Behind the Mask: A Rockstar Romance(55)

“Star wants to say that she will be fine, but last night’s events have affected her. She is hurting, but she will be okay.”

We continue walking until we are in the limo. I am glad that Nate isn’t here. I can’t even look at him without feeling the gut-wrenching hurt that he invokes in me.

I slept in the limo all the way to the next venue. Nate must be on the tour bus, but the guys wanted to stay at my side. I wake up again to someone shouting. I open my eyes to see an angry Sam on the phone.

“I don’t care. If she plays in any of our shows we walk. Do you realize what you have done? All for what? A bit of publicity? If she plays we will tell the media that because of you, Blair got put into the hospital.” There’s a pause. “Good.” He hangs up. “Christal won’t be touring with us.”

I sag in relief.

“Way to go, Sam.” Troy claps his shoulder.

“If Jeff were here, I would punch him,” Sam says bitterly.

We talk about everything apart from music, laughing and joking until we get to our next venue, and I look out the window, seeing the bus. I don’t want to go in, but my stuff is in there. Tegan helps me out and once we get on, I notice it’s empty.

Maybe Nate is giving me space.

It is the least he could do.

I grab a shower and dress in skinny jeans and a black T-shirt. I’m not in the mood to dress up. I groan when I smell something familiar. I shriek when I see Jack. I run into his arms and he spins me around.

“What are you doing here?”

“Sam here called me saying you deserve some of my food. Plus, I heard what happened. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He hugs me again.

“Thank you for coming.” I sit in the booth and he sits opposite, taking food out of the bags, passing it around. When he passes me a panini I literally groan out loud, causing him to laugh.

“You enjoying it?”

“More than you know.”

We catch up until it’s time to head to the venue. I link my arm with Jack, Naomi linking with my other arm.

“It’s so great to see you,” I say to him when we reach my dressing room.

“It is great seeing you, but I have to admit hearing Sam’s voice on the phone was so unreal.”

I see a blush form on his cheeks.

“I wish I recorded it.” He shakes his head. Something in my head clicks.

“Jack, do you like Sam?”

Naomi’s mouth falls open. “Holy shit, are you gay?” Naomi whisper-shouts.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“No. I even tried to get our girl here to get with you,” Naomi says.

“I like men, yes.” He laughs. “Would have been flattered if you did ask me.” He gives me a wink.

“Something we have in common, Jack. I love men. So anyway, you’re into our Sam?” We all turn when we spot Sam and Troy walking in the building. Jack’s eyes go straight to him.

“Sam,” I call over. Jack has a panicked look on his face.

“Everything okay?” He comes over, looking at me with concern.

“Jack wants to ask you out on a date.”

Jack looks at me, but I stay focused on Sam, who looks at Jack up and down.

“I would love to,” Sam says, causing Jack to open and close his mouth like a fish.

“Yeah... umm… great… a date,” he stumbles over his words, making Sam smile bigger.

“Call me.” Sam winks at him before heading to the guys’ changing room.

“Holy shit, I have a date with Sam Winters.” Jack beams at me.

I open my mouth to say something else when I see a panicked looking Travis running my way. “No one has seen Nate and you are all meant to go on in five minutes.”

“I’m sure he will be around here somewhere,” I tell him.

“No one has seen him. Rich said he got in a cab and hasn’t come back.”

Okay, it’s time to panic. What does Nate think he’s doing? “I’ll call him.” I grab my phone, my heart in my throat when I hear it ringing but no answer.

“Fuck,” I say.

“What are you going to do?” Jack asks me.

“I don’t know.” I bite my lip. “Where’s Tegan?”

“She’s at the stage area,” Travis says and I run that way. She will know what to do. When I spot her, she looks at us all, lines forming on her forehead.

“What the fuck now?”

“Nate is gone and we are meant to go on in less than five minutes,” I explain to her.

“Shit.” Tegan starts biting her nails. “You will have to sing alone.” She grabs hold of my shoulders.

Is she nuts?

“I can’t go out there. What if I mess up?” I press my hand to my chest. I just came out of the hospital and I feel like I have to go back in.

“You won’t mess up. Remember what Mom and Dad always said. You have a voice that will touch many. It’s just one time. One time for you to stand out there and let them all see you, to hear your voice. Please do this.”

“Only if you get to play too.” I give her a knowing look. She looks to me confused. “I know your hand is fine. You wouldn’t have been able to do what you did to Christal if your hand was still healing. I saw the videos.” She looks down. “Why didn’t you tell me?”