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Could this day get any worse?
No sooner do I think the words than I bump into a tall figure exiting the building next to me.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” I say, the words coming out a little muffled and cracked from the emotion clogging my throat and streaming down my face.
“Becks?”
I vaguely recognize the voice, but it can’t be who I think it is. It can’t.
I look up into the familiar ocean-blue eyes of Trent Bridger, the lead singer of Rapturous Intent—the hottest band on the charts—my brother’s oldest friend, and the first boy I ever kissed.
So apparently this day can get worse.
3
My gaze slides over Becka Edmonson’s face, and I can feel the pull of the frown on my own at the sight of her tears.
“Becks? What’s wrong?”
I hate her tears, but it doesn’t diminish her beauty in the slightest. She’s just as gorgeous as always. Her coffee-brown hair spills over her shoulders and down just past her breasts, the lighter hues catching the light of the sun and making her hair look even more shiny and smooth than I remember it. Her curves seem fuller than they used to be, but she still looks trim and could easily pass for a model, not that she’d ever realize that. Becka never understood how beautiful she is, even when I’d watch the boys at school practically fall all over themselves for her attention.
She shakes her head and lets out a shuddering breath, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her shirt at the same time. She stares up at the sky and I swear I hear her mumbling “seriously” under her breath.
“Becka?” I prod, hoping she’ll finally answer me. She couldn’t possibly forget who I am. We grew up together, and her brother is still my friend. Hell, at one time she and I were great friends too. Will, Becks, and I used to get into all kinds of trouble growing up, riding our bikes through the neighborhood well into the nighttime hours, staying up late to catch fireflies, and when we were older sneaking out to steal sips of Tony Ramirez’s dad’s liquor.
She was even my first kiss, not that it was a great one for either of us. I’ll begrudgingly admit I had no idea what I was doing, and it was a lot more slobbery than it should’ve been. But that’s not what caused us to hang out less. At least I never attributed our faded friendship to that one kiss. It always just seemed like we went our own directions. But seeing her now takes me back once again to all those memories of the days before I was famous.
Her jade-green eyes are mesmerizing and heartbreaking at the same time. “Nothing. I’m fine. What are you doing here? I thought you’d be on tour already.”
My pulse speeds up in excitement that she’s followed my band. She knows I have an upcoming tour. I’m ashamed to admit I have no idea what she’s up to these days, but that’s beside the point.
“Nice deflection, but you forget I know you.” It’s been years since I’ve seen her, but that doesn’t change the fact that I knew her nearly as well as I know her brother Will. I arch my brow, daring her to argue with me. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”
She gestures behind me. “Were you going somewhere? I don’t want to hold you up.” I glance back to see what she’s looking at and realize she’s staring at my behemoth of a bodyguard.
“Oh, that’s just Chris, my bodyguard. Don’t worry about him.”
She stares at me like she wants to say something else, but instead her shoulders sag in defeat, and she gestures to the coffee shop I just walked out of. “Let’s at least sit. It’s been a long day, and I could really use a cup of coffee.” I open the door for her and follow her to a table in the back, while Chris sits at the table in front of us, his eyes cataloging every person in the room.
Becka watches him cautiously before turning to me. “Does he go with you everywhere?”
“Yep, pretty much. Definitely any time I’m in public. There was an incident about a year ago that got out of hand, and the rest of the band felt it safest if I had some kind of protection.”
“Do all the guys have bodyguards?”
“Not as regularly as I do. Being the lead singer brings with it a certain level of fame that none of us were prepared for. We always have extra security when we’re all together, but I’m the only one who regularly needs someone with me.”
Her eyes turn sad as she glances back at Chris and then locks her gaze with mine. “That doesn’t exactly seem like a dream come true.”
I shrug. “It comes with the territory. Anyway, stop deflecting and tell me what’s wrong.”
She sighs heavily and then says, “How about you tell me what you’re doing here and then I’ll tell you why I’m upset.”
I squint at her, wondering if she’s just trying to get out of telling me what’s going on, but decide to play along since at least she admitted she’s upset.
“I had a meeting with VibeTV. They bought the rights to a documentary on the band that we’ll be filming during our upcoming tour. I just signed the contract this morning with the guys, and then decided to stop for tea before heading home.”
Becka’s face lights up. “First of all, congrats, that’s awesome, and second,”—her eyes get a mischievous little twinkle and my heart speeds up infinitesimally—“I can’t wait to work with you.”
