Page 26 of My Rock Star Neighbor
But José and Amira are taking this much more seriously now that MusEn is doing a vanishing act.
“Amira, you must have some idea of how he can persuade Maddie to date him—as a woman,” José says.
“Because all women are the same,” Amira says sarcastically.“What does she like?”
“What she wants is a breakthrough in her investigation, but I don’t know how I can help with that.I have all her usual favorite things here.Gourmet cat food for Sherlock, new pens, a new notebook, and dumplings.Plus, peanut M&M’s for those nights when she doesn’t have time to eat.”
“That’s really good,” Amira says.“I’m impressed.”
“Still, I thought she’d do this as a friend,” I say.
My phone rings.It’s Maddie.I pick up.
“Okay,” she says.“But I have some additional terms I want in the contract.”
I punch the air.“Yes!”
“I’m coming upstairs now,” she says.
“She said yes, and she’s coming home now.You guys should go,” I say.
“There’s only one way out,” José says.“We’ll have to pass her.”
“That’s good.It’s not only Nick’s career at stake,” Amira says.“What should we plan for your couple debut?”
“That’s too soon.Let Maddie call the shots,” I say.
Amira and José grab their stuff.
“Don’t say anything about our couple debut,” I say to them.“You might make her change her mind.”
They rush out the door as I stand there waiting in the doorway with my bag of gifts and the dumplings.
I hear them saying “thank you” to Maddie on the stairs and Maddie demurring that it’s fine.
It’s more thanfine.It’s a huge frickin’ deal.
Maddie comes into view, and I want to hug her.The rush of emotion I feel is insane.It’s relief, right?
She smiles at me, and it’s her usual open smile that makes me relax when I see it.
“Thanks again.”I hand her all my gifts.“I bought these to help persuade you.”
“Dumplings?Yummy.”She looks inside the other bag of gifts.Her eyes light up as she views its contents.“It’s scary how well you know me.But you might not thank me when you hear my terms.”She puts the two bags behind her back.“But you can’t have these back.”
“I’ve already conceded that I’ll do what you want.”
She passes by me to unlock her door, and I smell the fresh peony scent of her hair.That fragrance is now the title of one of my songs.
She clears the table of papers and her laptop as Sherlock winds around my legs.
“I’ll give Sherlock this gourmet food,” I say, opening the can.
“You’ve corrupted my cat,” she says as she re-heats the dumplings.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” I say over my shoulder as I reach for some plates.Maddie has bright, colorful plates Our apartments have a similar layout, so I know my way around her apartment like I know my own—except that mine is filled with guitars and other instruments and has a separate bedroom.And my plates are chipped relics from my childhood that my mom gave me when she moved upstate.
“Hit me with your terms, Maddie Hughes.”
