No More Yesterdays: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 2)

by Jessica Marlowe

  They found Sheryl asleep on the couch, so they went into the kitchen. Eddie cut himself another piece of cake. “You want?”

  “No, thanks, I’m stuffed.”

  Eddie licked icing off his fingers. “You make great cake, Emi.”

  “How’s Sheryl really doing?” Sheryl seemed more tired than usual. Of course, she had three active boys, so it could be that.

  Eddie smiled. “She tires more easily, but she’s healthy, and so’s the baby.”

  Emily smiled back. “A girl, I’m so happy for you.” Eddie might look scary on the outside, but he was a sweetheart, and he’d always wanted a daughter who’d look just like Sheryl.

  Eddie’s face turned serious. “So, tell me about this guy.”

  Emily’s smile faded. “What do you want to know?”

  “How did you meet?”

  “Nicki dragged me to a concert.”

  Eddie chuckled. “It’s not like you to”—he cleared his throat—“move on so quickly.” His smile faded. “I still think Vince and I should have a talk with that bastard. I can’t believe—”

  “Yeah, me either.” Even though she now accepted her willful disregard for any qualms she’d had about their relationship, she was still blindsided by Sully cheating on her. Her misgivings aside, that still didn’t make any sense. Emily wagged her finger at Eddie. “No talking.” She knew that talking didn’t mean talking. “You have your own family to protect.”

  Eddie scowled at her. “You, Vince, and Sheryl are my family.”

  She and Vince had been patients of Eddie’s, but they’d formed a family of their own. Vince was a year older than her. His parents spent most of their time stoned, and they’d thought it was a great idea to dope Vince up and had gotten him high for the first time when he was seven. He hadn’t seen his parents since he’d plowed their car into a tree and ended up in the hospital with a broken arm, leg, and three ribs.

  Emily stood and put the dessert dishes in the dishwasher. When she turned, Eddie was rubbing his knee. “Still bothers you?”

  Eddie smiled. “Storm’s coming. I’m glad you’re not driving in this.”

  He’d wrecked his car at night in the rain when he was nineteen.

  “The nightmares are back?”

  Emily nodded.

  “Bad?”

  “Worse than ever. I hear screaming and feel the heat.” Emily swallowed hard.

  Eddie took her hand. “I think it’s time you remembered.”

  Emily pulled free and stood. “I don’t want to. One of the only saving graces was that I couldn’t remember what happened.”

  Eddie’s arms closed around her. “I think that your mind knows it’s okay now. You’ll never be able to fully let it go, but you’ve held it for too long.”

  “If remembering is the only way to do that, I’d rather not.”

  Eddie turned her to face him. “If you never remembered, that’d be fine, but it’s not healthy to avoid it.” Emily tried to look away. “Believe me, beautiful, I know. Not wanting to remember bad stuff caused more damage in my life. Damage that could’ve been avoided.”

  Emily leaned into him. Eddie had been through so much it made her heart ache. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”

  Eddie pulled back. “I didn’t think I was either until I met Sheryl. I couldn’t have done it without her love and support.”

  He was the bravest man she’d ever met. He’d slayed his demons and left them in a bloody pile. She felt like some of his immense courage passed to her and gratitude washed over her.

  Eddie kissed the top of her head. “I’m beat. You need anything?”

  “No.” Something told her she had everything she needed.

  “Goodnight.” He walked into the living room and carried his still sleeping wife up to their room.

  Emily shut the lights off and went to Teddy’s room. She knew Eddie meant well, but she didn’t want to remember, and she hoped he was wrong. At first, having no memory had been weird until the neurologist had explained that sometimes the brain didn’t remember because it was trying to protect. Since her imagination could conjure up the most awful things, Emily prayed her brain continued to protect her.

  chapter

  TWENTY-TWO

  Jack forgot to turn his phone off during soundcheck, so when it rang and he looked at the screen, his heart stuck in his throat. Wayne Ettinger wouldn’t be calling him unless something happened to Christie. “I need a minute.” He walked to the edge of the stage. “Wayne, everything okay?”

  “Not Wayne, silly. It’s me,” Christie said, slurring every word.

  “Why are you calling me?”

  “I miss you, baby.”

  Fuck. He’d changed his number after the incident at Christmas. He’d only given it to her parents in case of an emergency. “Christie, it’s over. I’ve moved on and so should you.” Jack hated saying it—he didn’t want to be cruel—but she needed to know they were over.

  “No woman will ever be able to give you what I can, baby.”

  Ice clinked inside a glass. “Where are you?”

  “Home.”

  “Home where?” She had to be at her folks’ place since she was using her dad’s cell.

  “Home, home. You know, where every pathetic actress runs to when she loses her apartment.”

  She wasn’t above lying, and he recognized the changed pitch in her voice. “Christie”—Jack paused trying to hold on to his temper—“I paid for a year in advance. You didn’t lose your apartment.”

  “Pooh. Fine. I’m home for a visit. You think I’m pathetic.” She sniffled loudly.

  “You said that, not me.”

  “You didn’t disagree with me.” More sniffling.

  Jack had to end this now. “You know very well that I think you’re an amazing actor. I have to go. Please don’t call me again.” He disconnected the call and turned his phone off. He needed to get a new number.

  J

  Em hadn’t called him before his gig tonight. When they got back to the dressing room, he realized he’d never turned his phone back on. Shit, three more calls from Christie and one call and two texts from Em. She sent him a picture of her from the neck down in one of the lace T-shirts she’d purchased, and luckily, no one was around when he checked it. He immediately moved it to a password protected folder on his phone. Her second text was: R U OK? ;) which made him laugh because he remembered their conversation in the cab about texting and poor grammar. She’d obviously expected a response to her picture.

  He didn’t bother listening to the messages. All he wanted to do was hear Em’s voice. Before he could connect the call, Jeff knocked and opened the door. “Guys, we’re ready for you.”

  Fuck. Meet and greet. “How many?”

  “Ten.” Jeff waited at the open door.

  Their fans paid extra to get VIP access to the band, and they’d all agreed that on this tour they’d be donating the money to local charities in the cities they played. “One minute.” Jack sent Em a quick text: Sorry, babe, phone off. Love picture. Love you. Meet greet. Call U later ;)

  Before his phone was in his pocket, she responded with a “K”. She must’ve been worried. Which meant she cared, which made him smile.

  As soon as the meet and greet finished, Jack pulled out his phone, but before he could connect, Viv was next to him talking.

  “Brian told me you needed a new phone number. Is everything okay?”

  Her eyes were full of concern. She was a good kid. “Yeah, someone got my personal cell that shouldn’t have it, so I gotta get a new number.”

  “I can take care of that for you. Here’s one of the office phones, you can use it till I get your new number.” She smiled brightly.

  “Thanks, Viv, but I’ll take care of it myself tomorrow.” He turned to leave, but she stopped him.

  “Jack, it’s my job to help you guys.” Her full lips formed a small pout.

  “Actually, it�
�s your job to help Brian. I appreciate it, but you have two days off, and you deserve them. I’ll handle this one.” He winked and smiled. He had no intention of handing his phone over to anyone.

  “You’re the boss’s boss.”

  Viv seemed hurt, so Jack added, “You and Holden doing anything fun during the break?”

  Viv’s eyes widened, and she stammered, “Uh, what do you mean?”

  “Hey, relax. That’s Brian’s rule, not ours. Touring is a tough life, so if you and Holden are happy, then I’m happy.” He winked at her. “It’ll be our secret.”

  She smiled and left.

  Jeff escorted the band to the SUV. He called Em as soon as his butt hit the seat. It was almost midnight.

  “Hey. How’d the gig go?”

  Just hearing her voice elevated his heart rate. “Great. Sorry it’s so late. How was your day?”

  Emily yawned. “Good. Got that new account. They need something by the end of the week, so since you’re not coming in until later tomorrow, I’m going to go into the office. It was silly to take the day when you wouldn’t be here until mid-afternoon. Gotta optimize my days so we can maximize our time together.”

  Fuck! He’d forgotten to text her he’d been able to get a flight at six thirty instead of the noon flight. Since he didn’t want her to feel bad, he didn’t mention it. “Okay.” He was disappointed they wouldn’t get to spend the day together. He missed her more and more each visit.

  J

  After Jack checked into his motel, he ran some errands. Since Curt would be spending the break at Nicki’s townhouse, they’d planned a double date, and they were happy to help him with his surprise for Em.

  It had been a month since their first week in New York together, and they hadn’t gone on any dates. He wanted to prove to her that they could have a little bit of normal together, and meeting another couple for drinks was a very normal thing. He’d show her they could have a normal, non-rock star date.

  He gave Jeff the night off, which promptly elicited a “no fucking way” from him. He’d be there but unseen. Even though Jack was technically Jeff’s boss, there was no way to stop Jeff from guarding him especially when he was with Em.

  They’d arranged to meet at The Vine and Barrel, a wine and whiskey bar, halfway between Nicki’s and Em’s places. Nicki told him to dress up, so one of his errands was picking up something appropriate to wear.

  After he got the shopping done, he stopped and got a new cell number. The guy wanted to sell him the newest phone, but his was only five months old. He wasn’t that much of a techie when it came to phones, but instruments and recording equipment were another story.

  He texted his new number to the guys, Dex, Kevin, his folks, Trish, and Jimmy. Jeff had programmed his phone while they were still in the store. He called Em with the new number while she was at work, so she couldn’t talk long. She was in the middle of a brainstorm and didn’t want to interrupt the flow.

  Just as he hung up, his phone played “The Trees.” “Hey, Dad, what’s up?” This was the third time he’d been forced to change his number since his split with Christie, and his folks weren’t stupid.

  “New number, huh?”

  “Yup.”

  “Problem?”

  Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “Christie called me the other night. That won’t happen again.”

  “How’d she get the number?” Will asked.

  “I gave it to Wayne and Carla in case of an emergency. Christie figured out they had it and called from Wayne’s phone. I arranged for them to call Dex in the future if there’s an emergency.”

  Will sighed. “I figured it had to do with her. How does Emily feel about this situation?”

  “It’s not a situation, Dad. I handled it, and it won’t happen again. I know that you guys won’t give her the number, she doesn’t have Kevin’s contact, and Dex sure as hell won’t tell her. Handled.” His dad’s concern for Emily aside, he was a grown-ass man. “Em understood. She’s had her own situations with her ex.”

  And she had understood. She felt sorry for Christie and had more empathy for her situation than most people, probably because of her experience with her friend Vince and his addiction.

  “Emily is an amazing young woman, Jack. She’s actually why I’m calling.”

  Jack knew his mom didn’t like Em; although for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. She’d always been fair-minded, but she was being unreasonable. Emily hadn’t decided what to do the week in June yet, but Jack suspected he’d be splitting his time. “About Em, why?”

  “We’ve been talking about it, and we’d like you to invite her to visit when you come in June.”

  Jack stopped and sat in the outside seating of a coffee shop. He expected he’d have to talk them into inviting her. Now that they’d offered, that would certainly help to convince Em. “Dad, that’s great. I’d love that.” He exhaled and felt a weight lift off his shoulders. In the past, he’d have told them he was bringing someone home, but what Em had said about her folks never allowing that had him wondering if he’d been an asshole all these years.

  From what she’d told him about her family, it seemed that Em’s parents were a lot like his. A sudden lump in his throat made it hard to swallow. Her folks were good people, and she’d had a great life with them. Just like he’d had with his family. If he’d lost them, he didn’t think he’d have handled it as well as she had. Em had battled her way back from one of the worst things that could happen to a person except she’d just been a kid, so it was even more remarkable.

  “Jack, is everything all right?” Will’s voice ripped him out of his thoughts.

  “Yeah, sorry. I’m seeing her later.” After a quick catch-up about the family, Jack disconnected the call. He was so excited; the idea that he’d get nine days in a row with her if she agreed, sped up his pulse. Then he’d really be able to show her normal.

  J

  “We’re sorry; you have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your call again.”

  The receiver lands in the cradle with such force it bounces out and clatters to the floor. Fuck. Now what?

  Nothing’s working out the way it’s supposed to, but then nothing ever does. Jack and I should be together, but we’re not. It’s that stupid whore’s fault. What’s Jackie thinking? He can’t move on without me. We have a special connection.

  What does she have that I don’t? I gaze at myself in the mirror. Objectively speaking, I’m tall, blonde, and gorgeous. My tits are the perfect handful. What was it that asshole ex of mine used to say? Right, a walking wet dream; every man’s fantasy. He used to hang back whenever we entered a room so he could see the envy in the eyes of every other man.

  He only appreciated me for my looks and thought I was just another ditzy blonde, but Jack is all about what’s inside a person. Of course, he enjoys the packaging as much as the next guy.

  Men are always underestimating me. I need to burn off some of my anger, so I change into my jogging shorts and tight tank top. I pop my earbuds in and scroll to the song Jack wrote for me. Every time I listen to it, I’m more convinced Jack’s soul is calling to mine.

  His smooth voice sings to me.

  “Not the welcome home I hoped for, baby. I’ve traveled so far. Please let me come home.”

  Yes, Jackie, come home to me.

  chapter

  TWENTY-THREE

  On Wednesday during her lunch break, the Sullivans had called her again, but she hadn’t decided yet, so she let the call go to voicemail. She couldn’t get the idea out of her head to use the money to live on so she could write full time. It was a huge gamble. Meg had assured her that the readers would love more from her, but Emily loved her job at Bradford and Ross. They were like family; Ben and Jerry looked out for all their employees, but they were especially fond of her. As she was of them. They
’d confided their story to her, and she’d been honored. It reminded her that even though other’s lives might look perfect, they rarely were. Ben and Jerry were closer than any two brothers she’d ever seen.

  On Thursday, Emily was so distracted with thoughts of Jack McBride that she struggled to concentrate on the task at hand—finishing copy for the Pets for Patriots campaign that B & R was donating for a fundraiser they were holding.

  What was wrong with her? He was just a guy. But he wasn’t. Jack was special, and she’d never met anyone like him. He was smart, talented, compassionate, and caring. Just thinking about him set Emily’s pulse racing. She’d felt chemistry before, but this went beyond that.

  She was equal parts nervous and excited for their double date with Curt and Nicki, and Emily appreciated the effort Jack was putting in to make their relationship more normal.

  Before she left the office, she texted Sully again because he still hadn’t responded to any of her calls or texts. Emily was tempted to donate it all just so she didn’t have to look at it anymore. She wanted that chapter of her life closed so she could focus on her new relationship with Jack.

  A rock star.

  She was out of her mind.

  When she got home from work, the opaque, black, thigh-high stockings and red-and-black-plaid skirt she’d ordered had arrived. Paired with a black chiffon blouse and her black suede lace-up boots, it was the outfit she’d pictured when writing one of the short stories for Jack. Except that skirt barely covered her butt, the thigh highs hadn’t been opaque, and the boots had five-inch stiletto heels, but she hoped Jack wouldn’t mind.

  Emily wasn’t sure she’d have the nerve to wear the outfit in public; it was more slutty than elegant, especially for The Vine and Barrel. She knew Nicki would love it. Since it was late May, it was warm to be wearing opaque stockings and boots, but once they got back to her place, the outfit wouldn’t last long. He loved sexy underwear, and she wanted to be sexy for him.