I quietly said goodbye to Aspen, who made me want to be a stronger woman within a few minutes of talking to her, and slipped out the door.
I stood outside the elevator, willing the doors to open for a speedy escape, when he called for me.
“Nova.”
The rasp of my name on his lips slipped down my spine, nicking my heart on the way to my core. I hated the juxtaposition of the feeling.
“Can we talk?” he asked, coming up beside me.
I kept my eyes glued to the ascending numbers, too scared to look at him this closely. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Yes, there is,” he growled.
“Well, we’ll have plenty of time to talk in a few days.”
God bless, the doors opened, and I darted in, finally lifting my gaze to his now that escape stood within reach—only to watch him step in right beside me.
“What are you doing?” I almost screeched.
“Forcing you to listen.”
God, he was tall. I forgot how he’d made me feel petite next to him despite my height. Add in the brawn that all the guys seemed to have packed on, and he took up more space than just the breadth of his body. It made me want to reach out and feel the changes along with seeing them.
And it pissed me off.
I jutted my chin up and faced forward. “I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate you cornering another girl.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
I snorted. “You’ve already lied once, Parker. Doing it again just lets me know how stupid you think I am.”
“I’m serious. Sonia isn’t my girlfriend. She’s…she’s…”
His hands waved around as if hoping to conjure an answer with magic, and I held my breath, hoping for the magic of a rational answer. Maybe it was all a silly mistake, and we could fix this.
“She’s a contract. We set up a deal to act as a couple when it benefitted us and our jobs. The fans like thinking the songs are about her, and she likes a date with a famous rock star to keep her in the headlines.”
I watched in the blurred reflection of the doors as my face screwed up, mulling over his answer. He said it like it all made sense, but it only served to strike another chord.
“So, not your girlfriend? Just a pretend one?”
“Exactly,” he said, relieved.
“And you…what? Wanted me to come to your shows and look like the other woman? Is that why you asked me to come?”
“No. No. I wanted to see you. I don’t—I don’t want to do the thing with Sonia anymore, and I didn’t want to do the kiss at midnight, but Aspen cornered me and ignored my request. She made it happen, quoting the contract and how I had a job to do.”
Each word weighed on me a little more until I was sure I stood in quicksand. “And what would you do if someone took a picture of me with you, and Aspen said it was your job to let them paint me as the other woman?”
“I-I would—”
He floundered, and it reminded me of the few times I could remember my mom pressing my dad for details and only getting excuses of doing it for the job. It reminded me of the phone call when he stuttered through an excuse of why he couldn’t come home for the fourth time when he promised this time he would.
There was always a reason. And that reason was never me.
Thankfully, the door slid open, and I walked out.
“I wouldn’t let them paint you in a bad way, Nova,” he called to my retreating back.
I stopped and turned, realizing how right I was to not let my guard down and remembering to not do it again while on tour.
“I need someone who wouldn’t hesitate to even answer. Not someone who can’t even defend the theoretical me, because Parker, for men like you, it always comes down to the job. It always comes down to doing what you need to do to make it one step further. I’m more than a stepping stone.”
“I know that, and I intend to prove it.”
Finally, his jaw clamped shut, but the look in his eyes screamed determination. Well, he could be as determined as he wanted, I wasn’t giving in. With a skeptical smile, I turned. “I’ll see you next week, Parker.”
As soon as I made it to the subway, I got out my phone.
Me: You will never believe who just hired me to write songs with.
Rae: NO!!
Me: Fucking. Yes.
Vera: What did you say??
Me: Well, you just don’t say no to that kind of money. Instead, you shove those feelings down and do your job.
Rae: Sounds super healthy.
Me: 100%. Therapist recommended.
Vera: Cool. Let me know how that goes.
Me: Will do.
Me: Also, will you come help me pack?
Rae: Hell yeah! I’m bringing clothes over. We need you looking extra hot on this trip.