Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Wynter
I regret the words the moment they slip out.
Instead of being shy or surprised that I recognized him, Ross seems almost angry.
His silvery-blue eyes turned dark. I can see the fire lurking there even in the limited pre-dawn light, since the sun hasn’t come up yet, and I mentally kick myself.
I wasn’t trying to be confrontational, I merely wanted to let him know I understand where he’s coming from.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I didn’t realize it was a secret. I was trying to be funny, that’s all. I apologize.”
His face is tight. “The past is best left where it is.”
“But you’re… Ross Rockit.” I whisper, as if someone might hear us. “How has no one recognized you? The video for ‘Shooting for the Stars’ was everywhere when I was a kid. My mom played that album constantly.”
“It’s been nearly twenty years,” he responds quietly, grinding the cigarette into the concrete with his shoe. “I haven’t been Ross Rockit in a long time. And I want it to stay that way.” With that, he turns and strides in the opposite direction.
Damn.
I didn’t mean to upset him.
Hell, I came out here to clear my head after another miserable night of insomnia.
I left my extremely demanding job as an emergency room nurse at a Los Angeles hospital and took a job in the private sector, as the office manager for a busy doctors’ practice.
I thought it would be easy compared to twelve-hour shifts in the ER.
Instead, the pressure, along with the insane hours, leaves me staring at the walls most nights.
The company sent me to Phoenix for a training conference on some new software, and when I saw that Onyx Knight would be in town at the same time, I reached out to my sister.
She recently remarried Tommy Bane, Onyx Knight’s drummer, and has been on tour with the band, so it was a good excuse to see her.
I hoped spending time with family and hearing live music would be the perfect way to relax and unwind after the week of training, but so far it hasn’t worked.
Not even yesterday’s spa day helped, and I finally gave up on sleep just after four in the morning.
Running into Ross—aka my lifelong musical crush—at the pool felt fortuitous.
Until I opened my mouth and messed everything up.
With a sigh, I head back inside, undecided about whether I want to attempt to get a few hours’ sleep or if I should go to the hotel gym and exhaust myself into a nap.
Sleeping pills are always an option, but I’ve resisted so far.
At some point, I might have to give in, but for now, I’m taking things one day at a time.
“Wynter. Wait.”
I turn in surprise to see Ross heading my way.
I avert my gaze, trying not to stare.
I had a crush on him as a kid, watching Ross he’s just being nice after how abrupt he’d been earlier.
No matter how giddy my pre-teen heart feels, the thirty-two-year-old woman controlling my brain knows better.
“So, what’s your question for me?” I ask as casually as I can.
The way I’m feeling makes no sense.
I’ve been around rockstars for years. My sister has been involved with one since she was eighteen and has been married to him on and off for almost that long. I hooked up with a guy in one of their opening acts several years ago, and we dated for about a year before I caught him cheating on me.
Celebrities are nothing new to me, but Ross is different.
I was eleven years old when the Ross & The Rock-its album came out.
My mother played it nonstop for months.
My younger sister Harley and I knew every word to every song.
But while Harley was always infatuated with drummers, I fell for Ross.
His posters graced the walls of my bedroom, and no one cried harder than me when we heard about the bus crash. It was so sad. Now I feel a little guilty for talking about it at all.
“Were you surprised to see Harley and Tommy get back together?” Ross asks, surprising me with his bluntness.
“No,” I reply honestly. “They’ve always been in love. They’re just finally figuring out how to make it work. Love is complicated, especially for them. Personally, I don’t think rock and roll is conducive to true love, but what do I know?”
His eyes are suddenly shrouded. “I can tell you with absolute certainty you’re wrong about that, Wynter.”