The percussion takes center stage, and the melody changes. My heart slams in my chest. The sudden change in rhythm is more truculent, and it’s throwing me off.
Yoooou said…
I’m not interested in you
Not now. Not ever
But I know you’re lying
A liar spots a liar….
Behind this shell, you set me free
Sheeeeee said…
I’m not interested in you
Not now. Not ever.
But I know she’s lying
A liar spots a liar….
Behind this shell, she sets me free
Yoooou said…
I’m not interested in you
Not now. Not ever
I know you’re lying
A liar spots a liar
Behind this shell, you set me free
Sheeeeee said…
I’m not interested in you
Not now. Not ever
But I know she’s lying
A liar spots a liar
A liar spots a liar
Behind this shell, she sets me free
As Kellan continues to sing the last line, the crowd chimes in. I don’t know when the song was released, but he must have sung it before because people know the lyrics; they’re familiar with the rhythm. He stops singing, but the guitarist continues to play.
The crowd starts to chant, “TAYLOR! TAYLOR! TAYLOR!”
But instead of turning to the crowd, he turns to me and cocks a sexy eyebrow.
A smile tugs at his lips. And then he leans forward and clasps my chin between his fingers as he kisses me on the lips in front of the audience.
My breath hitches.
My head’s swirling.
My heart’s pounding.
At some point, the song ends. Kellan lets go of me and says something into the microphone. But I can’t make out his words. It’s like the world around us has dissolved into nothingness. From the periphery of my mind, I know that a security guy is ushering me back to my spot, while all I can do is focus on making it down the stage without taking a tumble.
I feel Mandy’s shock a moment before she whispers in my ear, “What the hell, Ava? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I open my mouth to explain that I had no idea, but the words remain trapped on my tongue.
I need to get away.
Numb from the shock, I take off, squeezing through the crowd, until I’ve reached the back of the tent. I need the distance and for Mandy to stop her questions.
The band continues their set. I get an hour of watching him. Of listening to his magnificent voice while he sings one song after another. An hour during which my shock is slowly subsiding, making room for a throbbing sense of suspicion and anger.
Once or twice, I think I see his eyes roaming over the crowd, probably in search of me, but I can’t be sure. I hide in the shadows nonetheless, out of his view. I don’t want him to call me up there again.
A cowboy turned rock star!
I shake my head.
What. The. Hell.
And I was stupid enough to fall for him.
That was about the worst move I could have made in my life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Are you okay?” Mandy asks for the umpteenth time, her concern growing with each second that passes. When I nod, she whispers, “You didn’t know, did you?”
I shake my head and follow Josh to his truck.
I don’t want to make a big fuss out of the fact that Kellan’s a rock star but—
Holy shit!
He’s a rock star.
I still can’t believe it.
That’s why he was so secretive. He probably thought I might sell his story to the tabloids.
What’s wrong with me?
Why can’t I show enthusiasm for the fact that the cowboy I met is a famous rock star?
Josh says something about an after party, when all I want is to lock myself inside my bedroom and Google the life out of Mile High.
There must have been some indication, some clue, and I was too blind to catch it. But I know better than to believe that. I just wasn’t interested. I might never be.
I blame my parents and their crazy obsession with the orchestra. They’ve ruined music for me, and now I just can’t be like any normal woman and squeal and wear fan T-shirts.
“Please take me home,” I say, my voice shaky.
“I’ve been instructed not to do that,” Josh replies.
I don’t need to ask who ordered that. “I’m not feeling very well.”
Mandy shoots me a concerned look.
“In spite of what he’s doing, he’s a good guy, Ava,” Josh says.
“I never doubted that,” I lie.
“He likes you. That’s why he went through all the trouble to arrange you winning the tickets.”
My head snaps to him. “What?”
“Sorry. What was I thinking?” He slaps his forehead. “I should never have mentioned it. Let’s forget what I just said.“ His mouth clamps shut. In the rearview mirror, I see his expression darkening, like he’s already said too much.
“It’s okay. You can tell me,” I say, my voice faint.