Trouble in Disguise

by Sonia Stanizzo

  “I’m sorry,” Nate said again. “I’m hoping they won’t figure out who you are. At the moment you’re known as the mystery redhead.”

  She had a sinking feeling, judging by the constant buzzing of messages from her phone, that her identity had gotten out. “I’ve got to go,” she said and hung up.

  Noise from the street had her bounding out of bed. She padded barefoot to the front window and peered outside. Camped on her lawn was a media circus. Men and women with microphones and cameras paced eagerly in front of her house, and two white vans were parked on the street. What the hell?

  She swiped through her phone. Message after message from friends and family were almost identical. You’re involved with Nathan Harvey? OMG, I love him! Ava and Lauren had messaged that they were on their way with coffee and chocolate muffins. Liz had sent a bunch of angry-faced emojis with how could you keep this from me? I’m his number one fan!

  Nate must not have gotten the update on the solved mystery of the redhead.

  Waiting for her friends to arrive, she sat at the kitchen table, not sure what to do next, when another text buzzed her phone. This one from Nate. Fuck, they know. I’m on my way over.

  No. He couldn’t be seen here. What if someone recognized him? It might expose the anonymity he’d worked hard to keep. It wasn’t worth the risk. She called to stop him.

  He answered on the first ring. “I’m nearly at your place. I don’t know how they found out who you are.”

  “That doesn’t matter right now. You can’t come over here.”

  “Why the hell not? I put you in this mess, I need to fix it.” She could hear the anger in his voice vibrating through the phone.

  “You’ll have to do that at your place because mine is crawling with cameras. Someone might recognize you.”

  “Shit,” he spat then was silent for a beat. “It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.”

  “I’m not going to be alone. Lauren and Ava are coming over. And I have to tell them who you really are. I can’t keep something like this a secret from them any longer. I promise they won’t say anything.”

  “If you trust them, I do too. God, Jade, I never meant for this to happen.”

  “It’s not your fault. Besides, I’m sure it will blow over soon enough. Surely Justin Bieber will do something stupid, and we’ll be forgotten.”

  He laughed, and even the sound through the phone caused her skin to tingle with delight. “If you need me at all today, just call.”

  “I will. I’ll see you this afternoon at class.”

  “You still want to do that? These people will follow you everywhere.”

  The thought of strangers tracking her every move gave her the creeps. “I don’t want to let the kids down.” A knocking sounded at her front door. “The girls are here. I’ll talk to you later.”

  She hung up and ran to the door, opening it a crack to make sure it wasn’t a reporter. When she saw her friends, she opened the door a little wider so she could hide behind it but enough for them to squeeze through. Once they hurried into the house, she quickly shut and locked the door.

  Lauren held a bag of muffins, Ava had coffees, and they both had identical shocked expressions on their faces.

  Ava was the first to break the silence. “Nathan fucking Harvey! What the hell? One minute you’re eyeballing your music teacher, and the next you land the lead singer of one of the coolest rock bands!” She set the tray holding the takeaway cups on the coffee table and slammed her hands on her hips. “I don’t think I know who you are anymore.” Ava’s lips trembled, and her eyes misted.

  “Oh crap, I’m sorry, Ava. This is all a big misunderstanding. Please don’t cry.” Her friend, who she’d never seen cry in the whole time they’d known each other, now cried at the drop of a hat.

  “These bloody hormones are making me crazy.” She sniffed.

  Lauren’s bag of muffins joined the coffees. “What a coincidence both men are musicians. Have a thing for guitar players, do you?”

  Jade dropped onto the couch. “It looks that way.”

  Her friends sat opposite Jade and waited for her to explain. Finally she’d be able to tell them the secret she’d been keeping, and relief lifted from her shoulders. “Nate Miller and Nathan Harvey are the same person.”

  Two blank faces stared back at her.

  She waved a hand in front of them. “Hello. Did you hear what I said?”

  They blinked a couple of times, then Lauren said, “But…but…how?”

  “Nate Miller uses a disguise when he goes on stage, because he doesn’t want the fame and everything that goes with it to intrude on having a normal life.”

  “I can understand that.” Lauren nodded. Her husband, Jack Henderson, was a famous ex-football player, and even after retiring years ago from the sport, he still attracted media attention. It had taken her friend some time to get used to it. “Someone as big as Nathan Harvey would get people following him everywhere. But if he didn’t want the attention, why go into the music industry?”

  “His dad was also a famous musician with a huge following.”

  “Cold Revenge.” Ava’s eyes lit up. “I’ve heard of them.”

  “Yes, you’re right. His dad died when he was young, and he wanted to keep his memory alive.”

  “That’s so sweet,” Lauren said.

  “The guy you’re truly, madly, crazily in lust with is Nathan Harvey. This is so freaking awesome. I can’t wait to tell Nick,” Ava announced.

  “No!” Jade cried. “This can never get out. He’s gone to a lot of trouble keeping this a secret. You can’t even tell your husbands. Promise me.”

  After a bit of grumbling, mostly from Ava, they both agreed.

  Lauren opened the bag of muffins, handed one to each of them, and passed them the coffees. “So how do you know this big secret?”

  “Remember when I took Liz to a concert?” When they both nodded, she continued. “It was Nate’s band, and Liz got us backstage.”

  “You never told us you went backstage.” Ava glared. “I’ve always had a thing for the drummer. Is he even hotter in person?”

  “I didn’t get to meet him. Liz and I got separated, and when I went looking for her, I got lost and found Nathan instead. He wasn’t with the party. He got a little too close, my finger got tangled in his wig, and I accidentally pulled it off.”

  Again, her friends stared at her with frozen expressions. Ava broke the connection and reached for another muffin. “I need more chocolate to hear the rest of this story. This is freaking incredible.”

  “There’s not much more to tell. He threatened to sue if I told anyone.”

  “What a jerk.” Ava’s tune changed as she took a mouthful of muffin.

  “I thought so too. But he happened to be a friend of Toby’s and volunteered his time to teach the kids music and donated a truck load of the best quality instruments I’ve ever seen.”

  “What a sweetheart,” Lauren said, then sipped her coffee.

  “That sure won me over,” Jade had to admit.

  “And now you’re having sex with a hot rock star.” Ava placed a hand on her heart. “I’m so proud. And then he’ll take you on tour, and you’ll be the envy of every woman in the world.”

  Jade leaned back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. “When he leaves Brimland Point I’m not going with him. This is only temporary.”

  Her heart squeezed at the thought of him leaving. But she knew it would happen, and she would be okay, because they were only having fun. Nothing more.

  Before her friends could drill her with more questions, she sat up. “I need to get ready for work, but I don’t know how to get past those vultures.”

  Ava rubbed her belly and grinned. “Leave it to me.”

  Chapter 17

  Jade didn’t have to worry about the journalists pointing their cameras directly in her face when they left the house. When Ava had clutched her belly, screaming at the top of her lungs that sh
e needed to get to the hospital because her water had broken, they parted like the Red Sea, letting them pass. Jade hoped when the real time came, Ava wasn’t so vocal. But for now, it was perfect.

  They bundled Ava in the backseat, Jade jumped in the passenger seat, and Lauren took the wheel. Tires squealing as they drove away from the house like they were being chased by the hounds from hell.

  When they got to school, another media camp was positioned in front of the gates. “Drive into the teacher’s parking lot, and I’ll get out there,” Jade instructed.

  “Maybe you should take the day off,” Lauren suggested as she pulled into a spot.

  Jade shook her head. “I won’t let them stop me from doing my job. Thanks for the lift.” She got out of the car and hurried into the building.

  The first place she stopped was Toby’s office. She needed to warn him about the reporters. He was on the phone when she entered the room.

  “No, I’m not available now or anytime in the future to discuss my teacher.” Toby rolled his eyes at Jade as she took a seat. Well, he’d already heard the news. “You can bribe me with whatever you like. Our school is well-equipped, we have everything we need. I’m not allowing you on school property, and if I see you, I’ll be calling the police. Have a nice day.” With that, he hung up, blew out a breath, and slumped in the chair.

  “We could’ve used new computers,” Jade joked.

  Toby pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s the fifth call I’ve gotten this morning.” His gaze lifted to the clock on the wall. “And it’s not even eight-thirty.”

  “New computers, sports equipment, art supplies, sunshades for the playgrounds. We’re good with musical instruments.” She smirked.

  “Jade, this isn’t funny.” Toby frowned.

  No, it wasn’t, but it was either joke about it or curl into a ball and wait until it passed. “I’m sorry.”

  “This is Nate’s fault. He should have stayed away from you. Now I have to deal with journalists wanting information about my teacher.”

  Her eyebrows drew together. “This won’t affect my job, will it?”

  “No, but I’m sure there’ll be parents complaining. I’ll deal with them, but you’ll need to keep a low profile.”

  She sighed with relief.

  “No playground duty for a few days. The media may not be allowed to set foot in the school, but they can still photograph you from the street. And try not to get any more scantily dressed photos on the internet again.”

  “Scantily dressed…since when do you talk like an eighty-year-old man?”

  He pointed at the door. “Get to work.”

  * * * *

  “I wish you’d drop this act and be yourself,” Fi-Fi said as Nate sat at her kitchen table sipping coffee strong enough to tar a road.

  Today his grandmother was dressed in neon pink tights and a loose-fitting yellow top. She was tucked under the kitchen sink trying to fix a leak.

  “I wish you’d let me do that for you,” he said, ignoring her remark.

  She crawled out of the small space, rose, and wiped her hands on a rag. “Why? I’m capable of doing it myself.” She turned on the tap, ducked her head, and peered under the sink. “Leak fixed. Now, explain how your pretty teacher, looking like she’d come straight out of your bed, wound up on the net with you dressed as Nathan Harvey? Obviously, she knows your secret, because there’s no way you could use your disguise during sex without her noticing. Unless you do it doggy style, then maybe you could get away with it. But then there’s foreplay, so it would be too tricky.”

  Nate groaned and covered his face with his hands. How many thirty-four-year-old men had these kinds of conversations with their grandmothers? Probably not many. He wanted to block his ears with his fingers and sing loudly enough that he couldn’t hear Fi-Fi talk about sex.

  “Can we change the subject please?” he asked.

  “We’re both adults here, and sex is a part of life. For a while I was getting worried you weren’t having any at all. Thank goodness for Jade. Maybe she can drag you out of your bad mood.”

  Where was a sinkhole to fall into when he needed one? “I haven’t been in a bad mood,” he grumbled.

  Fi-Fi lifted an eyebrow. “Yes, you have, and I know why.”

  Did he even want to ask? But he did anyway, because she’d only tell him whether or not he wanted to hear it. “Why?”

  “Because of your disguise. Because it’s stopping you from doing what you really want to do.”

  He rubbed his hands on his thighs. “I want to play music and sing. I am doing what I love.”

  “You want to sing your own songs.” She pointed a finger at him.

  “They are my songs. I write most of them.”

  “Yes, but they sound just like your father’s. You want to sing songs you love. Play music that inspires you and makes you happy.”

  But he’d made a promise to his father to keep his music alive, and that’s what he intended to do. He finished the last of his coffee and rose. “I am happy, and I’m glad you’re looking out for me, but I have to teach a class.” He kissed Fi-Fi’s cheek. “Love you.”

  He left the kitchen, but before he made it outside, he heard her call out, “Get yourself more of that teacher. She’s good for you.”

  * * * *

  Nate didn’t find Jade outside of the hall greeting the parents like she did every afternoon, and he had a good idea why. There seemed to be every parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle, and whatever other kind of relative lined up with the kids. He was only teaching grades one and two; there shouldn’t be that many people. He didn’t need to be Einstein to know why they were all there.

  Then he saw Toby storming toward the crowd. “If you do not have a child attending music lessons, you need to leave the school grounds immediately.” He spoke in his firm, principal’s voice.

  Go, Toby.

  A few people shuffled their feet but didn’t move. “If I need to tell you again, I will call Brimland Point Police Department and they can escort you out.” He held out a phone like he meant business. And by the look on his face, he was deadly serious.

  The crowd made their way off the grounds. But there were still a few too many people hanging around.

  “You ladies,” Toby said, pointing to three girls. “I know you’re too young to be parents, and you’re too old to be students here. Unless you want me to call the police, you better leave. My finger’s about to hit the call button.”

  The girls sprinted away.

  Toby walked over to Nate, who was keeping a low profile in the shade of a nearby tree. “Because of you I’ve had to patrol the school today. Do you know how many kids have forgotten their lunches and the parents have dropped them in?” When Nate shook his head, he continued. “A fucking shitload. I have better things to do with my time. Fix this mess.”

  If only he could. “This will blow over in a couple of days, and it will be old news.”

  “You better hope so,” Toby grumbled. He stormed away and ushered the kids inside the building. Instead of the parents leaving like they normally did and picking up their kids when class was over, they hovered around the door.

  Ducking his head, Nate quickly went inside, carefully making sure no one recognized him.

  He found Jade pacing at the back of the hall. He told the kids to select their instruments and make as much noise as possible. They cheered, and a catastrophic sound filled the room. Enough noise for him to talk with Jade and not be heard.

  Nate placed his hands on Jade’s shoulders and turned her toward him. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She plastered on a fake smile and looked away.

  He placed a finger under her chin, pulling her head back to look at him. “Freckles, have they bothered you at school?”

  She blew out a quick breath. “Apart from stalkers trying to come onto the grounds, where our kids should feel safe, and some abusive emails from parents, they haven’t bothered me much.”

  He dropped his h
ead for a beat. “I’m so sorry this has happened.”

  “This isn’t your fault. I’ll handle it. It’s fine.”

  It wasn’t fine. He could see it clearly in her tense expression. But this wasn’t the time or place to discuss it further. “After class we’ll talk.”

  She shook her head. “I have to visit my mum. I’ve been avoiding her calls all day. We can talk later.”

  He let go of her shoulders, and she walked over to the kids, clapping her hands to get their attention. Once they quietened down, she stepped back and let him take over the class.

  But before they got started, Lachlan raised his hand. “Is Miss Brennan going to marry the rock star? My mummy said it would be exciting if she did.”

  He glanced over at Jade, and his heart tripped. If only their circumstances were different, maybe they could’ve had a future together. “Miss Brennan will find a better man to marry than a rock star. Now, let’s see if you remember what you learned from the last lesson.”

  * * * *

  Because Lauren and Ava had driven her to school, Nate gave Jade a ride to her mother’s house. As they pulled into the driveway, she dropped her head in her hands. Both Connor and Kaitlin’s cars were parked in front of the garage.

  “What’s the matter?” Nate asked.

  “I was hoping to give a brief explanation to Ma and have her pass it onto my siblings. But no, my brother and sister had to be around to hear it firsthand.”

  “I can come in with you if you’d like.”

  When she looked at him, she could tell he was serious. He’d face her family to help her out.

  “No, that’s okay. I can handle them.” With a sledgehammer if she needed to.

  “I’ll wait here for you so I can give you a ride home when you’re done,” he offered.

  She shook her head. “My house isn’t far. I can walk.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting.”

  “I could do with some fresh air to clear my mind. Trust me, I’ll need it after talking to Connor.”

  Nate frowned. “Maybe I should come inside. He wasn’t easy on you the other night.”

  “He’s all bark. I can take him on.”