Last Song (Chasing Cross Book Five) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) (rockstar contemporary romance) by Karolyn James

told you, I’m not most
people.”
    “I’m really glad you came
tonight,” Rick said. “I have to admit, I’m nervous.”
    “You’re nervous?” Sarah
asked. “You play shows in arenas.”
    “Yeah, but that’s
different. Like I said, it’s a big show. Everything is hooked up to mics and
it’s something I’ve done for years. I normally would get on stage and just get
into a zone. I’d play the set list, listen to the crowd, and that would be the
show. This is different here. This is small. Most of the people don’t care.
There’s a perception when you’re on stage with twenty thousand people screaming
for you. Here, I’d be lucky if there was twenty people screaming for me.”
    “Well, when you say it
like that,” Sarah said.
    Rick laughed. Sarah
leaned towards him. Her shoulder bumped into his chest. Her left arm shot
around and went around her shoulder. He pulled her tight to him before he knew
what he was doing. Sarah looked up at him and Rick couldn’t let the opportunity
pass by. He gently pressed his lips to hers. His heart raced faster than it
ever did playing for the biggest crowd he could remember.
     
    **
     
    Sarah stood next to Susie
as the band played. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Rick and she couldn’t stop
licking her lips, thinking about the way he kissed her. It had been a gentle
kiss yet it lingered. It kept Sarah on her toes, wondering if and when it would
happen again. What was she thinking? This guy is her neighbor, who happens to
be a hot rockstar. She couldn’t do this, right?
    All signs pointed to no,
but the way her body felt watching Rick play the drums took all rationale and
tossed it out the door. She suddenly had the urge to be wild and free. It
didn’t help that Susie was on her third drink, something pink that stunk of rum
and sugar. She was feeling way too good and continued to try to get Sarah to
dance.
    Sarah didn’t want to
dance.
    She wanted to stare at
Rick.
    In between songs, Rick
reached down and drank from a cup. After the fourth song she could see the way
Rick’s face began to change. It definitely wasn’t water in the cup, but it was
a concert. It probably went with the routine of the show. No big deal.
    Most of the bar enjoyed
the show. Everyone seemed to love the idea of such a big rockstar playing a
small place. When the band played a Chasing Cross song, the crowd cheered as
loud as a small crowd could have done. Sarah knew the song and bobbed her head,
wishing she had the confidence and coordination to actually dance. She casually
checked her watch and saw it was almost eleven.
    When was the last time
she was out until eleven? Thankfully she didn’t have work tomorrow, but she
didn’t have to think of Molly. The poor dog was at home, waiting.
    After the Chasing Cross
song, Rick stood up and put his arms in the air. The crowd applauded and the
band went right into the next set of songs. They played three songs that Sarah
didn’t know but enjoyed. Those were the last three songs of the night for the
band. When it ended and Rick came from the stage, a crowd formed around him.
The celebrity of Rick had come to life.
    “We should head out,”
Sarah said to Susie. “It’s late.”
    “No, no,” Susie said.
“Not now. Let’s have fun still. Go talk to Rick. He likes you.”
    “He’s busy,” Sarah said.
    Rick pushed his way
towards the bar and got another drink. Sarah watched him drink, drink, drink,
until the cup was empty. He put it down and pointed.
    “Need another,” he said
and laughed.
    The rest of the band
joined him and they all hugged.
    “That was great,” Rick
said. “So great.”
    Sarah could hear his
voice slurring.
    Rick was drunk.
    She wanted more than ever
to slip away and get out of there, but when Rick saw her, he pointed and called
her name. She felt two inches tall and when everyone looked at her she suddenly
felt like a groupie.
    Susie gave Sarah a nudge
forward against her will, Sarah went to join Rick.
    He was touchy,