed on his lips. “Do you think we can manage to look like we love each other?”

  Even after seeing that playful expression for a year, it still made Tracy smile and gave her butterflies in her stomach. “I suppose so,” she teased him right back. “It is just one more photo, after all.”

  She put her hand on the sleeve of his tux. He looked so handsome in it. His dark brown hair was combed neatly and formed a wave at the front. She still couldn’t believe she was married to Deacon Westmore. He had such a kind, protective soul beneath the surface.

  Throughout their engagement, he stood by her side as she cared for her aunt. He got to know her family. Tracy watched him also build a relationship with his father during the course of that time, too. His growth occurred in leaps and bounds.

  A soft island breeze blew through her hair, carrying with it the scent of hibiscus. Deacon tucked a coil of her hair back in place. “After the reception, I have a car waiting to drive us back to the hotel. I know a route to avoid the paparazzi.”