Page 12 of I Need You Tonight
Okay, that was weird.
“We’re not dating. He’s a friend of my brother’s,” I clarified, then looked quizzically up at Mason, waiting for him to explain why the sixteen-year-old thought she knew him.
“Do you know the rest of the guys in the band or just Mason?” she asked me.
“Band?”
“You know, Pushing Limits? One of the best rock bands around. All the guys are super hot, but Nolan Kincaid, their lead singer, is engaged, and Jared Leigh just got married, so they’re no longer available.” She didn’t take a single breath during that, her words coming faster than a cougar chasing down his dinner.
“Technically, Nolan isn’t engaged,” Mason said, “but he and Hailey are serious, so he’s still unavailable.”
My head spun around to him so fast, I was surprised I didn’t get whiplash. “You…you mean you’re reallythatMason Dell?”
Amy grunted, as if to say,Of course he is. Who did you think he was?I ignored her.
Mason nodded.
“How could you not know he’s the drummer for Pushing Limits?” Amy asked, her tone indicating that she thought I was an oblivious idiot. I was beginning to feel like one.
“I don’t listen to rock music. I prefer country.” And my brother had never mentioned it.
That got another noise out of her, which I chose not to translate.
Deciding the walk was over for the day, Bernie lay down on the sidewalk. I was surprised the ground didn’t tremble as he flopped down. He had to easily outweigh even Mason. Elis barked at his friend, maybe to tell him that he was a lazy goof.
“Can I have your autograph?” Amy asked Mason, ignoring the two dogs.
He nodded. “Sure. You have anything to write on?”
It wasn’t like she had a purse on her. She looked at me.
“Sorry, I don’t have anything.” Other than the empty doggy poop bags, and I didn’t think that would help her.
“Do you know where Nicole lives?” he asked.
She did because she had occasionally walked past my house with Elis. Although after today, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she walked past my house on a daily basis, just to see if Mason and the rest of the band were there—especially after Mason told her to swing by in an hour with something for him to sign. In truth, it was the only way to get rid of her. I had a feeling she would have otherwise joined us on the walk, and that was the last thing I wanted. Not when I had questions for Mason—the first of which being why he hadn’t told me from the start who he was.
Because what difference does it make if he’s the drummer of a famous rock band, when all we were doing was eating ice cream and watching a movie last night?
After Amy and Elis trotted off, I tugged on Bernie’s leash, hinting that we should get moving again. It took him a few seconds, but he eventually heaved himself onto all fours.
“So when were you going to tell me you’re a rock star?” I asked Mason as we started walking.
“I did tell you.”
Right. I gave him a look that said as much. “You told me you’re a musician. Being a musician doesn’t mean you’re a rock star.”
“Exactly. And I wouldn’t say I’m a rock star. Jon Bon Jovi? He’s a rock star. Our band has two albums out.”
“That was enough for Amy to know who you are. Did they go to number one or something?”
“Well, no. But the first two songs off the second album hit the top twenty on the U.S. charts.”
“So youarea rock star, then.” With the jeans, T-shirt, military-style boots, and tattoos, he looked the part.
“I like to think of us as currently popular. But we’re still an opening-act band—hardly rock star material.”
“Who are you opening for?”
