Page 73 of Lust For
Aiden has a voice similar to this. I always call it his stage voice. I look over at him and take him in. The way a cocky grin has slid across his face, his eyes dancing with amusements. The rock star has been recognized.
“You’re Derek from Crave,” the other worker says. They both look like they’re about to start bouncing on their heels with excitement.
“That would be me.” He grins at them.
“Wow,” they say in unison.
He chuckles. “Tell you what, I’ll sign whatever you two want if you promise not to tell anyone that I’m here. I’m just helping out a friend,” he gestures to me, and my heart sinks a bit at being called a friend. But the facade must be kept up. “Could you not tell anyone that you saw me? Or that I’m here in town? It would really be bad for me if this place was swarmed with people. I just wanna help her pack up this stuff before I have to head back to LA.”
“Sure, man, no problem,” one of them stammers. “Happy to help you out.”
“Great. Thanks. You want anything signed?” Derek asks.
One of them nods vigorously. “I’ll just go to the truck and get it.” And then he takes off.
Derek chuckles, looking over at me. “I hope they aren’t bullshitting me.” He stares out the door.
“What’s it like?” I ask him.
“What’s what like?”
“Having grown men fawning at your feet in disbelief that ‘Oh man, he’s a rock star and he’s standing in front of me.’ What is that like?”
He shrugs. “It has its perks. Sometimes it’s annoying if it’s a bunch of people and they’re mobbing me. But this is just two guys. Plus, I have to be nice, so they don’t tell people I was here with you. Think about the way he saw us the first time.” He winks, and I just shake my head. “Besides, it’s not always that bad.”
The two men return with napkins for him to sign. Derek looks at their excited faces and then at the napkins. He takes the sharpie from their outstretched hands and signs them, and they thank him profusely.
“Alright, let’s get your stuff picked up, and we’ll be back tomorrow free of charge,” one tells us.
“Thank you,” I reply. “That’s so nice of you.”
“Of course. Anything to help you guys out.”
“And you’ll keep your mouth shut about this?” Derek clarifies. He looks slightly intimidating as he puffs his chest out.
He looks so sexy; I wish he would stand over me and then fuck me senseless. I bite back a moan.
“Of course, yeah. We’ll keep our mouths shut. It’s so nice of you to help her out.”
Derek reaches out to pound fists with them.
“You’re so lucky that you’re dating Serena,” the other says. “She must be so chill if she’s cool with you being here right now.”
Serena. The woman that has the potential to be our undoing. Of course, they would mention her. It was such a perfect morning.
I freeze, not sure what to say. I awkwardly excuse myself and head into the bedroom. I have no idea how Derek replies to them. But then I hear him call my name. The tears want to come, so I swallow back the lump forming in my throat.
“That everything?” Derek asks me. The guys are standing there trying to see me from where I stand hidden in the shadows.
“That we have ready now,” I say, wishing they would just leave, and I could go hide away. Even though I know chances are slim that he’ll actually let me hide away from him, considering the reason.
“Guess we’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
They say their goodbyes while I just stand there. I kinda wish I could tell them that they can’t take that stuff. We’ll find someone else to take it. But I know that’s silly. It’s all loaded up, and this is what my mom wanted me to do. I head out onto the deck and stare out into the sea. It’s a beautiful view. I’m going to miss this place when we sell. The door opens behind me, and a shiver goes up my spine when he brushes his hand on my hip. Gently, he tugs me to him.
“You good?” he asks.
“Peachy,” I tell him.