Page 13 of Dirty Rocker

This girl. This sweet pint-sized girl was something else. Weird she wasn’t that into me, and for the umpteenth time I wondered why. The whole way round, gazing at the stunning views of the coast, I toyed with the idea of asking. It was on the tip of my tongue to do, but we’d arrived back where we’d started and it was time to move on.

“Get your kicks on route sixty-six,” I sang as we sauntered past the sign indicating the western terminus of the historic road, and she sang with me in a soft voice. The pier wasn’t crowded…it didn’t concern me that anyone would get too close and see through my disguise. Bloody Jake. It was all his fault the band had become so recognizable. He’d organized myriad photoshoots in the music mags during our rise to fame, as well as innumerable social media blasts.

Life was what it was, I reminded myself. The past had led me here. I’d made my choices and would have to live with the consequences.

“Let me buy you lunch,” Hayley offered, tilting her pretty little head toward me.

“No. I’ll treat you.” My tone brooked no argument. “It was my idea to come here, so I’ll pick up the tab.”

We found a table on the patio of a Mexican restaurant and waited to be served. The day had heated up and sweat trickled down the sides of my face. “Can’t hack this any longer.” I removed my ball cap, then slid off my shades to give them a wipe. “Doubt there are any ChiMera fans around…”

I hadn’t factored in our server, a leggy blonde who approached our table and let out a shriek of recognition. “You’re not…you’re not Pierce Fox?!?”

Should I say I get mistaken for him all the time, or should I fess up?

Before I’d even spoken a word, Blondie pulled out her phone and jammed her head next to mine to snap a selfie.

“Thanks.” She handed us menus. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

“Water will be fine,” Hayley and I said in unison.

“Did you think I’d ask for a beer?” I smirked.

“Just doing my job.”

I leaned back in my chair, aware people at the surrounding tables were staring at us, and I resigned myself to posing for more selfies. I’d sweated off the make-up Hayley had so painstakingly applied, and my long hair hung down the sides of my face like on the covers of our albums.

Blondie returned with our water and the menu. After consultation with Hayley, I ordered a large platter for sharing… nachos, taquitos, mini chimichangas and a quesadilla.

Hayley’s expression had turned sad again, and she stared into the distance.

I reached over and covered her hand with mine. “Try not to be down about your dad…”

“I can’t help it.” She pressed her lips together.

“The nursing home seems to be taking good care of him.”

“It’s the best we can afford,” she sighed.

Our food arrived and we dove in. “Can’t remember the last time I ate out like this. I mean, without the guys and not being surrounded by security.”

“Did you eat out much as a kid?” She bit into a nacho.

“Nope. I grew up on a council estate, which is what you call public housing.” I took a sip of water. “People from my background got fish ‘n chips take out if they were lucky. My dad drank away most of his pay, so it wasn’t something we could manage.”

Her eyes widened. “I didn’t know…”

“Like father like son, I bet you’re thinking. Except for the money side.”

I’d revealed more to her than I’d revealed about myself to anyone on the planet. Fuck knows why. We lapsed into silence while we finished eating, each of us lost in our separate thoughts.

Suddenly, my cellphone pinged.

A message from Joe.

The paps have arrived.

“That fucking waitress,” I growled after telling Yankee Girl what had gone down. I threw more than enough cash down on the table to settle the bill. Then I reached for Hayley’s hand. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

We speed walked toward the front of the pier. A bunch of people had started following us, calling out to get my attention. Yankee Girl’s fingers quivered in mine. “Don’t be scared,” I reassured her. “It will be fine.”

Joe had driven the Audi right up to the entrance. He leaped out and opened the doors as the journos shouted, “Who’s the new lady in your life, Pierce? Are you finally settling down?”

Without saying a word, Hayley and I piled into the car.

Joe closed the doors, jumped into the front seat, put his foot down and drove away like the hounds of hell were chasing us.

I turned to Hayley. “Sorry about that. Are you okay?”

She gave me a wobbly smile. “Yeah.” She laughed. “They’ll be so disappointed when they find out I’m just your stylist.”

I leaned in, brushed a kiss to her cheek. “You’re more than my stylist…”

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