Rock All Night(46)

“Your deal sucks.”

“If you don’t like it, leave. I’m sure you’ve got enough to write something for Rolling Stone.”

“Why are you being such an *?”

“I’m not. You’re acting all entitled, like our past history gives you permission to act any f*ckin’ way you want.”

“That’s not true.”

“Looks that way from where I’m standing.”

“I just want you to not be a dick about it.”

“If you don’t like it, leave,” he repeated.

“That’s all you’ve got to say?”

He leaned over slowly, and got right in my face – so close I could smell the scotch on his breath.

I was a little intimidated, truth to tell, but I stayed there nose-to-nose with him. No f*cking way I was backing down.

And if I’m telling the entire truth, I was also half-expecting him to kiss me… which made my heart race even more.

“Did you change your mind from last night?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I snapped.

He smirked. “Then that’s all I’ve got to say.”

He stood up and walked away.

GOD I hated him.

And wanted him more than ever, for reasons beyond my understanding.





33




Irvine was like the night before, except on a smaller scale.

There were a few differences. For one, Ryan’s family wasn’t in attendance. For another, the concert was at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, which is what its name suggests: an amphitheater outdoors. There’s the main stage, then a lot of chairs arranged in stadium seating with an aluminum roof high overhead. Beyond the seats is a wide open grassy area where people sit on lawn chairs or blankets. So the evening was going to basically be an outdoor concert.

But other than that, it was mostly the same.

The bus arrived shortly before six. The band got off and waved to a bunch of screaming fans, signed a few autographs, then went to the stage. Sound check, with Miles running around screaming at people. Dressing rooms, where a ton of food (including a platter of Big Macs and a bowl of one third red M&M’s, two thirds orange) was waiting. Mike was already there, chowing down on filet mignon tidbits.

“You’re still here,” he said with fake surprise.

“Yup.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t said something ‘reporter-y’ yet and pissed Derek off enough to throw you out.”

Little did he know.

“Guess it helps you’re a hot chick,” he laughed.

I wanted to be irritated with him, but, again… little did he know.

The opening band was already there, too. This time it was a girl with blue hair and tats, and a bunch of skinny guys with long hair in their eyes. They gushed effusively, Derek was super-friendly, a good time was had by all.

Except me.

The chick with the blue hair was pretty damn good-looking, and she and Derek were awful friendly as they compared tattoos. She even pulled her shirt up to show him the dragon that curled from her hip on one side all the way around to her collarbone on the other.

She wasn’t wearing a bra, FYI. She had enough decency to cover her left nipple with her hand… but she didn’t leave much to the imagination.

Of course, Derek did her the courtesy of stripping down half naked (just like he had for me back in the gyro place in Athens) and showing her the intricate designs on his back.

The green-eyed monster gnawed at my guts a little more.

Another minor twist: Riley was actually friendly. Probably because of the half-topless lead female singer. Riley came over with her Jack Daniels bottle and they all ended up doing shots. And then Killian offered them a toke, and eeeeeeeverybody was having a good old time.

Except me.

And Ryan, I suppose. He smiled and laughed along, but he seemed like he was kind of out of place. At one point he even looked over their heads and caught my eye, and raised his eyebrows with a smile – like, Oh well, gotta play the part.

I smiled back at him, then went back to silently seething.

It didn’t get any better. Several fairly famous actresses popped by, a couple of big rock names, at least one rap star – and they were all fawning over Derek. He was eating it up, telling stories, making everybody laugh, being the star of the show before he even set foot onstage.

It all came so naturally to him. He was in his element: putting on a performance, no matter how big the audience.

For the first time, I actually started to feel down. Like, How can I compete with that? I’m not like that… I’m not a part of his world…

And then I remembered, the whole point of what happened last night was that I wasn’t going to be part of that world. I chose not to be one more lay in his long line of conquests.

Still… I was feeling kind of depressed.

The opening act went on, slightly stoned and drunk. Riley fixed her mohawk with some styling gel, Killian doodled on his guitar, Ryan went through his pre-show ritual of stressing out… and Derek flirted continuously with the steady stream of hot chicks parading backstage.

At one point, I realized my jaw hurt from clenching it so hard.

Why are you being like this? I reprimanded myself. Stop being pathetic!

Easier said than done when you’re watching the hot guy you want get hit on by a dozen totally gorgeous models.