Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
I smoothed down my navy dress and adjusted the lace collar for the tenth time. I hoped what I was wearing was appropriate, but who knew what kind of thing rock stars and their girlfriends wore?
My phone pinged and I knew without looking it was Nathan. I grabbed my bag and struggled to stuff my feet into a brand new pair of kitten heels I'd bought just for this. They were perhaps half a size too small and I hoped I wouldn't have to be on my feet for most of the evening.
I snuck out the door and around the side of the house, darting down the street to where Nathan was idling in his car.
"You really need to talk to your mom," Nathan said as I slid in. "We shouldn't have to sneak around."
I ran a soothing hand down his arm.
"Every time I've run into her in the past week she's tried to lecture me," I explained. "No apology in sight. I'm going to give her some more time to cool down and get used to the idea of her daughter dating before I rub you in her face."
Nathan wasn't wearing his usual jeans and t-shirt, and he wasn't in his leather rock star get up. He wore a pair of black dress pants and a white collared shirt, complete with black tie. His hair was slicked back away from his forehead, not falling into his eyes. It changed his look. He looked less like the cute boy from next door and more like a suave, debonair gentleman ready to sweep me off my feet.
Nathan noticed me staring.
"So what's your preference?" he asked. "Sexy rock star, casual creeper or James Bond?"
I unstuck my tongue from the roof of my dry mouth.
"Do I have to choose?" I asked.
Nathan laughed and shifted the car into gear. "If it was up to me, I'd stick to casual creeper. I hate ties."
"That's a shame. You look very handsome in one."
"Handsome?" Nathan mocked a disappointed pout. "You're supposed to think I'm a hot as fuck rock star god."
"You're that, too. Not to mention, you can also be sexy and cute."
"Aww, you're making me blush," he teased. "Tell me more."
"I don't need to add to that swelled head of yours." I pulled the hem of my dress down. "Is this okay?"
"Your dress? Yeah, why?"
I fidgeted with the lace on my collar. "I didn't know what to wear."
"It's just a gallery showing," he explained. "There's going to be dozens of people wearing all kinds of clothes, from creative artist types to snobby rich art collectors. You'll fit in just fine, I promise."
"I hope so," I murmured.
This was the first time I was going to meet all of Nathan's band members and friends, and it was all at the same time in one small, contained place.
One of Nathan's music colleagues, August Summers, the drummer from Darkest Days, had a photographer girlfriend. We were on our way to some sort of exhibit showing off her work. She had apparently become something of a big deal in the art community.
Nathan had also told me about some of the others who were going to be there. A concert musician who'd produced a cello-and-violin duet with her multi-talented rock star boyfriend and reached number one on the music charts. One of the youngest women in the music industry to reach the position of Vice President of something or other. The owner and co-founder of a popular music magazine. An events manager who worked with celebrities to raise money for charities.
And me. A part-time pet shop worker.
I slunk down into my seat and clutched the strap of my purse.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Nathan asked.
I sat back up. "Nothing. Just…"
I didn't want to lie to Nathan about my feelings, the way I lied to my parents. I didn't want that to be the kind of relationship we had.
"I'm feeling a little outclassed," I confessed.
I explained what I'd been thinking while he nodded silently.
"Everyone who's going to be there is so…" I trailed off, not able to find the words to explain what I was thinking. "And I'm just…"
"You're not just anything," Nathan said firmly. "You're Becca Miller, and you're special and unique in your own right."
"Because I've got a busted heart."
"Because you've been dealt a shit hand in life and you've managed to rise above it all and live the life you want. You're amazing. You're a wonder. I'm in awe of how strong you are, Becca."
Warmth spread through my cheeks at his words. Nathan really did think the world of me.
"We're here," he announced as he pulled into a parking lot.
I'd spent so much of the car ride worrying, I hadn't even noticed us arriving.
Nerves hit me right in the gut. My fingers went cold.
Nathan took my hand and squeezed.
"It'll be okay," he said.
I wobbled a bit on my heels as I exited the car. Nathan let me cling to his arm while I got used to walking in them. I probably should have worn flats.
A well-built security guard stood in front of the entrance's glass double doors. He held them open for us to walk through with a nod of his head.
The art gallery was one vast room with pure white walls, dotted with large black and white photo prints. Servers were going around with platters of drinks and hors d'oeuvres in their hands. The place was full of people milling around. Nathan had been right. Some women were wearing designer dresses and dripping with expensive jewels, while others were wearing paint-splattered jeans and sneakers. I relaxed a bit, feeling better about my wardrobe choice.
A dark-haired man in an exquisitely-tailored black suit and skinny tie parted through the crowd with a blond girl on his arm. They were coming toward us with a wave of their hands.
Nathan nodded his chin at them in greeting.
"That's the bassist of Feral Silence and his girlfriend," Nathan murmured to me. "Ren and Ivy."
My eyes went wide. "Ivy Derrick, the concert cellist?"
"That's the one."
Nathan seemed amused I was more impressed by a classical musician than a rock star. But I'd hung around Nathan enough to realize rock stars were normal people. A world-renowned concert cellist, though… that was pretty high-class and fancy.
But the young woman approaching us didn't look snobby or stuck up in the slightest. She had a sweet smile on her face and a simple but elegant cocktail dress with a flared skirt.
"Hey Ren, Ivy." Nathan slapped Ren on the back and gave Ivy a grin and a nod. "Good to see you. Are you here just to support Cassie's art or are you going to put on a show for us?"
Ivy nodded. "Cassie asked Ren and I to play a duet later on as some entertainment."
"And what are you doing at a sophisticated event like this?" the guy, Ren, asked Nathan in a friendly, teasing tone. "Isn't this kind of thing a little too cultured for your tastes?"
"Can't just have the girlfriends always coming to gigs," Nathan said. "Sometimes you need to put on a nice suit and support them in return."
My heart jumped at the word girlfriend . He hadn't meant us, surely. He was talking about the others, his rock star friends who had girlfriends.
Still, hearing the word on his lips sent a flutter through my stomach.
"You're here with Nathan?" Ivy asked me politely.
"Yes, I'm Becca Miller." I held out a hand to shake Ivy's. "Nice to meet you."
I shook her hand first, and then Ren's.
Neither of them asked how I knew Nathan or whether we were together. I assumed they knew better than to ask someone like him if the girl he was with was a one-time thing or not.
"I came over here to warn you," Ren told Nathan. "Security has done their best to keep out the rabid fans, but some have managed to sneak in."
"I can handle fans," Nathan said easily.
An amused smile played on Ren's lips. "I bet you can."
Ivy put a hand on her boyfriend's arm. "We should talk to the venue manager about where to set up." She looked to me. "It was so nice meeting you, Becca. Let's talk some more after my performance."
After we waved them off I turned to Nathan, concerned.
"Rabid fans?" I asked. "Are they going to mob you and demand a lock of your hair or something?"
Nathan laughed. "They're usually not so obnoxious about it. Mostly, I get cornered and asked for selfies and autographs."
"Like when we met in the hospital and you assumed I was a fan? I thought you were just a crazy person back then."
"Who says I'm not?" he quipped. Nathan put his arm around my waist and led us around the room. He snatched a wine flute from a passing server and handed it to me. "The drinks at these things are usually top notch."
I took a small sip of something bubbly. It was alcohol, I knew that much, but I supposed my palate wasn't refined enough to tell the difference between great and just okay.
"Hey, shit-face!" someone yelled from across the room. A man with familiar fire-engine red hair darted through the crowd until he was right in front of us. A pretty girl with long dark hair followed, a long-suffering expression on her face.
The redhead jabbed a finger at Nathan's face. "Did you dare Gael to destroy my foyer?"
"Me?" Nathan asked, feigning innocence. "Would I do a thing like that?"
It was Cameron Thorne, the one who'd thrown that rager where Gael had swung on the chandelier. I winced at the memory.
"I'm sorry," I said. The guy turned to face me. "It's my fault. I'd never been to a crazy house party before and I joked with Nathan that I wanted to see something like out of a movie. I didn't think anyone would actually do it."
This guy had also been the one to jump from the roof into the pool, the one who'd given me the idea to do it myself. I winced again. That night had been full of a lot of terribly awkward memories.
Cameron blinked at me, then shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm just giving this guy shit. I don't blame anyone other than Gael, that asshole."
"Maybe if you weren't so mean to him, he wouldn't want to get back at you," the girl at Cameron's side said reasonably. "You should give the poor guy a break."
"Why would I want to do that?" Cameron asked with a manic grin.
"Lily's right," Nathan said, I assumed referring to Cameron's girlfriend. "You know Gael idolizes you. When you aren't trying to piss him off."
"Exactly," Cameron said. "That guy has got to stop thinking I'm some sort of god. He's a great musician in his own right." Cameron shrugged. "Maybe if I pester him enough he'll realize I'm just another dude, you know?"
Nathan looked taken aback. "That's… oddly thoughtful of you."
"Hey, I can be thoughtful as hell when I want to be. Just ask Lily." Cameron pressed his face to his girlfriend's cheek with a noisy, messy kiss. "In fact, just last night I was?—"
Lily clamped a hand over his mouth. Cameron continued talking, muffled under her hand.
"Just stop," she laughed at him before winking at me. "I can't take this animal anywhere without him trying to cause a scene, I swear."
Cameron pulled her into a hug and swung her around until she squealed and dropped her hand from his mouth. He set her down and placed another, softer, kiss on her lips before bumping her nose with his. A dreamy smile crossed her face as she looked up at him.
"Let's go before they start making out in public," Nathan said loudly, intending for them to hear, but they were lost in their own little world together. The two of them were so cute it was almost sickening.
I wondered if Nathan and I ever looked at each other like that.
We continued on, examining the photographs. I didn't know much about art or photography, but from what I could tell the photos were professional, all clean lines and stark contrasts, but without any sort of depressing, bleak tones. The pictures had clearly been taken with love and care. I examined some of the price tags. My eyebrows nearly rose off my forehead. Those were some expensive pieces of art. That Cassie girl really must have been popular.
"What do you think?" Nathan asked.
"I like them," I said. "They've got a good vibe, if that makes sense."
"They're pretty cool," Nathan agreed. "It's the kind of thing I could see hanging on my wall. Which one's your favorite?"
"Hm." I turned in a circle, looking at all the photos and trying to remember which ones had moved me the most. "I like that one." I pointed to a scene taken backstage at a concert. The band members were cast in shadow, but their instruments were illuminated by ceiling lights. "It reminds me of you. Of watching you in concert."
"I'll get that one, then."
"You're going to buy one?"
"Of course. I've got to support my friends, after all."
I shouldn't have been surprised, considering I'd known that Nathan was wealthy, but damn. Buying something as expensive as that on a whim just because I said I liked it…
"Well, if it isn't Nathan Walker."
A tall woman with striking green eyes and a slash of bright red for a mouth sidled up to him. She pressed a hand to his chest.
"I had a feeling I'd see you here," she purred.
"Stephanie?" he said, surprised. He shot a quick look at me before turning to her. "How'd you get in here?"
"I received an invitation," she said smoothly.
"Did you?" Nathan asked sharply. "From who?"
She turned to me, ignoring his question.
"Who's this?" she feigned disinterest, but I could see the jealously burning in her eyes. "Your latest conquest? Hm." She flicked her wavy chestnut hair over her shoulder. "Not your usual type, is she?"
I laughed out loud, right in her face. "Wow, you're not subtle at all, are you?"
She glared at me, then turned a sickly-sweet smile on Nathan. "Babe, I really need to talk to you."
He gave her a dark look, but looked hesitant to just walk away.
I turned to Nathan. "I'm going to look at the photos while you talk to your friend. Bye, Stephanie," I said pointedly.
The sour expression didn't leave her face as she tugged on Nathan's arm and hissed something at him. He pulled his arms away and folded them across his chest, frowning at her.
I turned and ignored them.
I supposed I'd known Nathan would have tons of "conquests" out there, but I never thought I'd actually run into one while I was with him. Oh well. Whoever Stephanie was, he hadn't seemed too impressed with her. I wondered how long he'd let her blather at him before he showed her the door.
I was contemplating a more abstract photo, brows furrowed, as I tried to figure out the meaning of it, when Nathan returned to my side.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to just abandon you."
"It's all right," I said, still scrutinizing the photo.
"Are you mad?" Nathan asked, sounding distressed.
My brow smoothed as I turned to him, surprised. "No. Why?"
"You look upset." There was an anxious quality to his tone, like he was seriously concerned.
I laughed. "That's my concentration face. I'm just trying to decipher what this photo is trying to say."
The worry didn't leave his eyes. "Is this about Stephanie? She's just a girl I know, nothing else."
"I'm fine," I reassured him.
He nodded, some of the anxiety lifting. It was heartwarming, that he didn't want me to feel hurt or jealous.
Nathan was so determined not to hurt me.
I just hoped I was able to do the same for him.