Page 108 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“They put out my statement that I was always in love with you, and I negotiated for them to give me twenty-four hours to change the narrative.I managed to persuade most of the protestors to leave.”
“Change the narrative, or…?”
“They threatened to invoke my morality clause if I don’t break up with you.”
Maddie winces.“Nick.”She says my name with so much sorrow.
“But I don’t think the protestors will be out tomorrow.It will blow over, Maddie,” I say.
“They’re not going to be out tomorrow because a Nor’easter is hitting us.”
A waiter stops by our table.“We’re closing up soon so the staff can get home before the storm really hits.”
We nod, and he goes over to another table to tell the couple there.
“They’ve also scheduled a bunch of concerts across the country to separate us,” I say once he’s gone.
She nods.She looks out the window, away from me.She is pulling away.
I’ll be on tour, and she’ll be here alone, facing whatever new rumors swirl up.I can’t protect her.
She was going to be fired.Fired.
I almost cost Maddie her career.
And she was only trying to help me realize my dream.
“Maddie, I’m so sorry.I think…” I can’t say it.I can’t break up with Maddie.
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow,” I say.“They just texted me the schedule.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything.The silence is killing me.
“Maybe you should write a tell-all that you dated me to write an exposé,” I say.
“I’m not going to lie to my audience,” Maddie says.“I’ve learned my lesson.Plus, we promised to be nice to each other if we break up.”
There it is.It’s out in the open now.But she doesn’t look any happier about it than me.
We finish our hot chocolates in silence and bundle up to go back outside in the frigid air.
As we push open the door, the wind practically shuts it back in our faces.I push it harder.The wind and door are metaphors for our lives right now.We can push through these headwinds.
I pull Maddie close to me as we hunch over to shield our faces from the biting wind.We make it to the subway entrance.Everyone looks cold and wet on the platform.My phone beeps.
It’s a text from my producer.
Ashley:They insist you break up.They’re offering the Governor’s Ball in June and the following gigs for you.But only if you break up.
“Your face went white,” Maddie says.“What does the text say?”
I turn my phone off.“Nothing.My face was already white from the cold.”
“Let’s break up,” Maddie says.
My heart falls to my feet.
