Page 30 of My Rock Star Neighbor
That’s sowholesome.Maddie and I have never watched a movie together.And the times when I’ve hooked up with someone in the past—before Christina’s tell-all—usually started in a bar, after a night of performing and then drinking in celebration.
I glance at Maddie.She’s nibbling her lip as Sherlock purrs in her lap.
Maddie is direct and can be so practical that I’ve always thought she was jaded about love and romance…
“Let me text Bella,” Maddie says.
“Okay, but it has to be realistic,” I say.I read one of Bella’s books after Maddie forced me to come to Bella’s book signing to make sure there were lots of people in the audience.(There were.I’d been impressed.) The romantic hero was perfect (or flawed only in the best ways) and definitely a man written by a woman.
“She says that it has to be that you sang me a song on the fire escape to tell me your feelings.”
“That works,” I say.“We can use ‘Together Forever.’”
Our walls are so thin that I would have heard if she’d brought someone home.Why isn’t she dating someone?I have my reasons for staying single.What are hers?
Chapter nine
Maddie
Nickholdsmyhandas we are escorted into the MusEn conference room to meet Ashley, the MusEn producer, and convince her that we’re dating.My stomach is doing somersaults.What if she doesn’t believe us?
“This is Maddie Hughes,” he says, and it feels like he says that with pride.“The woman I’m dating.My next-door neighbor.As I said over the phone.”
“He’s not dating the other woman,” I say.
Ashley narrows her eyes and tilts her head.“She’s definitely more in line with the band’s image.”
What does that mean?
Ashley says, “Down to earth, open, honest, and vulnerable.I definitely like thegirl next doorvibe.”
That wasn’t the image I’d thought I conveyed.I’d even dressed up for this meeting with a pants suit.But compared to YouTube woman, I’m definitely down to earth.
“How did you start dating?”
We share the story we prepared, and Nick seems to really enjoy embellishing it with tiny details from our real interactions.I can’t stop staring at him.He also explains how I used to complain about his playing late at night and so he’d dedicated a song to me.He ends with, “Maybe that was the start of my feelings.”
She snaps her finger.“This is great.We’ll run with this.You’ll need to go out tonight, and I’ll arrange for some photographers to capture it.”
“Do we need to identify Maddie?”Nick asks.“She’s a reporter, so she’d prefer not to be the story.It’s one of the reasons why we kept our relationship secret.”
“I doubt her name will remain secret, but we will try running with she’s not a celebrity, so please respect her privacy.That might be good.It might add a little mystery.And it will be a great contrast to this 'Cara.'It will show Maddie is not using you for added publicity.”
Now we’re having our first “date.”Although we discussed going to my favorite dumpling place around the corner from our apartments, Nick pointed out that we probably want to keep that place secret for us.I hadn’t thought of that.I am getting a new perspective on what it’s like to be a public person, and it’s not pretty.Ashley chose an already popular place that we wouldn’t normally visit.
We’re eating at a sophisticated restaurant in midtown with dim lighting and a brown and beige décor theme.It feels like we should whisper when we converse and that any loud laughter would be frowned upon.This issonot my life.
So far, there’s been no sign of any reporters or photographers.The meal is delicious.I ordered yellowtail snapper in a curry sauce with black rice.Nick had one bite of my dish and said we have to come back so he can order that next time.
“Do I get to ask my burning questions about you?”I ask.
“Only if I get to ask mine,” he says.
As if he has burning questions about me.
I agree.
“Why did you choose that photo of the bar Pickles as your first album cover?”I ask.
