Behind the Mask: A Rockstar Romance(25)

I start putting my new clothes and makeup away when I realize I must have left my phone downstairs. Walking down, I hear Rich and Gav pissting at me.

“Hey, guys.” I smile at them.

“Damn, girl, you clean up real nice. I guess we are now watching after that ass of yours.” Rich smiles at me.

“I am sure you watched my ass way before now.” I cross my arms; both their eyes go to my cleavage. I look down to see I’ve pushed up my cleavage, giving them a good eyeful, so I quickly drop my arms. “My eyes are here, boys.” I point to my eyes and they both look up.

“We are men at the end of the day, but damn, you look good. Ten out of ten.” Gav winks at me.

“Thanks, boys. Remember to be good.” I hear them laugh as I head to the kitchen, grabbing my phone and walking back up the stairs. I roll my eyes when I hear them whistle behind me.





I wake up to an amazing smell. I sit up, wondering when I fell asleep. I was watching the remake of Dirty Dancing and I must have been more tired than I thought. I see Naomi sorting something out at my desk.

“Hey,” I say groggily. I just pray I didn’t ruin my hair or makeup or I would seriously kick myself.

“Hey, sweetie, I got you a panini and a coffee to give you some energy.” She holds it out for me. I swear this girl is amazing.

“You are a godsend.” I stand up, grabbing the coffee first and taking a sip. So good.

“I know.” She sits on the chair at the desk, drinking her own coffee. “Are you ready for the interview?”

I sigh, sitting back on the bed. “Not really. I’m just happy I don’t have to talk or then I would panic.”

“Yeah, you just need to sit there and look pretty.” She winks at me.

I am worried about the fans. I have seen some crazy girls and I hope I don’t get any of the crazy. I already have one mean sister, I don’t need a pack of them with the same views of Tegan ganging up on me.

Once I finish my food and drink Naomi touches up my makeup and hair. I look in the mirror, smiling at my reflection.

I really do look different.

“Don’t forget the mask.” Naomi hands it to me.

I take it off her, feeling over the lace, remembering Nate doing the same thing. I look back into the mirror, placing the mask on, and in a strange way, it completes the look. It makes me look exotic.

“I can’t wait for the world to see you. This is your time to shine.” Naomi shrieks behind me.

My time to shine. I repeat the words.

We leave my room when we hear Troy yelling out to us. I take a deep breath and follow Naomi to the front door. Troy’s eyes are on Naomi and I inwardly groan. I need to remember to tell her what happened after she left.

Sam is smiling sweetly at me. Tegan looks like she could rip my hair out. Nate’s intense gaze is on me. I look at Rich and Gav, and even though they are trying to stay serious and professional, I see them giving me a small smile.

“Right, let’s go show my girl off.” Naomi links her arm through mine, heading outside.

I smile when I see Max, and I almost laugh when he sees me.

“Max, look at our little girl. All grown up.” Naomi pretends to wipe a tear.

She really is rubbing off on me.

“You scrub up real nice, Blair. I wouldn’t think it was you under that mask.” He gives me a fatherly hug.

“Thank you, Max.” I give him a huge, warm smile.

He does a little bow, opening the door. Naomi and I climb in, watching the others follow suit. We head to a hotel that I know celebrities go to for privacy and away from the public eye.

I’m really doing this. I press my hand against my chest.

I think now it’s really starting to sink in.

I’m going to be in the band Blacken Hart.

I can feel the heat rising, my heart hammering against my chest. I feel like I can’t breathe. I need to get out of the limo. Naomi is flirting with Troy, who is sitting opposite us. I open my mouth to say something when I feel a little faint, then I see Nate taking a seat next to me, holding my hand.

I look to our entwined fingers, then at his eyes and he is watching me.

“Keep looking at me,” he says in a soothing voice, and I do. “Keep watching me and don’t look away.” He doesn’t need to say it twice.

I am lost in them.

In him.

His eyes stay focused on mine. Everything around me seeps away. It’s just him and me. My body calms down, and I keep looking until I hear a cough. Tegan is glaring at me. I see the others looking at us both.

“Are you okay, kiddo?” Troy asks me in concern. I look at Naomi.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know anything was wrong until I saw Nate take your hand. You looked so pale like you were about to pass out.” She looks at me with guilty, sad eyes.

“Don’t be silly. I’m okay.” I look at Nate then at our hands. “Thank you, Nate.” I give him a small smile.

“I told you she wasn’t going to hack it,” Tegan says angrily. “Let’s just end this shit.”

“It’s a bit too late for that, and besides, we go back on tour tomorrow. She is allowed to get a little anxious. She is getting thrown to the sharks.” Nate defends me.

“Whatever.” Is all she says and when the door opens, she can’t get out fast enough.