Page 42 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“Seriously? I clearly don’t have time to get in the damn shower with you.”

“Not with me, just to throw him off a bit. He’s not going to worry about coming inside if he thinks I’ve got someone here.”

Mallory nods, then scurries across the floor into my bathroom while I tug a pair of boxers over my legs and saunter over to the door. I take a deep breath, plaster a smile on my face, then pull open the door. “Brent seems a little early for a visit.”

He rubs at his eyes, as if he’s only just waking up as well, then nods. “You’re tellin’ me, but Carmen called and asked that we meet her downstairs in ten minutes.”

“Guess I’ve gotta get rid of my company,” I say with a chuckle.

Brent arches a brow. “Company?” He peeks over my shoulder, eyeing the room with a careful gaze, and then he looks at me with a shake of his head. “Just don’t be stupid and cause trouble. I’d like to finish a tour this time around.”

“Sure thing, Cap.”

“Get dressed, do what you need to do, then head downstairs.” He spins around, heading toward Donny’s room, and waves at me without looking back. “See ya soon.”

I wait until he’s disappeared into Donny’s room before I step back and shut the door to mine, and then I blow out a relieved sigh.

Her sobs, barely muffled by the door, feel like physical blows. Each gasping breath she takes is a reminder of the pain I’ve inadvertently caused. I lean my forehead against the cool wood, feeling utterly helpless. “Sweetheart,” I plead, “let me in. Not just the door -let me into whatever you’re feeling.”

A sob echoes from the other side, and my heart cracks at the sound, hating that she’s in there alone. I try the knob, but it doesn’t budge, and I frown at it. “I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

She doesn’t say anything, only the sounds of her sobbing greet me, and I try to turn the knob once again, even though I know it’s unlikely that she got up to unlock it. “Come on, sweetheart, open the door.”

“Just—leave me alone,” she chokes out. “Give me a minute.”

Since there’s no other way I can get to her, I do as she asks and walk back over to the bed. Carmen needs us downstairs in ten minutes, but how can I possibly leave Mallory alone in my room when she’s upset like this?

Did I do something wrong?

We’ve barely woken up. I couldn’t have possibly done anything to make her upset. Maybe she thinks Brent caught her sneaking into the bathroom, even though I waited until she was out of sight before opening the door. And it’s got her freaking out. There’s also the possibility that she’s overthinking the fact that we are both lying to her brother and sneaking behind his back.

I bounce my leg nervously from the edge of the bed, my gaze locked on the bathroom door, and I perk up when I hear the sound of the toilet flushing. A few moments later, the door swings open and Mallory comes into view — a sight that makes me want to hurt whoever made her this upset.

Her nose is red, eyes bloodshot, and her chin is still quivering even though she tries to straighten her shoulders to act as though everything is okay. I’ve been around her enough to know that she’s not, though.

Aside from the obvious signs of her crying, she’s got her hands resting in front of her and she’s fidgeting her fingers together as she looks down at the ground. She stops in the middle of the floor, takes a few deep breaths, then looks at me with a sad smile as if trying to convince me even further that she’s alright.

She shakes her head, a brittle smile plastered on her face. “It’s nothing, just hormones.”

“Bullshit,” I counter, gentler than the word suggests. “I’m not buying the ‘time of the month’ excuse. What’s really going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

Mallory’s eyes meet mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. For a moment, I think she might actually open up. But then her phone rings, shattering the moment.

“I don’t know what else to tell you, but I’ve got to head back to my room and get ready for the day.”

She’s still got my t-shirt on and bends over to grab the bikini that got discarded on the floor last night, but before she can make a move for the door, I wrap my fingers gently around her wrist. “Sweetheart, you can talk to me.”

“I already told you what’s wrong,” she whispers.

“And I don’t buy it. Tell me what’s really up. Maybe I can help you?”

Mallory stares at me for a few moments, then glances at the door like she’s trying to plan out her escape in that pretty head of hers before bringing her attention back to me. Her phone rings again, and I notice the change in her demeanor as soon as she gets a look at who’s calling, which is enough to let me know exactly what’s going on.

Someone out there has the power to upset her this deeply, to shatter the confident façade she wears so well. And I face an uncomfortable truth. I’m not just falling for Mallory - I’m ready to fight for her, consequences be damned.

How can I make this right?

15

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