Page 3 of Stuck with a Billionaire Rockstar

“Babe,” Mallory says with pity dripping from her tone. “You have to calm down with that shit. No guy wants to listen to you talk facts about something they aren’t into.”

“I couldn’t help it,” I whine. “I was nervous.”

Mallory sighs. “It was worth a shot. I’ll meet you at your place with a fresh bottle of wine. See you in a bit.”

***

Just as she promised, Mallory is sitting at the edge of my steps with a bottle of wine tucked under her arm and her gorgeous dark hair tied in pigtail French braids. She stands when I climb out of the car, a sad smile on her face because she assumes I need her pity and spreads an arm out to drape it over my shoulder.

I roll my eyes and dig into my purse to search for my house keys. “I really don’t need this, Mal. I’m fine.”

She cocks a thick hip with a perfectly shaped brow arched and says, “Your nose is still red, babe.”

Instead of answering her, I push the door open as soon as I hear the lock click and let her follow me inside.

“Maybe our trip next week will give you the perfect opportunity to explore things with new people and get your awkwardness under control,” she suggests with a shrug.

Next week, right?

My best friend thought it was the best idea to go to the U.S. Virgin Islands once school let out next week, and I stupidly told her yes. If I had known her plan was to flaunt me around to all the toned guys lounging around, I probably would’ve said no.

Mallory and I have been friends since college when we were put into a room together, and there’s no one else I’d rather have as my best friend. As much as I get annoyed with her extroverted personality, I also can’t help but appreciate the loyalty she shows me. It doesn’t matter if she’s in the middle of the best date of her life, if I call with an issue or an SOS text, she comes running.

“Mal,” I groan. “Please tell me this isn’t some crazy plan to get me into a stranger's bed.”

“It’s not.” I can sense the smirk in her response, and she clears her throat. “No, seriously, though, Jules. You deserve this vacation after spending all school year focusing on your students. This is for both of us.”

Where I’m shy and introverted, Mallory is outgoing and the life of the party. It only takes seconds for strangers to flock over to her, eager to hear what crazy story she’s telling, and sometimes I wish I could be as bold as she is.

Maybe this trip will bring out a new me.

One that I can be proud of.

Mallory’s phone blares with a FaceTime call, and my eyes widen at Brent Dominic's large image on the screen. Not only is he one of the hottest rock stars currently alive, but he’s also my best friend’s older brother. I can barely make eye contact with him without my tongue hanging out of my mouth like a dog desperate for a drink. He’s got one of those perfectly shaped faces that should be illegal because there’s no reason why someone’s jaw should look as though it could slice you wide open with how defined it is.

The last thing I need is for such a beautiful man to hear about my disastrous date and include his opinion on the matter. I’ve seen the articles posted about him, and I can’t imagine his response would be much different than Mallory’s – possibly worse.

“Let me take this,” Mallory mutters. Before I can object, she swipes her finger over the screen and it stays black for a moment until Brent’s pretty face is filling the screen. “Brent, what do you want?”

Brent chuckles. “Nice to see you, too, sis.”

She rolls her eyes in response and sighs. “Just tell me what you need. I’m in the middle of something with Julia.” To my horror, she angles her camera over at me, and my face blanches. It doesn’t matter how many women he’s seen with. It doesn’t change how beautiful the rockstar is.

His hair is a mess of curls, but in the most adorable way, I’ve ever seen – like he just got out of bed, even though it’s nighttime in LA. He flashes a smirk that shouldn’t make me want to fall onto my knees for him and lifts his chin in my direction. “Hey, Buttercup.”

My mouth is parted open, tongue nearly hanging out of my mouth, at the sight of the rose tattoo along his throat. “Uh, hi, Brent, hope everything is, um, going good with the band.” I sound like a helpless teenager who’s talking to her crush for the first time. When I steal a quick glance at Mallory, she’s got amusement shining in her eyes, and my cheeks heat in response. “Anyway, good seeing you.”

As I rush away, I hear him asking Mallory about our trip next week and where we’ll be staying, but it fades as I disappear further into my small room and sink onto the edge of my bed with a heavy sigh.

I’m not even sure this trip is the best thing for me, only that Mallory swears it’s what I need, and I want to trust her opinion. Is it that I want to trust her, though, or are her constant comments about my lack of dating skills starting to affect me?

If it wasn’t for my past relationship, I’d probably be more forward and entertaining. That’s not how the cards were dealt to me, though.

Maybe Mallory’s right, and I’ll open up to some random stranger at this resort, then fall in love with him and have cute babies.

I’m already going insane.

“I swear, I’ll cockblock him the entire time if he shows up next week,” Mallory growls as she storms into my room just as I tug a over-sized t-shirt over my head.

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