Page 111 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“You know I’m still in love with my ex-girlfriend.You also knew I was in a relationship when you tried to kiss me last time.”
“Okay, get a little closer,” the photographer says.
“What is that smell?”She gags.
I stifle a chuckle.I was taking no chances this time.“I didn’t shower after last night’s performance.And I just ran six miles on the treadmill in the gym in these clothes.”And then to make sure she didn’t try to kiss me again, I saved all of my bandmates’ sweaty T-shirts from after last night’s performance and borrowed some sweat-soaked gym rat’s shirt and rubbed them on me right before I showed up here.I smell awful.I’m only bearing it because I don’t want any pictures of the two of us remotely close to each other.People were clearing away from me as I passed through the hallway to get here.
“Ugh.You really smell,” she says.“And not in a good way.”
“Alright, put your arm around her,” the photographer says to me.
“Don’t,” she says.“Don’t you dare.What if I were to smell like you?”She scoots away.Far away.
I put out my arms, as if to give her a hug, and almost gag at the smell from my underarms.Whew.Rank.
“You need to be next to him.I can’t take you halfway across the room,” the photographer says.
“No.Forget it.He looks like crap.No one is going to believe this.”She storms out.
“I hope you got the shot of us on separate sides of the room,” I say.“I think that tells its own story.”
“MusEn is not going to be happy,” the photographer says.
“Maybe not, but MusEn is happy right now with how we’re climbing the charts.”It was true.Two of our singles were in the top ten.And I was giving every performance my all.
I was not meeting fans, though.But that was not a clause in my contract.If they wanted to add that, I had some changes too.We were at a stalemate.But I was not going to be canceled that easily.We’d kept most of our catalogue when we’d negotiated our contract, only agreeing to do a specified number of songs on an album for MusEn.Our backlist was picking up steam on Spotify and other services too.
Some fans had also come out in favor of my dating Maddie, saying I had looked happy with her and that I should be allowed to date who I want.
Tonight, I’m playing “Breaking My Heart.”It’s not in our rotation, and MusEn doesn’t know, but I don’t care.It’s the song I wrote in the apartment, listening to Maddie cry next door.I wanted to hug her so badly and tell her not to cry—that I would change the narrative.Maddie is the only one for me.
But first, I need a shower.I put on my sunglasses, a bulky sweatshirt, and a droopy hat and leave.As I enter the elevator, all the other occupants flee.
Maybe I should ask YouTube woman if she wants to meet.I guarantee that would be the last time she would want to be near me, I think as I chuckle.
Chapter thirty-six
Maddie
Mycellphonebuzzes,and it’s an unknown number.I ignore it.If it’s not a spam call, it might be an angry fan.Although at this point, I’m almost tempted to pick up and chew them out.I miss Nick, even though it’s only been a week.Honestly, every day does feel like it’s endless.I’m just surviving, trying to get through the hours until I can return to my bed and sleep my heartache away.Maybe it was the wrong decision.But Nick’s singles keep climbing the charts, and his songs are getting more and more playtime.It saved his career, and that makes me happy.
The blinking cursor taunts me as I think about how to describe where to get the best hot chocolate after ice skating—another one of the thrilling articles Hayden has assigned me while I’m on probation.My office desk phone rings, and I pick it up.
An unknown voice says, “Will you hold for Twyla Jackson?”
“Yes!”I say, shocked.
After a moment, her well-known voice fills my ear.“Hi, Maddie.”She continues before I can speak.“I wanted to interview you—about the story you broke about the corruption at the Infrastructure Department.”
“You do?”I felt like I was box office poison.Yet, Twyla Jackson wants to interview me?
“You’re getting a raw deal,” Twyla says.“You broke a major story about corruption in city government, and you’re on probation?Because you signed a contract to date someone for three months, with mutual consent to any physical contact, and you fell in love?Ridiculous.”
When she puts it like that, itisridiculous.
“How did you know I was on probation?”I ask.
“I’m a news reporter,” Twyla says.“Can you come onSpill the Teatomorrow morning?Reading your article was like being immersed in a detective story.It was compelling writing.It will be fun to discuss.”
