Behind the Mask: A Rockstar Romance(20)

“I haven’t received one dime since I started working with you. Yes, I sleep here, but I made sure you all get up from your drunken nights to attend your interviews, your concerts, your recording sessions. It’s me. I don’t even get a thank you.” Tears fall down my cheeks.

“You should have said you weren’t getting paid,” she says matter-of-factly like it’s my fault.

“I shouldn’t have had to. You should have made sure I was as I’m your little sister. But did I complain? No. You are my family. I want to stay with you and as long as I have a roof over my head and food in my belly I’m fine. We grew up loving music. Mom and Dad always said we were made to shine, to play to the world. You got your dream. I just want to experience it. Only for a little while.” I walk past her out the door, tears falling quickly, and it hurts more that she isn’t even trying to follow me.

I turn the corner when I almost fall back landing on my ass when a pair of arms grab hold of my waist, steadying me. By the tingles that are rising up my arms I know it’s Nate who caught me, which means he heard every word I said.

“You okay?” he asks me, concerned. I step out of his touch as I find it hard to think when his arms are around me.

“I’m okay.” I walk around him down the hall, wanting to reach the movie room. I want to get sucked into a comedy to cheer myself up.

“I heard what you said.”

I inwardly groan. “I’m sure you did,” I answer back, not stopping. He strides to my side.

“You haven’t gotten paid not even once?”

I shake my head and turn to see him rub the back of his neck, making his arm bulge. When he looks at me my cheeks blush, so I look away.

“I know you do a lot for your sister and for us all. I have lost count on how many times you have put all our drunken asses into bed.” We both chuckle.

“It can be funny at times. You all do talk honestly when drunk.” I give him a cheeky smile and he groans.

“Please don’t tell me that I have said stupid stuff.”

I wish I could say that he is actually really nice to me when drunk, very open, but I don’t.

“Now that would be telling.”

He laughs. “I still can’t believe you at today’s auditions. You were so good. It’s crazy thinking I have been around you for so many years and I didn’t even know you could play.”

I shrug. This is probably the longest conversation we have had.

For him being sober.

“I’m full of secrets.” I’m not, but it felt right to say.

He smiles at me. “I bet. So, what are you doing now?”

I stop walking and face him, biting my lip. I notice his eyes go to my mouth before he looks at the ground then back up at me.

“I am going to watch a few movies in the movie room. You can join me if you like.” I put my arms behind my back, holding on to my fingers as I wait for his answer when we hear Troy walking up the stairs.

“Nate man, I just scored us two blond hotties.”

Behind him two girls with very long legs smile sweetly in our direction.

“Hey, kiddo, please cover your ears,” he jokes. “They are willing to do anything, and I mean anything.”

I look at Nate and see his eyes on them.

“I will let you go and have some, umm, fun,” I stutter over my words.

“He will. Come on, man.” Troy heads to the girls, whispering something in their ears, making them giggle.

“Rain check?” he asks me.

“Of course.” I put on a fake smile and he jogs over to Troy and the girls and wraps his arm over one’s shoulder, saying something into her neck. I watch them head down the hall, a little disappointed.

What did I truly expect?

Him to choose me over Miss Long Legs?

I laugh to myself as I head to the movie room. Going through the bookshelf of DVDs, I pick a few Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell ones. I know their films will make me laugh. I am settling into my seat, a blanket over me when my phone rings. I see the caller ID showing Naomi.

“Aren’t you sick of me yet that you need to call me?” I laugh.

“What can I say, I miss you when you leave me.” We both chuckle.

“What’s up?”

“I wanted to know if you saw Troy yet and if he asked about me or asked about the whipped cream?” She giggles.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but right now he is probably inside a very beautiful blonde.” I tuck my legs under me.

“That sucks. Kind of hoped I made an impression today.”

I can imagine her pouting right now.

“I told you he is a player. He has an attention span of a two-year-old when it comes to women. But you aren’t alone. He brought one for Nate also.” I look up at the ceiling.

“I hate that we crush on men we can’t have. We need to move on.”

I laugh out loud. We have always said we are going to move on, but we never do.

“You know that isn’t happening anytime soon. All I have to do is hear Nate sing and I turn into a puddle of goo and all Troy has to do is give you a smile and you are willing to kiss his feet.”

I hear her groan. “You are right. We are pathetic. If I knew the money wasn’t good and that I wouldn’t miss you, I would quit and leave.”