Bad For Me (My Forbidden Rockstar) (17 page)

Now, Dom looks uncomfortable but I wait expectantly for him
to share something.

“It’s not all that exciting. I grew up afraid of my father,
he's coward who felt like a man by asserting his power and hurting a boy and a
woman. It took my mom a long time to get the courage to leave him. We got our
own place when I was eleven.”

Dom shrugs.

“I started playing music back then to help me deal with it
all.”

I can tell Dom hasn’t opened up to many people, and he stops
and starts a few times as he tries to explain how the music helped him cope
with his childhood. He doesn’t particularly come out and say that music saved
him, but I can tell that it did.

We lose track of time and eventually shut the restaurant
down.

As we get in the car, part of me wants to go home with Dom,
but it’s been a long day and it’s probably best that I don’t. He seems to pick
up on my feelings.

“There isn’t anything I want more than to take you back home
with me now,” he starts as he gives me a sideways glance.

I give him a weak smile.

Dom nods. “It’s been a long day, I know.”

“We open tomorrow,” I add, the realization suddenly twists
my stomach into knots.

A big grin spreads across Dom’s face. “I can’t fucking
wait,” he says.

The ride is over all too quickly, and I’m surprised to see
my car parked out front of my building.

“How did that get here?” I ask.

Dom smiles, “I have my ways.”

“It must pay to be Dom Dresden,” I say dryly.

“Oh, it does.”

The mood in the car becomes charged, and I want to kiss him
before I get out. It feels like we’ve turned a corner in this love-hate
relationship we seem to have. It feels like years have passed since Daddy was
rushed to the hospital, but it was only twenty-four hours ago. So much has
happened in that time.

I lean over to kiss Dom, and his lips meet mine. The kiss is
long and soft and brings a tingling warmth to my core. I finally break away,
but not before giving Dom one last long look before I pull myself from the car.

Elle is asleep and as I undress and get ready for bed, I
wonder if I’ll even sleep at all tonight. I’m too keyed up from my afternoon
with Dom, not to mention my nerves are a wreck at the thought of opening
tomorrow.

Sure enough, I toss and turn in bed all night, and manage to
sleep for only a few fitful hours. After the sun has been up for at least an
hour, I give up and kick off my covers. I stumble into the kitchen and make
myself a cup of coffee. I’m going to need it today. The show doesn’t start
until eight in the evening, so it’s going to be a long day.

I take my coffee out on the balcony, and I replay my moments
with Dom. I remember the way his lips felt on my skin, and when his lips touched
my most intimate places. I blush as I remember how hard I had come for Dom, and
how loudly I had cried his name.

I’ve promised to go see my dad today, and I want to make
sure he is doing all right before I start getting ready for the show. I rinse out
my coffee mug and hop in the shower. An hour later, I’m cleaned up and ready to
visit my dad. It’s nearly nine in the morning, so I figure it’s an acceptable
time to go over. Elle is still asleep and I’m envious. I’m going to be
exhausted today.

My car sputters and limps over to my dad’s. I’m going to
have to suck it up today and ask for a new car. Maybe I’ll be able to help pay
for it with the money I’m making from going on tour with Diesel.

“Annabelle!” Roxie says happily as she opens the door to me.
She’s dressed in yoga pants and a tank top, God she looks good for her age.
“Your father will be so happy to see you. He’s out on the back patio having
breakfast. We have plenty of food so I hope you haven’t eaten.”

My stomach growls. I forgot to eat breakfast. My head is
definitely not in the right place.

“Thanks Roxie.” I pause before heading back towards the
patio. “How is he doing? Really?”

She stops and turns towards me. “He’s only been home since
last night but he seems to be doing ok. He's more easily winded than usual, but
time will tell.” I see the worry in her eyes and I reach out to squeeze her
hand.

“He’s lucky he has you. And it makes me happy to know you're
here with him.”

I can see that she's profoundly touched by my words.

I walk out to the patio and see my dad sitting hunched over
a plate of bread and fruit.

“Annabelle,” he says happily when he sees me.

He’s dressed perfectly, as always, in a crisp white shirt
and well-pressed khakis. But I can see the circles under his eyes and for some
reason he looks ten years older.

“Daddy,” I say, as I lean in to kiss him on the cheek and
take a seat.

He motions for me to take some food, and I fill up a plate
with toast, berries and yogurt.

“This is quite a spread,” I remark.

“Roxie’s good to me.”

“You’re right, Daddy, she is. I’m sorry it took me so long
to meet her.”

My dad gives a little wave like it doesn’t matter.

“I don’t like having to leave you now,” I complain.

“Roxie will take good care of me.”

“You better follow all of the doctor’s orders and take your
medicine.”

“Roxie will make sure of that, don’t worry.”

We spend the morning together, and my dad is careful not to
mention Dom. I wonder if Roxie told him about the tension between Dom and I at
the hospital.

“So, Daddy,” I begin, twisting my hands together. “I have to
ask you for something.”

“Anything,” he says happily.

I roll my eyes. My dad is always way too eager to help me.

“I think my car has reached the end of its lifespan,” I
begin, but my dad cuts me off before I can continue.

“Say no more,” he says cheerfully, “You know I’ve been
wanting to buy you a new car for a while.”

“I know, Daddy, but I don’t like accepting gifts from you.”

“But you need a car, sweetheart.”

“I can probably pay you back after the tour. I’m going to do
really well.”

“I won’t hear of it. Let me do this for you. Consider it a
congratulations present for your new job.”

“Well, I won’t need it until I come back.”

My dad frowns. He obviously wants to buy me a car as soon as
possible.

“Well, how about you tell me what make and model you want,
and I’ll go ahead and put in the order. It will be waiting for you when you
come back.”

I guess I could live with this. I’ve thought a lot about
what I want, and I’m not going to get something obnoxious, even though my dad
would love that.

“Okay. I was looking at an Acura. I was thinking of the
ZDX.”

My dad gives me a hard stare. “Annabelle. Why not get a
Mercedes or a BMW?”

“Daddy,” I protest, “I don’t want something like that.”

There’s a pause, and he finally concedes.

“Alright, an Acura ZDX. What color?”

“Black, please.”

My dad scribbles the details down.

“I’ll take care of it Monday morning.”

“No rush, Daddy,” I laugh, “I’m going to be gone for three
months.”

Roxie comes out to join us and we spend the rest of the
morning talking about the different stops on the tour.

After LA, we go to Vegas and Phoenix, and then across the
country to New York where we’ll work our way up and down the east coast, and
then back across the country to the west coast.

My dad begins to look tired, and I stand up to leave so that
he can lay down.

“No, don’t go,” he argues.

“You look tired, Daddy. You should get some rest.”

He grumbles but Roxie agrees with me.

I kiss them both and tell them that I will be in touch while
on the road. I give my dad a gentle hug and kiss him on the cheek.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“Love you too, Annabelle, honey. Have fun on the tour. You
deserve this kiddo.”

I leave my dad’s house and head back to the apartment. It’s
only about noon, but I need to start getting ready. My call is at five and I
still haven’t started packing for our departure on Monday.

Chapter Eighteen

Annie

The afternoon passes in a dream-like blur and I wake up to
find myself walking into the Honda Center through the backstage entrance. The
place is buzzing and people are running around everywhere. My head swims from
all the activity around me. I make my way to the dressing room that I share
with Liz and Mel, and I hurriedly close the door behind me.

“It’s a madhouse out there, isn’t it?” Liz asks knowingly.

“It’s insane,” I agree.

I take a shaky seat at the mirror and look at my makeup free
skin. I have to be in Makeup in twenty minutes.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.” Liz promises.

I can only nod. I hope so. Mel shows up a few minutes later,
and then the three of us are whisked away to the makeup room. I’ve had to wear
stage makeup before, but nothing like this. I can hardly recognize myself when
it's complete,  I feel like a Cirque du Soleil performer.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” I whisper to Liz.

She laughs. “These stage lights will wash you out. Trust me.
It’s perfect.”

Although we're having our hair done by professionals
tonight, we’ve been told that we won’t always have stylists to help us. We’ve
been given a calendar with the days that we’re responsible for doing our own
hair, so I better learn fast. As if learning the songs and choreography aren't
enough.

Before I know it, it’s seven o’clock and I’m getting dressed
in the skimpy black costume dress. The opening act goes on at 7:30, which is
the same time that the backup singers are due for warm ups. I have yet to see
Dom, and I doubt I’ll see him before we’re on stage together.

I go through the motions, and find myself getting into our
places for the opening of the show.

I feel physically sick and I suddenly worry that I might not
be cut out for this.

Maybe I can’t do this after all.

Just when I think I’m going to need to run off the stage and
be sick, I feel a warm arm snake around my waist.

“Hey baby,” a familiar voice whispers in my ear.

“Dom!” I exclaim, turning around to look at him. I don’t
realize how much I actually missed him until he’s here next to me.

He looks
hot
, dressed in all black with his hair wild
and unruly.

“Are you excited?” he murmurs, steering me away from the
curious stares of Mel and Liz.

“I’m nervous,” I squeak.

“You’re going to do great,” he assures me.

I nod, and before I have time to blink his lips are on mine
and I feel all my worries melt away. I fold into his arms, and my body wraps
around him. Whistles and catcalls from the band bring me back to the present,
and I unwrap myself from Dom.

“Oops,” I laugh, suddenly embarrassed.

“You’re going to kick ass,” he promises.

He smiles at me and then he’s gone. I watch him go down to
the trap door where he’ll rise up from the floor to make his entrance.

I hear the band start and the sound of the audience is
deafening. I quickly take my place in front of my mic as the curtain is raised.
The sea of screaming fans is unlike anything I can explain in words. Endless
flashing lights, and deafening screams fill the arena as the band starts
playing the first song.

The fans are screaming like wild, chanting Dom’s name. Smoke
fills the stage as Dom rises from the center on the platform, his arms are
outstretched over his head and he's holding his mic, making the metal
"M" symbol with both hands.

The screams become even louder and then suddenly Dom’s voice
is booming through the arena.

“Hello LA!” he shouts. “Are you ready to roooock?”

The fans answer him with roaring applause and more
screaming.

“Then let’s get this party started, show em how LA does it!”

And then he wails into the first song, his voice more
beautiful and raw than I’ve ever heard it before. I’m singing too, but I feel
like one of the swooning girls in the audience.

From that point on, the show rushes by, and I have an out of
body experience as I sing the song where I’m featured.

Before I know it, the band is taking their curtain call, and
Liz, Mel and I are waving as we head off stage. Diesel leaves the stage, but
they aren’t finished yet. The crowd is going wild, begging and crying for them
to return. Diesel makes them wait a full four minutes, and then they’re back
out, performing one of their biggest hits,
Undress You
as an encore.

Back in my dressing room, I still feel like I’m on Cloud
Nine. The adrenaline rush is ridiculous, and as I change back into my street
clothes, and start to take my makeup off, I’m still bouncing.

Mel and Liz are chatting about the tour, and I don’t even
pay attention to what they're saying, all I want is to see Dom again.