Hidden in the Stars (Falling Stars #2) (16 page)

Lucas leans around my body to land a scowl on Jackson, and growls, "You should've told him to buzz off."

"Oh. My. God." Sean’s voice takes my attention. He stands frozen a foot behind Lucas. "You…you're…" He points at Jackson, eyes wide and mouth in a large ‘O’.

"What’s your problem?" Lucas escapes my arms and stares at his star-struck friend.

"My problem?" Sean points to himself. "Don't you know who that is?" His voice hitches higher in excitement.

"What the hell is going on?" Kel stumbles out of his room, rubbing his left eye with his palm, his blond hair in disarray.

I cover my face with my hand.

"That's Jackson Shaw!" Sean shouts. "You have the lead guitarist for The Forgotten in your kitchen, Luke."

Lucas turns his head and examines Jackson through narrow eyes.

"Are you sure?" Lucas asks Sean.

"I can show you my ID," Jackson offers with a chuckle.

"Holy crap!" Sean bolts back into Lucas' room, returning in less than a minute with a CD case, magazine, and a school folder. "You've gotta sign these for me. Please!"

Lucas grabs the magazine from his hand, looking over the cover and back up at Jackson. Recognition slowly dawns on his face.

"You have a pen?" Jackson asks.

Sean pulls a black marker out and holds it up.

"Bring it over here." Jackson sits back down, taking the items from Sean and signing them.

Lucas walks over and tosses the magazine on the counter. Jackson looks up and their eyes meet.

"You say one mean thing to my mom again and you'll regret it."

Jackson stays silent, but gives him a nod and draws an invisible cross over his heart.

"Wow, little Luke is kind of badass, huh?" Kel whispers in my ear.

I fight a giggle and smack his arm.

"Don't worry," I interrupt their staring contest, "Jackson is getting ready to leave."

"Is the rest of the band here?" Sean asks, sitting on the stool next to him.

"Nah, but they’ll be coming to town in a couple weeks." He finishes signing and hands the treasures back to Sean. "Hush will be here too if you're a fan—”

Oh, no. Here we go.

"Hushed Mentality?" It's Lucas' turn to go fanboy.

"Yeah." Jackson nods, sipping from his mug.

"Mia Ryder will be in town?" he asks, a wistful look in my little boy’s eyes.

Jackson laughs. "Yeah, man, she will. But be careful, Chris is a little jealous."

Lucas blushes.

"I'll see if I can set you up to meet with them, okay?"

"Really?"

"If their schedule is flexible enough, I'll see what I can make happen."

"Cool." Lucas grins, but quickly gets serious again. "This doesn't change anything. Be nice to her." He points to me.

"He gets it, Lucas." I grab his finger, pull him to me, and ruffle his hair. "Now, you two need to eat. You have a game today."

"Okay," they reply in unison, moving into the kitchen to gather bowls, cereal, and milk.

Jackson moves so they can sit. I go into the living room and fold the bed back into the couch. It gets stuck, which is not uncommon. Two inked arms appear on each side of me, helping to shove. When it collapses into the couch, Jackson lies over my back, his groin just above my ass.

He straightens, his hands coming to my hips and face dipping to my ear.

"If there weren't impressionable young minds over there, you would still be bent over the couch, but screaming my name." His tongue flicks my ear before he pulls away.

I fight the shiver and focus on putting the cushions back on the couch.

"I don't know how you sleep on that every night." He shakes his head.

I shrug. "Used to it."

Clearing my throat, I move to step around him. His hand grasps my arm, stopping me.

"I want to see you," he says, his voice level.

"Jackson, I know I spent a night with you." I keep my voice low and watch the boys to ensure they aren't listening. "And I gave you that impression, but I'm not that girl."

"No, you're not. And I don't want that girl," he responds. "I want the woman who laid claim to my body and then let me stay in her bed because I'm the man who doesn't want to give you up."

Oh my God.

"I'm not interested," I say, my lie a broken whisper.

"You and I both know that's a lie." The caress of this thumb against my skin sends shots of need through me.

Damn him.

His phone rings and he's quick to answer.

Saved by the cell.

"Yeah." He pauses. "Shit." His eyes come to mine. "The press is all over this place, is there a back way out of this building?"

"The fire escape," Kel suggests, sitting down on the couch.

"Where is it?" He turns to Kel.

"Tell him to park a street over. I'll get you out of here." Kel stands. "Just let me grab my shoes.”

Jackson relays the message into the phone and hangs up.

"Tonight?" he presses.

I shake my head. "I have things to do with the boys and plans this evening."

A flicker of something dark flashes in his eyes.

"You ready?" Kel calls from the door.

"Yeah," Jackson calls over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm not giving up."

Before I can respond, he cups the back of my head and crushes his mouth to mine.

Releasing me, he turns and follows Kel out the door.

"Dude, Jackson Shaw just kissed your mom. That's so cool," Sean crows.

I cover my mouth with my hand and close my eyes.

What am I supposed to do with that? I don’t have time for this game he wants to play. Not right now.

Chapter Eleven

Jackson

Liza's brother stays silent, leading me down the fire escape, around the back of the building, through an alley, and behind another building. The familiar black car waits at the far end of the next alley. Sam flashes the headlights.

"It's Sam," I confirm, taking the lead toward the car.

A few feet from the car, Sam climbs from behind the driver's seat, his large form more imposing in the shadows of the alley. He rounds the car in practiced movement, opening the back door.

Before coming around to the door to get in the car, I turn to Kel.

"Thanks for helping me out, man."

"Anything to get you away from my sister." His eyes level on me with an unexpected fury.

"Ah, not a fan, huh?" I cross my arms over my chest.

"Of The Forgotten? Sure." He nods with a shrug. "Of you imposing on my sister and using her? No, man. I'm. Not. A. Fan." Mimicking, his arms cross over his chest.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated your sister. I apologized to her and I’m going to make that shit up to
her
." I straighten to my fullest height, knowing my size intimidates. He doesn't flinch or back down.
Impressive.
"Let's get one thing straight. I'm not using her."

He snorts. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really." I step closer, insult slowly boiling to anger.

"Look, I get it. You're in town for celebrity stuff." He puts his hands out, palms forward. "You wanna have a good time and see my sister in character on stage. Liza has a lot of shit going on and doesn't need any more baggage than what Lucas, Sean, and I cause her." I furrow my brow at this knowledge. I know about her financial concern, but what else is going on?
And how the fuck does the Sean kid play a part?

"She's not Miz Liz, Jackson. She's so much more. Much more than the on-the-side or while-I'm-in-town piece of ass. She's too good for you," he finishes.

Anger flares, swelling my chest and surging into my limbs. Snatching him by the T-shirt, I shove him against the brick building on our right.

"I'm one person you don't have to tell that she's too good for me." Pressing forward, I hold him against the building with my forearm across his chest. "And, Kel, your sister is Miz Liz. You may not want see it, but it's a part of her, of who she is." He tenses, ready to fight back. "And I, for one, fucking love it." His chest muscles relax a little. I release him from the wall, taking a step back. "No, she isn't Miz Liz. Liza is a mixture of many things and each one she shows me is more amazing than next."

Kel rubs his chest. "You barely know her."

"I plan on fixing that shit as soon as she allows me."

"And when you're done here, then what?" One brow raises over his light blue eye.

"I don't know if I'll ever be done." I level him with a look, and he stiffens in response.

"Don't break her, Jackson. Liza is everything to us. I don't care who you are. If you hurt her…" Kel closes his eyes, breathing deeply.

"Huh, and here I am afraid she's going to break me." Turning, I step around Sam and climb into the car.

Kel's hand stops Sam from closing the door. He grabs the boy's shoulder to move him away from the car. "Step back, son," Sam orders.

"It's okay." I half pull myself out of the car. Sam eyes Kel before going to the driver's side and climbing inside.

"You mean that, don't you?" His brow furrows, causing deep lines for such a young face.

"Mean what?" I glance away for a moment, pretending not to know what he's asking.

"You do," he says on a breath. Then, on a laugh, he says, "You really are scared she'll break you."

Rubbing the back of my neck, I ask, "Are we done here?"

Kel nods, finally returning to his more sober self. "There's a park four blocks that way." He points over his shoulder.

Confusion twists my face.

"She'll be there most of the afternoon for Lucas and Sean's soccer game." Shaking his head, he walks backward. "Jackson Shaw has a thing for my sister."

I narrow my eyes, not enjoying the amusement he's getting on my behalf. He grins wide, gives a salute, and runs off in the direction we arrived.

I slide back into the car and pull the door shut.
Cocky little fucker.
Sitting back into the leather seat, I grin.
I think I like that kid.
I put my head back on the seat, close my eyes, and pound on the ceiling. Sam backs out of the alley and away from a place I'd much rather stay.

My cell beeps, causing reality to crash down on me.

Mom.

I pull the cell out of my pocket, seeing missed messages from Chris. Tapping the voicemail notification, I realize the beep is because the phone is dying. The screen darkens and I get the damn white apple before it goes black.

"Fuck," I growl, throwing the cell on the floor.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Sam offers from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, do you have Julia's number on your phone?"

"Of course." Lifting his phone from the seat, he taps the screen. "Call Julia."

"Thanks," I say, taking the phone he offers back to me.

"Sam, if he's giving you a hard time, you have my permission to—”

"Hey, now." I stop her tirade.

"Tell me you're in the car and Sam's okay." The panic in her voice is evident.

"Yes and yes. I need you to call my brother for me."

"He's already called."

"When?" Sitting straight, I grip the cell a bit too tight.

"Last night and this morning. He said, and I quote, ‘didn't I fucking tell your stupid ass to stay at the hotel’, end quote."

"That's all he said?" I rub my face with my free hand and take a deep breath.

"He also said to turn your cell phone up so you can hear his call, along with a few other insults."

"Great."
Bastard couldn't leave a message about my mom, but left detailed insults.

"Jackson, tell Sam to bring the car into the garage. You need to come in through the staff entrance." The seriousness in her voice spikes my curiosity.

"Why?"

"The press is all over the place. You're…" she pauses.

"Perry already put that shit out there, didn't he?" I can't keep the disgust out of my voice.

"Yeah, but that's not all, Jackson."

"What else could—?"

"He's teasing an upcoming interview with Kristy about your split." Discomfort changes the pitch of her voice.

"That bitch."

I shove the hotel room door open a bit too hard when I enter. Julia jumps and twists in a chair, focusing her wide eyes on me. Kristy's voice comes from the television and Julia lifts the remote to the screen.

"Don't," I snarl.

Walking by her and grabbing the remote, I sit on the coffee table for a front row view.

"Thank you for joining us, Kristy."

"It's a pleasure." She plays the demure girl so well.

Perry gives the camera a sleazy smile, tilts his head, and addresses the viewers.

"Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Kristyna Molvic, fashion's leading lady, and until recently, the star in Jackson Shaw's life. What separated the happy couple? You'll find out on Perry Exclusive."

The screen cuts to a commercial.

"What the fuck is she up to now?" I growl, tossing the remote to the couch.

"Una wants you to call her," Julia speaks to my back.

"Yeah, later." Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my dead cell. "Can you charge this for me?" I toss the phone to an unprepared Julia. It hits her leg and bounces to the floor. "Sorry."

"Sure." She purses her lips, picking up the phone.

"I believe Una wants to talk about this Kristy situation. She wasn't aware your relationship had ended." Julia studies me.

"It ended before I came here, so wipe that look off your face."

"I don't have a look," she denies.

"You sure as fuck do have a look. It's the ‘you cheated on your girlfriend’ look. Which, I didn't, so get that shit out of your head. Kristy doesn't know how to take no, go away, or it's over as responses." Crossing my arms over my chest, I match her glare.

"Well, with your current behavior, it wouldn't be so unexpected would it?" She plops back down into her chair.

I open my mouth, but Perry quiets me.

"Welcome back, my lovelies. We have a very Perry Exclusive for you today. And while we are honored to have Kristy with us, we are shocked and devastated to hear of the demise of her relationship with Jackson Shaw."

The camera pans to Kristyna. Her glassy eyes are an act I know too goddamn well.

"Thank you for letting me stop by, Perry. I am such a fan." She bats her lashes.

"The lying bitch!" I exclaim. "She fucking hates this guy." I turn to Julia. "She called him a vial, drama-sucking leech under her breath when we were around him."

Perry starts discussing her Gucci campaign and the upcoming launch of her perfume before getting down to business.

"Kristy. Kristyna. Tell me how you're doing." He wears the most sympathetic expression, but the gleam in his eye gives away his thirst for the dirt. "You can tell your friend Perry." His hand comes to her knee and pats gently.

"Well, it's a private matter, so while I will confirm we have split, I would really appreciate if everyone would allow me the time to heal from the event."

"Allow you to heal? But not him? So, he ended it?" Perry presses.

"Oh, it was just a turn of phrase. I meant, so we can heal." Kristy plays her role well. If I didn't know her, I would believe she's sincere.

"Of course, we'll give the two of you time to heal, but personally, girl, I wouldn't protect a man who's treated you like he has." Perry rolls his head, pursing his lips.

"It's just been a conflict of time apart and going different directions, really," Kristy feigns.

"And what about these pictures that surfaced last night?"

My heart clenches and stomach drops. A picture of me in a club with two women, one's face in my lap and the other's tongue in my mouth. Bottles of liquor, full and empty, fill the table, along with white powder lines.

The audience gasps and groans.

A sob rips from Kristy.

"You don't have to tell us anything. These pictures tell your story for you, honey." Patting her knee with one hand, he pushes tissues toward her with the other.

She grabs two and holds them to her face.

"Those are the girls she picked out!" I cry, standing.

"What do you mean ‘she picked out’?" Julia questions, her tone filled with disgust.

Turning toward her, I narrow my eyes.

"She liked to take people home with us. Men, women, one, two, or three—she didn't care. The more, the merrier."

Julia's mouth forms a small ‘o’, but she stays silent.

Kristy's newest sob gets my attention.

"It's so hard, Perry. I was never enough. He needed the attention and the partying. If he didn't…" She buries her face in tissues.

"Didn't what, my dear?" he asks, his hand resting on her knee.

She is fucking insane.

Kristy shakes her head, hiccupping and sniffling.

"It's okay, sweetheart. We all see what you've been dealing with." He turns to the audience. "Don't we?"

A chorus of “yes!” and “you don't need him, girl!” sounds out from the audience.

"I don't believe this," I groan.

Collapsing back down to the coffee table, I hold my head in my hands. Cell phones ring out behind me.

"He. He just. Needed. Them," she hiccups. "And. Without them. He would get angry," Kristy finishes, touching a tissue to her still perfect makeup. Funny how the tears don't ruin her face.

"You're better off without someone like him. Someone who is so hard on women." Perry pulls Kristy into an embrace.