Page 23 of Wild Tonic
“And he doesn’t exactly…” Dean paused. “Move in the same circles as we do.”
Clem laughed. “He’s the guitarist in a rock band, which means, no, unless you’ve got a musical hobby that none of the rest of us know about, he doesn’t.” That was actually one of the things that Clem found refreshing about Nate. The fact he wasn’t part of the same group that she’d known for pretty much all her life, meant they had other things to talk about. She loved hearing about Blood Stone Riot’s tours and the stories of being on the road. Of course, she realised that Nate was giving her the PG version and wasn’t necessarily telling her the full extent of some of the shenanigans. He didn’t want to paint himself as a total tart, obviously. She spotted the concerned look on Dean’s face. “What’s wrong with that?”
“I’ve been talking to Mummy, and she’s, well, she’s a little worried about it. She’s not sure he’s good enough for you.”
Ah, so that was it. Marika Cameron couldn’t bear to see her youngest daughter apparently slumming it with someone who wasn’t earning six figures and didn’t have a house in the country. They’d never discussed money although it was clear from the fact Nate was supporting his ex-wife and daughter well that he wasn’t struggling. Even if he did rent a flat from his bandmate. It took all of Clem’s willpower not to roll her eyes at her brother.
“Are you serious?”
“Would I joke about something like this? You know how she gets.”
It reminded Clem of the time she’d told her mother she was taking spring break at Venice Beach one year, rather than Laguna Beach. Marika had been horrified in any case when she heard about what went on during these vacations. The thought of her daughter not going to the most popular and fashionable resort had filled her with revulsion and she had initially forbidden her to go. There had been many times when Clem was relieved that there were five and a half thousand miles and a good eleven hour flight between them. What Marika didn’t know, didn’t hurt her.
“Why didn’t she talk to me herself if she’s that annoyed about it?” Clem took a big slug of her wine. She felt like she needed it.
“She’s worried about your reputation.” Dean paused. “And she doesn’t want you to end up like Edie Spencer-Newman.”
“Who?” The name rang a vague bell in Clem’s head and she remembered that Edie had been onPretty Rich Things.
“Why don’t you ask Nate?” Dean waved over Clem’s shoulder and she turned to see Nate striding towards them.
She smiled, noting the heads that turned as he walked through the bar. He was dressed in skinny black trousers, a black t-shirt and a blue denim jacket. His blond hair was scruffily untidy and his eyes were covered with dark glasses, which he pushed back on his head as he got closer.
Nate bent down and kissed Clem on the cheek. He looked quizzically at Dean then back at Clem. “Er, hi?”
“Nate, this is my brother, Dean. He’s one of the main investors in Stelle D’Oro and doesn’t play guitar.”
“Dean, hello. Good to meet you.” Nate held out his hand and Dean shook it stiffly. “I’ll get us some drinks in, shall I?”
“Not me, thanks, Nate. I’ve got to head off.” Dean stood up. “Remember what I said, Clem. I’ll be in touch before the shoot.”
Clem watched his retreating back, reeling from the things he’d said. Worried about her reputation? Nate being too old for her? What on earth was that all about? Nate had already gone to the bar and she picked up her phone, debating whether to confront her mother now. She sighed and put it back down. What would she say anyway?
It took Nate a few minutes to get back from the bar. A couple of guys recognised him and he’d already told her he always felt he had to speak to fans. That it wouldn’t be good form to get a bad rep. Something her mother apparently agreed with. Although apparently it had been drummed into him by his manager, Parker Roberts, rather than his mother.
“Sorry,” he said, when he finally returned with their drinks and sat down. “What happened to you last night after the gig? I looked for you, but Eva said you’d already gone. I thought you were going to come back to mine? And you didn’t answer my messages?”
Clem bit her lip. She didn’t really want to tell Nate how much Poppy had upset her the previous evening. She didn’t want to make it bigger than it needed to be. But he needed to know. Particularly if they were going to carry on seeing each other.
“I met the rest of the girls. Poppy too. She, um, said some things.”
Nate set his pint down on the table. “What did she say?”
It was difficult for Clem to meet Nate’s gaze. She focused on a point out of the window as she spoke. “How you’d be more interested in some random groupie than me. And I shouldn’t expect you to be waiting for me after a gig.”
“She said what?” Nate screwed his face up. “Christ, I’m sorry, Clem. I had no idea. When I saw her last night, she didn’t mention anything.”
Of course she didn’t,thought Clem.She wouldn’t want to be seen as anything other than the wronged ex.
“You shouldn’t have left though. I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“I did. I wanted to tell you how brilliant you were and how much I enjoyed watching you play. You know I’m not a massive music fan, but I think you might have changed my mind.”
The corner of Nate’s mouth quirked. “That’s good to hear. You don’t hate me then?”
“Anything but.” Clem was still bothered by Poppy’s attitude, though chose not to pursue it. She reached over and covered Nate’s hand with her own.
“Anyway, what was your brother doing here? I didn’t know you were meeting him tonight.”
