Star Struck (17 page)

Beckett rests his hands over his guitar. “So, what’s the deal, Tate? You over here for dinner or something?”

Tate nods.

“Man, you spend more time here now than you did when you lived here.”

Tate chuckles. “Times have changed, bro.”

“I guess.” Beckett grins, but I can tell it’s forced.

Tate swings his arms to the side, clearly feeling the change in the atmosphere too. “Well, I’ll let you two get back to it. Nice to you see you again, Star.”

“You too, Tate.”

As Tate makes his way back inside, he and Beckett share a look that I can’t quite decipher. If only these Nash boys weren’t so hard to read.

22

Beckett

Tate’s right. There is something amazing about the way Star and I sound together. I’
ve known it since the day she auditioned. At first it worried me, but now I’m thinking I can use it to my advantage. It may be the edge our band needs to be noticed at the festival. We already have the rock sound, and now we can add in something softer. By the time the guys arrive my head is swirling with the possibilities.

I share some of it with them, and they seem okay with it. Of course it’s hard to tell lately. Ever since I got on them about Ryker’s party they’ve been kind of short with me. Star seems to have relaxed around me tonight, but there’s still some tension there. I gues
s we’ll have to talk about our conversation at the coffee shop at some point. But I’m good with pushing that out for awhile. Right now I just want to get through the festival.

After the guys get all their stuff plugged in and ready, we start with
Can’t Have
. As the band kicks it into high gear, I have a thought. I stop playing and speak into my microphone. “Hey guys, let’s slow this one down a little too.”

“But we’re a rockband, man,” Ryker groans. “It’s bad enough that you want to do a couple of acoustic songs with Star, but now you want to slow down our other songs too?”

“What’s wrong with changing things up a little?” I cock my eyebrow at him, challenging him to continue to question me.

“What if we don’t want to change things up?” Ryker glances over at Pierce and Jimmy. “Do you guys want to change things up?”

Pierce shakes his head. Jimmy’s eyes shift back and forth uncomfortably.

Irritation bubbles inside of me. “It doesn’t matter what you guys think, okay? It’s my band. I have the final say.”

“Of course. Isn’t that always the way?” Ryker shakes his head in disgust. “I’m so sick of having you dictate everything we do.”

“I’m sorry, man, but that’s the way it is,” I say, my tone a little softer now.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Ryker peels off his guitar strap.

Warning bells go off in my head. “What do you mean?”

Ryker glances over at Jimmy and Pierce, giving them a subtle nod. “We’re tired of your attitude, Beckett, and we’re tired of your rules.”

“Yeah,” Pierce cuts in. “We’re thinking maybe it’s time we split up.”

“What?” I feel like I’ve been sucker punched. “You can’t do that.”

“Oh
, yes, we can,” Ryker says.

I narrow my eyes at him, knowing there is one wrench in his plan. “But you don’t have a lead singer.”

Ryker’s eyes rest on Star, and my stomach drops. Is she in on this? Of course she is. I should’ve known.

“So that’s been your plan all along, huh? I thought it was weird how hard you pushed for her to join us.” I rest my arms on my guitar, feeling suddenly weary.

Star stands up from the keyboard, throwing her arms up as if in surrender. “No way. You’re not putting me in the middle of this drama. I’m not going to be used as some kind of pawn. I joined this band to work with all of you, and I’m not supporting this break up.” Her gaze sweeps over all of us. “You guys need to work out your petty issues. When you do, you can give me a call.” She scoops up her sheet music and purse, and then stalks out of the garage.

I watch her in awe. To me she’s never looked more beautiful. On instinct, I take off after her. I catch up to her right before she gets in her car. “Star!”

She whips around, her hair lashing her in the face.

“Thanks for what you said in there.”

Star shrugs. “I meant it. Clearly you guys have some issues to work out, but it’s not worth breaking up the band over.”

“You could’ve easily left with them. I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with.”

“You can say that again,” she mutters under her breath.

I step forward. “Why didn’t you?”

She bites her lip and I see the hesitation written on her face. “The truth is I joined the band because of you, and I have no desire to stay in it if you’re gone.”

Her words catch me off guard. The air around me shifts. All of the sudden I don’t care about the con
sequences. I reach out and grasp Star’s hand. “I need to go back in there and talk this out with them. But do you think maybe we could…grab a coffee or something after?”

Star’s eyes widen, surprise evident on her face. “Sure. Just text me when you’re finished.”

I smile, and reluctantly drop her hand. It felt so good to hold it, almost like a lifeline. “See you soon,” I say, before turning around and heading back to the garage. The guys are huddled together in conversation when I enter. I can’t lose them right before the festival. Besides, I’m anxious to see Star again. I know that it’s on my shoulders to make this right, so I decide to take the higher road.

“Look, guys, I know I’m kind of intense most of the time.”

“Kind of?” Ryker lifts his brows.

“Okay, so I’m really intense,” I concede
, and all the guys nod in agreement. “But it’s just because I believe in our band so much. And the reason I do is because of you three. You’re so talented. That’s why I wanted you in my band. And I don’t want to lose you guys.” I take a deep breath, knowing the foreign words are going to be difficult to push from my throat. “So, I’m sorry.”

Their stunned expressions tell me they weren’t expecting it either.

“So are you saying that you’ll back off a little?” Ryker asks.

I nod.

“Okay.” Ryker steps forward and shakes my hand.

“You’re all staying then?” I ask.

“It’s not like we have a choice now.” Ryker chuckles lightly. “Our plan sort of fell through.”

I smile. “Yeah, you probably should’ve
filled Star in beforehand.”

Ryker locks eyes with me. “It wouldn’t have made a difference. It seems she’s not going to leave you, Beckett.”

I swallow hard, knowing he’s right.

When Star walks into the coffee shop she looks so hot in her skinny jeans and knee high boots. Her hair is swept back from her face in a loose ponytail, and her cheeks are flushed from the cold. When she sees me her face lights up, causing my heart to leap in my chest. This is all new to me, and my nerves are rattled. Yet, I don’t want to run away. For once I want to stay here and see where it leads.

“Hey
, Beckett.” She slides into the seat across from me, her gaze landing on the two coffees on the table.

“Mocha, right?” I ask, hoping I didn’t mess up.

She smiles. “How did you know?”

“I asked Ryker,” I answer honestly. “He s
aid that both you and Lola love mochas.”

“He was right.” She grins, looking pleased. “And that was sweet of you to ask him.”

“Sweet, huh?” I wink. “
Be careful. You’re gonna ruin my image.”

Star giggles, and it’s as beautiful as her singing. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.” She picks up the cup in front of her, and takes a tentative sip.

The coffee shop is pretty dead tonight. Only a few other patrons are scattered throughout. Most are on their laptops. I hear the clicking of keys from over my shoulder.

“Hey, thanks again for tonight,” I say.
“The guys and I worked things out after you left, and I owe it all to you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. They kind of didn’t have a choice since they didn’t have you as their lead singer.”

She shakes her head. “I had no idea about any of it. I promise.”

“I know.” I take a swift drink of my latte.

“I’m glad it worked out. I was nervous about it.”

“You were?”

“Yeah, I know I’ve only been in the band a short time
, but I love it.”

“I can tell.” I curl my hand around my mug, working up the courage to ask her what I want to. Having conversations like this are hard for me. I’d rather hide behind my guitar. “Hey, when you said that you joined the band for me, what did you mean by that?”

“Oh.” Her gaze drops to the table, her face flaming. “I just meant that I think you’re super talented. Ever since the first time I heard you play I knew I would do anything to be a part of your band.”

Disappointment sinks into my stomach at her words.
I don’t know why I expected her to say anything different. Every time she’s confessed her feelings for me I’ve shot her down. Maybe I finally pushed her too far. Just because I finally decided to give her a shot, it didn’t mean she would offer it to me.

“Beckett, what are we doing here?” Star asks.

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re having coffee.” As if on cue, the espresso machine roars to life behind the counter.

“No, I mean, why now? Why tonight? You hardly say two words to me for weeks, and then today you want me to come early to practice. Then you ask me out for coffee. What gives?”

“I think I’d like to go back to when you were complimenting me and calling me sweet,” I banter back, hoping to elicit a laugh or even just a slight smile. Instead, she presses her lips together and stares at me deadpan. “Okay, the truth is that I wanted you to come early to practice with me because…” I pause unsure of how honest I want to be. “I told you why. I want to do a couple of acoustic songs at the festival to give us an edge over the other bands. I know that Cold Fever will only do rock songs, there are a couple of other rock bands and I think a couple of country bands.”

“So this is all just about the band?”

I want to say yes. Only that’s not entirely true and at this point I feel like I owe Star the truth. “No, it’s not.” Leaning over, I prop my elbows up on the table. “I like you, Star. I have since the first moment I saw you. And I know I’m not great at showing it, but I’d like to change that.”

“You would?” Star’s face holds a skeptical look.

“Yeah, I would.” I exhale, glad that’s over with.

Star
quietly takes a sip of her coffee. Then she sets the cup down and looks up at me with a serious look. “Beckett, I’m really sorry that I went behind your back to talk to Dante. I never should’ve done that.”

“I get it. I know I haven’t exactly been the easiest guy to talk to about things.”

“Still. I feel bad.” Star runs her fingertip over the rim of her mug, and I find myself imagining her fingers tracing my flesh. I shake my head and force my thoughts to cleaner subjects.

“I might have overreacted a little.”
I give her a lopsided smile.

“
You? Overreact? No, not at all,” she jokes.

“Yeah, you’re right. It was completely justified.” I smile to let her know I’m teasing.

She giggles again, and it’s so cute I can’t help myself. I reach across the table and place my hand over hers. “I’m not sure where to go from here, Star.”

“I find that hard to believe based on your track record with women.”

“This is different, and this is new to me. Help me out here, Star.”

“Okay.” Star sits up straighter. “Does this mean you want me to teach you to get close to people again?”

“Not people. Just you.”

She smiles. “Well, you can start by asking me out on a date.”

“A date, huh?”

“Yes, you know like
when a guy takes a girl out for dinner or movie or something?”

“Ah, yes. I have heard of those.” I chuckle. Then I sober up and look deeply into her dark brown eyes. “Star, would you like to go out with me?”

“When?”

“Saturday night?”

“I’d love to. Pick me up at seven.”

“It’s a date.”

23

Star

“I still can’t believe he asked you out on a date.” Lola walks next to me as we make our way across campus. The early morning breeze kicks up her hair and it feathers against her pale skin. A few students walk in front of us, their heads down. To my right, I catch sight of a couple sitting on the grass bent over their textbooks. “Ryker said that’s like a first for Beckett.”

My insides coil into knots when I remember our conversation about the girl Dante stole from him. Again I wonder why everyone is so secretive about it. Clearly there had been another girl in Beckett’s life. Why the charade?

“I know I’ve been kind of skeptical about Beckett,” Lola says.