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He lifts his eyebrow again. “What about Winston?”
“Winston’s nice. And he seems like a great guy. But Maddox is a great guy, too.”
My father looks Maddox up and down. “And you’re the DJ?” he asks, but it doesn’t come out like a question. It comes off almost as an insult. I’ve seen my father rude and impatient before, but it’s usually directed at others during business meetings. Never someone I introduce him to.
“He’s a musician.”
Maddox extends his hand toward my father, and I have to admit, I’m thrown for somewhat of a loop. If anything, I’d expect my father to be proper and Maddox to come off as the rude party.
“Make sure you’re not out too late,” my dad says, giving me a quick hug, then walking away.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I whisper, stepping closer to Maddox.
“I’m the King of Bad, remember? I’m used to getting those parental looks.”
“No, he’s never like that. I feel so embarrassed. Plus, he never, ever tells me to go home early. I don’t think he’s done that since I was thirteen.”
“I don’t care,” he whispers. His lips skim over my ear, and he wraps an arm around me. “Now I get to call you all mine.”
He keeps his arms around me, and I move mine over his shoulders. “Like I’m something to be claimed?” I tease with a smile.
“Like you’re something to be treasured,” he responds.
His lips meet mine, and I don’t care if it’s a cheesy line or not. I don’t care if we’re surrounded by a bunch of upper-class millionaires and executives only here to shake hands and make deals. I kiss him back like we’re alone, and I’m all that he wants right now because that’s how he’s making me feel.
I break away from him, believing his words but still with a pinch of hesitancy within. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I might start believing them and forget that I’m just another girl a rock star wants.”
A soft laugh floats out of him, and he shakes his head. “I don’t know any other way to tell you this, so I just have to repeat it.” His hands come up to my face, and his thumb brushes over my cheek. “Did I want to get your number the first time I talked to you? Sure. But you’re so much more than just another girl, Cece. I can’t explain it, and maybe that’s why you don’t believe it yet, but it’s true. You’re … not another girl. You’re the only girl.”
His eyes stay on me longer than necessary. As if he’s pleading with me to believe him, and I want to. Despite everything I know about him and the cocky rock star he’s known for, I believe him tonight. Holding and kissing me like I’m the only girl that matters to him.
I move to kiss him when we’re interrupted yet again, only this time it’s not my father.
“Maddox, who is this?”
“It’s the muse!”
I look over his shoulder and see Derrik Tyler and his sister, Jade.
“Muse?” I glance back at Maddox, confused.
To my surprise, his face turns beet red. “Would you shut up about the muse thing?”
Derrik does not shut up. As a matter of fact, he does the opposite. “Oh, yeah. Maddox here is writing songs about you, Cece. He’s getting all sappy over you and everything.”
Maddox’s stare burns a hole through his bandmate while Jade giggles. “Nice to finally meet you,” she says, extending her hand. “I’m Jade.”
“Cece,” I reply, but look back at Maddox, who’s shaking his bright red face, staring at the ground. “You write songs about me?”
“It’s not … I don’t …” He lets out a scoff, and the headshaking grows wilder. “I’m not writing songs about you. I just wrote this lyric and—”
“You totally inspired lyrics on our next record,” Derrik says through laughter.
“Derrik!” Maddox snaps.
