All Stars Fall (Seaside Pictures #3.5)(22)

But I was frustrated.

Frustrated that Drew was right.

Frustrated that he saw right through it all.

Frustrated that Trevor was the kind of guy who would stay in a perpetual state of sexual frustration before acting on anything.

“I need a drink,” he finally muttered before leaving me standing there, alone and wondering where it all went wrong between the hand holding and the arguing.

Stewing, I sat on the nearest chair, only to have Will plop right down next to me. How was this my life? That the lead singer, one of the most famous guys in the world, was suddenly sitting next to me eating potato chips and shooting the breeze. I mean, I’d been surrounded by a lot of these guys but this was next level.

All of them were A list.

Every last one.

No B list allowed, it seemed.

“So,” Will exhaled. “All I’m going to say is this, he feels everything.”

“What?” I craned my neck.

Will was wearing glasses, which just added to the GQ effect of his tight ripped jeans and black tank. He had bracelets wrapped around each wrist and a wedding ring on his left ring finger. It was the only part about him that looked domesticated. The guy had gone into hiding it seemed and then came back on the scene with his entire band spouting out Grammys like they’d never taken any time off, except to turn into men with muscles and killer smiles.

The world wasn’t ready.

I wasn’t ready.

“Trevor.” Will leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “He feels everything. Most musicians do. I swear none of us can even have a crush without falling so hard that it’s almost embarrassing. It’s all or nothing with us, we all grew up on the road, didn’t experience life the way normal people do. When we dated, it was almost always famous people who wanted something from us. Normal was crashing someone’s prom for a TV show, normal was finishing high school on a tour bus, normal was snorting cocaine before the show so we didn’t fall asleep on stage. What I’m saying is, he doesn’t react the same way a normal guy would because he’s not normal. None of us are, and if you think we are, then you’re lying to yourself. You’ve known Linc for a while, you’ve known Alec and Demetri just as long. You forget how famous they are because they’re like family. You’re in this little cocoon of Seaside or, what was it? Wyoming? Montana?”

I made a face.

He just laughed. “Walk down the street with him, just once. Not during the morning when everyone is still getting up, but at night, rush hour, watch the stares he gets, the pictures people ask to take. His life isn’t his own. And the sick part is that he’s right in the middle of one of the biggest divorce scandals to hit Hollywood, and you’re sitting there wondering why he can’t just step out on a ledge and do more than hold your hand—”

“I wasn’t…” Shame washed over me. Because he was right.

“All it takes is one picture of holding your hand and you’re in this, and he’s known you what? A few days? And you want him to do something stupid like ask you on a date? We aren’t all Drew.”

I smiled at that. “Drew seems the most carefree.”

“Because he’s in the most pain.” Will looked away. “I know we don’t know each other, I just didn’t want you to think it was you or that there was anything wrong with you. This is a legit not-you-but-him scenario. Do yourself a favor, all right?”

“What?” I leaned forward.

“Just be there for him. Watch the kids, make sure they don’t set you on fire like the last one, and be there for him. And if you like Drew, go out with Drew. Nobody’s stopping you.”

“But Trevor said—”

“Trevor’s still in love with his ex-wife,” Will said softly. “She’s the mother of his children, and it’s been a year. If you like Drew, go out with him. And let Trevor just…figure his shit out.”

“So basically you’re explaining to me in the kindest way that you can—”

“It won’t work, not right now, Penelope.”

“You’re the oldest, aren’t you?” I smiled over at him. “Like the patriarch of the band?”

“Patriarch makes me sound old. Do I really look that old?” He grinned.

I burst out laughing. “No, if anything, it’s like you guys are aging backwards.”

“Happens when you make a deal with a vampire.” He stood, and then leaned over and kissed me on the top of my head. “For what it’s worth, I think you’d be exactly what he needs.”

“But?”

“But.” He shrugged. “Timing’s a real bitch.”

“Yeah,” I croaked.

And locked eyes with Trevor as he took a swig of beer. He didn’t look away, just stared me down like he could see my soul.

Seconds later, Drew was blocking my view of Trevor, and he was grinning like he already knew what I was going to say.

“Let me guess, you changed your mind?” He tilted his head with a beautiful smile spreading across his face.

“Maybe.” My eyes narrowed. “But just as friends.”

His face fell.

“You do know what that is right?”

“You’re killing me.”

“You’ll be fine.” I patted him on the shoulder. “Besides, you don’t want me.”