Page 54 of Rock Star

“Who’s there?” Phoenix answered my knock at the door. There wasn’t even a peephole for her to check.

“It’s me.”

I waited.

Held my breath.

Complete and utter silence.

“Come on, Firebird. Open up! What are you scared of?”

“You.” The word was like a slap in the face.

“Me?” I jerked my head back. “I won’t hurt you…”

“You’ve hurt me already, Axel. So fucking much. And I’m scared you’ll hurt me again.”

Christ, I’d been such a bloody wanker.

“I swear to you I’ll never do that.” My heartbeats raced. “I’m so sorry. Please, believe me…”

I heard the key turn and my heart fucking leapt.

Inch by inch, the door opened.

She was standing there, dressed in skimpy shorts and a tee, looking so goddam beautiful I wanted to press her against the wall and plunder her mouth.

I stepped across the threshold. “How’s your mum?” I asked.

“Doing great.” A slight smile flickered across her face. “Dad’s taken her to the hospital for her labs. The doc’s pleased with her progress.”

“Perfect.”

I itched to touch her, but she’d started heading toward the living area. “Can I get you anything to drink?” Her eyebrows drew together in a frown. “We have soda or I can make you a coffee.”

“I’d love a coffee.”

I’d love to kiss you.

My eyes were glued to her lips.

She turned on her heel and left me standing there. I stared at the threadbare carpet under my feet. I’d never been hard-up in my life. But I’d read widely and could imagine what it must have been like for the Johnsons. Thank God my bandmates had agreed to CM funding Cora’s treatment, although I’d have done it myself if they hadn’t.

I sat on the lumpy sofa and waited for Firebird to return. My chest felt like it would explode with happiness at seeing her again. Even if she knocked me back, it had been worth it.

She arrived with a small tray loaded with two mugs of coffee. I jumped to my feet and took the tray from her to place it on the table in front of the sofa.

“Thanks,” she said curtly.

We stood awkwardly, eyeing each other.

Without another word, she sat at the far end of the sofa. I took that as an invitation to sit opposite.

We stared at each other, sipping our coffees.

I sucked in a sharp breath. “Do you still love me?” I came right out with the question to which I so badly needed the answer.

“I’ll always love you, Axel.” Her breathing stuttered. “But I’m still mad at you.”

“I thought as much.” I put down my mug and swiped a hand through my hair. “What can I do to make it right?”

She shook her head. Slowly. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” I groaned.

The sound of a key being turned in the lock interrupted us. I jumped to my feet again as Cora and Bob Johnson came into the room.

Phoenix shot me a ‘don’t say anything in front of my parents’ look.

“Axel,” her dad shook my hand. “Pleased to meet you in person at last.”

“Me too,” Cora beamed a wide smile. “I’ve heard so much about you…”

Not all good, I thought to myself. “As I have about you,” I smiled.

“How did the appointment go, Mom?” Firebird touched her hand to Cora’s arm.

“Fine. No sign of rejection from the stem cell transplant.” Cora turned to me. “I’m so grateful your record label is funding my treatment.”

“It’s the least we can do. You’re looking so much better, Mrs. Johnson,” I said. And she was. There was more color in her cheeks than I’d seen during the Skype calls I’d been invited to join. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, not sure what to say next.

“Axel was just about to go,” Phoenix’s voice pierced me. “I’ll see him to the door.”

“No need to leave on account of us,” Bob winked. “Cora and I can go through to the kitchen…”

“Dad…” Firebird blushed and I took that as a good sign.

I bit down on a smirk. “I’ll see myself out,” I said. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“No intrusion,” Cora assured me, and Bob echoed her words.

But Phoenix dragged me to the door as I knew she would.

A feeling of déjà vu overcame me as I reached for the handle at the same time as she did. Our fingers touched and heat spread through me.

Fuck.

I brushed past her. Her warm body against mine. So familiar yet so unattainable. Her enticing perfume in my nostrils.

I stopped and faced her, lifted my hand to her face and skimmed it over her silky skin. A strand of her thick, blond hair had come lose from her pony, and I tucked it behind her ear. I bent and pressed my lips to her lovely warm cheek.

“See you in the recording studio next week, Firebird. We can talk more then.”

Her breath hitched.26The day after Axel had turned up at our condo, I agreed to meet up with Camila and Hayley for brunch in DTLA. They’d both gotten temporary jobs at nearby theaters—their contracts with CM had terminated already—and they’d said they wanted to hang out.

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