Page 45 of My Rock Star Neighbor
Should I tell Maddie not to look at the comments?I don’t want her feeling hurt.But if I tell Maddienotto look at the comments, then I fear her reporter instincts will take over and she’ll think they’re bad and she needs to look at them.
“Nick!”Maddie walks up, smiling.She puts her bag down and opens her parka for a minute to take out the pen recorder.I take a moment to appreciate Maddie dressed up in wide-legged black pants and her tailored black jacket.She usually wears jeans or yoga pants and a sweater, so I’m guessing she wants to look more imposing to this guy.But other than that, her eyes are bright and open, unclouded by doubts or pain.Not like yesterday.Even at the restaurant we all went to for dinner after the panel, she seemed relaxed and over it.But I didn’t imagine her freezing—or how tightly she gripped my hand.
Maddie offers me her hand, and I hold it.She pulls it into one of her huge pockets.“Your hand looks cold.”
“I forgot my gloves at home.”Maddie’s hands are so soft and tiny.I should forget gloves more often.“Are you sure my hand isn’t too cold?”
“Yes,” she says.
“Looking stylish,” I say.
“A leather jacket?”she asks.We walk briskly towards the bar, which is several blocks away.“I didn’t even know you owned a leather jacket.Are you trying to blend in?”
“Every rock star wannabe owns a leather jacket.And yes, I thought it might be best to try to blend in.You obviously decided to go with the opposite approach.”I sweep my hand to indicate Maddie’s pantsuit.
“I thought it best to remind him I work for a reputable paper,” she says.
“I agree with that approach,” I say, regretting that I didn’t also wear a suit.“I didn’t know this was the Strangelove dress code.”
“You’re the muscle, so you’re perfect.”She winks at me.
Something melts within me.
I pull out my phone.“You need to say that again so I can record it.”
She shakes her head, and her ponytail swings behind her head.“Nope.”
“But don’t worry, I’m still wearing sneakers in case we have to make a fast getaway,” she says.“Here we are.”
A red neon lightSTRANGELOVE BARsign blinks on and off, as if it’s conserving energy to keep going for another night.The two windows are grimy, so we can’t see the interior.
When we walk inside, it’s practically pitch-black, and the walls are covered in graffiti.Not only the walls, but every available surface—the chairs, tables, and even the cash register.The musty smell doesn’t help either.Nor does the headless mannequin also covered in graffiti stationed at the end of the long bar.
Maddie stops briefly next to me.“I think my heel just caught on some sticky spilled beer.”
“You always take me to the nicest places for our dates,” I say, teasing.
“Not everyone can find the types of places where we can date without your fans catching us,” Maddie says.
“I hope these are my fans—and not my anti-fans.”I stare at the two big, tattooed guys at the bar.They thankfully ignore us, more focused on their shot glasses.Another man is slumped with a drink next to the mannequin.He raises his head to call for a refill.
The only other customer is sitting at the very last table in the back and dressed in black, barely visible, except that someone opens the bathroom door next to him and the light reveals his hunched-over shape.
“I’m going to ask Luca for the spray next time I see him,” I whisper to Maddie.
“Is now a good time to tell you I forgot to bring it?”Maddie asks.
“No.Not a good time,” I say.What do I have?Me, my phone, my whistle, and my backpack with Maddie’s gift and probably guitar picks.But I thought Maddie’s bag had everything.Should I call Luca or Mr.Muscle and see if they know any security guys in the neighborhood?
“Just kidding,” she says.
Maddie strides up to the table with her hand out.I actually don’t like shaking hands anymore.I thought I had it tough shaking fans’ hands, but this is a whole other level.
The man half-rises to shake her hand but keeps his cap low on his head, hiding his face.
“Who’s your friend?”he asks in a gravelly voice that sounds as if it’s been burned by years of smoking.“I thought you were coming alone.”
“My boyfriend,” Maddie says brightly.“We’re having dinner after this.I haven’t been to this bar or area before, so I thought I might as well check out the neighborhood.”She looks around as if we’re having tea at The Plaza.“He can sit at another table if you want.”
