Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars(73)

A FEW OFFICERS had run off the reporters, but Sam warned Gemma they’d most likely lurk around town.

“Just call me if they bother you again, okay? Or if you need anything else,” Sam said.

“Thanks, Sam,” Gemma said as she closed the door after him. Sam’s concern was sweet, but she needed to fix things with Charlie. He still hadn’t come downstairs, not even to say hi to the officers, which wasn’t like him.

For the first time, she understood why her mom had kept her mouth shut until she could get her dad alone. Knowing Charlie had probably heard everything they’d said, things he hadn’t needed to hear, made her feel like the world’s worst parent. A good mom wouldn’t have flown off the handle in front of her child.

Walking into the kitchen, she splashed her face with warm water—trying to hide the tears she’d been fighting—and dried it on a towel. Making her way upstairs she called, “Charlie.”

He didn’t answer, and as she neared the door to his room, she said more firmly, “Charlie, you need to answer me. I know you’re angry, but I want to explain.”


She knocked again, and when he still didn’t answer, she turned the knob, opening the door quietly.

“Charlie?” She peeked inside, looking around the room, but he wasn’t there. The curtains of his window wafted in the breeze, and she ran toward them with a dreadful sense of foreboding.

Sticking her head out of the open window, she looked down and screamed.



TRAVIS’S PHONE RANG just as he was passing Mountain Home, and he held it up to see who it was. Gemma and Charlie’s smiling faces flashed across the screen, and he pressed reject. Whatever she had to say, she could leave it on his voice mail.

His message notification beeped, but he ignored it. Maybe, if he got to California a little early, George could arrange some interviews for him so he could at least clean up his reputation. He’d call Charlie when he reached the hotel and let him know he’d be back next week to see him. Right now, he needed space to think.

The phone rang again, and he shut it off.





Chapter Twenty-Four




* * *





GEMMA SAT NEXT to Charlie’s hospital bed, wiping at her tears and watching her baby sleep soundly. When the doctor had asked Charlie why he’d climbed out of the window, he hadn’t answered, but Gemma had had a feeling it was to get away from her. They’d been lucky he’d only fallen from the bottom branch of the tree and not from his window or it could have been worse than a broken arm and a mild concussion. The doctors had given him a sedative and wanted to watch him overnight, but they’d assured her that he was going to be okay.

“Gemma?” Gracie called from the doorway.

Gemma looked away from Charlie and asked, “Is Travis here?”

Gracie shook her head. “No. He hasn’t called back yet, but your mom’s on her way. Someone else is here, though.”

Gemma waited as Gracie waved whoever it was forward, and Mike came through the door with a wrapped gift in his hands, looking like he hadn’t slept.

“You look terrible,” Gemma said, only half joking.

Mike smiled a little as he came inside. “Yeah, drank a little too much last night.”

Gemma bit back a retort. It wasn’t her place to scold him, and she definitely shouldn’t be casting any stones at stupidity.

Silence stretched between them, and Mike cleared his throat. “How is he?”

“He’s okay. Going to have his arm in a cast for six weeks and a headache for a couple days, but he’ll make it,” she said, twisting her hands in front of her as she added, “I’m glad you came.”

Nodding toward Charlie, he said, “I couldn’t not come. I’ve been in his life since the day he was born. Just because we aren’t on the best of terms doesn’t mean I don’t love the hell out of Charlie.”

So many things went through her brain, but not one thought would form into words.

“Anyway, I brought him that new Wii game he’s been begging for, if you can make sure he gets it,” Mike said, setting the shiny package on the counter. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he added, “Look, Gemma, I’m sorry I was such a dick about the whole Travis thing. It’s none of my business what happens in your love life. I was just hurt and . . .”

Gemma couldn’t let him take all the blame. “You were right; I should have told you about what happened in Vegas. I took you for granted, and for that I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to use you, I was just afraid of losing you.” Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze and said, “We were friends before . . . do you think we could get back there?”

“I don’t know, Gemma. Maybe someday, but I think it’s going to take time and space. At least for right now.”

Reaching out, Gemma took his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Mike. For being my friend and for . . . for loving me. I can’t imagine it was easy, considering how messed up I am.”

Mike squeezed back. “Actually, you’re kinda easy to love, Gemma. It’s living without your love that’s hard.”

“Would it be too much to ask for a hug?” she asked, her voice choked with tears.

Without another word, he pulled her against him and just held her, like he’d done a hundred times before, and Gemma felt guilty, because deep down she wished it was Travis holding her instead.