"Pop
Life"
Chapter 92
Andre's staring at me from across the bus, I can tell. He feels that what happened with Matt is his fault. No one blames him though. Matt's plan was just simple. He worked at the MGM Grande and he new another door to get into my dressing room, so he used it. He was afraid of getting in trouble with his boss so he decided to play a game with Ashleigh.
They keep asking us if we want to press charges. I think daddy wants to see what the psychiatrist says about him first. From what we can tell by talking to him, Matt has a learning disability so I don't want him punished because to him, he was just playing and getting a chance to meet his idol. No one was hurt, and that's all that matters to us. Ashleigh doesn't seem to have been affected by it, which is good.
"What are you thinking about?" Tony asks.
I look away from the window and over at him.
"About things," I shrug. "I miss daddy already."
Daddy stayed with me until I was on my way to St. Louis. He knew Brad would be here with me and he wanted to get back to mama and the family. He didn't say that, but I knew that's what the deal was. I don't blame him. I'd go to them too, if I could.
"You'll get to see Brad pretty soon."
"I know. I can't wait." I give him a reassuring smile.
He looks down at his laptop. "You know, you have a couple of days off coming up. If you want to go home, I can arrange that. There's a few interviews lined up for those days but considering what you've gone through, I think you need the time with your family more."
A smile spreads across my face. "I think I need that...thanks."
He smiles back. "Anything to see that smile again."
Within a couple of hours we reach the hotel in downtown St. Louis. Brad's supposed to meet me here.
I keep my eye out for him.
"I don't see him," I say.
"Vern just let me know he's in the lobby, waiting," Andre says.
"Oh, okay."
The bus pulls up to the front door and I see a few fans standing outside, waiting for an autograph or to take a picture.
"I'll be right back," Andre says, which means stay put.
I go to the back of the bus and get my bag. Andre's waiting for me when I come back up front.
"Ready?" he asks.
I nod.
"We're on our way," he says into his radio.
I follow him off the bus. Whenever there's something to sign stuck in my face, I quickly jot my name down and try to smile at the person but Andre's not stopping.
When we get into the lobby I look around for Brad but don't see him.
"Why did you have to rush? I wanted to sign those things for them," I ask Andre.
"Too dangerous," he says.
"Andre...I can't keep running from every fan."
Out of the corner of my eye I see someone standing by the sitting area.
"We'll talk about this later."
Tony walks over to me and hands me my key.
"Room eleven-fifteen," he says.
"Thanks."
We start walking toward the elevator when I glance over at the person I saw before. It's a man in a hooded gray sweatshirt.
"Brad?" I ask.
He walks towards us and opens the hood a little so I can see his face better. I smile and start to hug him but he puts his hand up.
"Wait until we get on the elevator."
I lower my arms and nod. "Oh, okay."
The four of us get on the elevator. As soon as the door closes, I leap up and hug Brad.
"I missed you," I say.
He wraps his arms around me.
"I missed you too."
He kisses my cheek as I pull away.
"Why did you do that?" I ask.
"I just thought it would be easier if the fans didn't see us."
"Good idea," Tony agrees.
I take Brad's hand as we ride the elevator up to the eleventh floor.
Once we're in the room, Brad takes the hood off.
I set my bag down and look at him strangely.
"What?" he asks.
"You're acting strange. We've been around fans before and you didn't have to hide."
"Well, it's different now," he shrugs.
Suddenly a light bulb goes off.
"Because you're in the spotlight now too."
"I'm not in a spotlight," he tries to shrug it off.
"Yes you are. Whether you want to believe it or not, you're falling under the old PR rules. It's okay, I understand. I made you hide at first."
"You're still making me hide."
I put my hands on my hips. "No I'm not."
"Well, we aren't public," he says throwing his hands up in the air.
Quickly I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist.
"I don't want to argue."
I hear him take a deep breath and then his arms wrap around me.
"You're right...this is stupid."
"All I've wanted for the past week is to be with you. I needed your comfort," I say against his chest.
He lifts my chin up and looks deeply into my eyes.
"I told you I would have been there for you."
"I know...that thought alone helped me. Kiss me."
He smiles slightly as he lowers his mouth to mine. Our lips caress each other's slowly. Our tongues gently meet. This is a mind-numbing kiss. He moves his arms in front of me and starts caressing my stomach. His hands span my stomach and move up a little so that his thumbs are resting inside my cleavage and his hands are just below my breasts. It's a bold move on his part and doesn't go unnoticed.
I remove one my hands that were behind his neck and take one of his hands and place it on my breast. Our mouths haven't left each other's up until this point. He pulls back and looks at me, then looks at his hand. I give him a nervous smile. I pull his head down so that our lips touch again and he starts to move us toward the couch. Once we're there, he sits down and pulls me onto his lap. His hands move up under my shirt and this time only the thin layer of my bra is between his hand and my skin. I arch my back a little bit and kiss him more deeply. He takes the hint and starts massaging both breasts.
I moan.
"Oh God...that feels so good," I say when his mouth moves down my jaw to my neck.
"I care about you so much," he says breathlessly.
He pulls away, holding my head between his hands and stares me in the eyes.
"I care about you too." My hands move to cover his.
"No matter what happens with our careers, remember that."
"Brad...did something happen that I should know about?"
He shakes his head before kissing me again.
There's a knock on the door and we pull apart again.
"Greeaaat timing," he laughs.
I smile as I stand up and straighten my shirt.
"At least Tony and I don't have an adjoining rooms this time or he would have just barged in," I say as I walk to the door. "Yes?" I say as I answer the door.
"Just making sure you have everything you need before I head downstairs for dinner."
"Yeah, I think I'm set. We'll get room service."
"Okay. Good night."
"Good night, Tony."
I close the door and lean my back against it as I cover my smile with my hand.
"He was checking up on us."
Brad laughs. "You think?"
I nod. "I am starving. Call room service please while I go freshen up."
He rubs his chin. "Okay."
I grab my bag on the way to the bathroom. When I shut the door I look at myself in the mirror.
"What just happened?" I ask myself.
Quickly I pull my shirt up over my head and look at the plain bra I have on.
"I could at least have a lacy bra on," I giggle.
I change my outfit so that I'm nice and comfy and join Brad again.
"I can't wait to see your mom tomorrow."
"She can't wait to see you," he says pulling my hand to sit next to him on the couch. "She's looking forward to your show."
"That's nice. Do you still have to do that radio thing tomorrow?" I ask, running my fingers through his hair.
"Yeah. About ten and then I'm all yours...unless you have other plans."
"I don't think so. Tony knew to keep my schedule open."
He smiles. "Good."
The next morning I wake up late since Brad didn't leave until late. I wonder how he was able to get up so early to go do this interview at the radio station. I look at the clock and it reads nine-thirty. Good, I have thirty minutes to take a shower and order breakfast.
Once I've ordered breakfast, I sit down on the couch and call mama. We talk until ten.
"Okay wait mama, I need to find this radio station."
"Okay," she says.
I turn the radio on and move the tuner.
"I didn't even ask him which station it was," I laugh. "Oh wait...here, I think I found it."
I sit down and nibble on more fruit.
"I'll let you go sweetie so you can listen."
"Okay mama, I'll talk to you later. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
I hang up the phone and turn the radio up.
«With us today is Brad Rowe from the new group, Acoustic Harmonies. Brad, thanks for joining us.»
«Thanks man, good to be here.»
«You sure about that? I'm sure it's early in the morning for someone like you...aren't your hours mixed up when you're in the music business?» the DJ chuckles.
Brad laughs a little. «Yeah sometimes. It's cool.»
They talk more about the new music and the guys in the group.
«Okay rumor time.»
Brad groans as the DJ laughs.
«Sorry man but the girls want to know if you're single or if you're seeing someone.»
«No, I'm single.»
Suddenly my smile disappears. He said it so easily.
«Oh okay because you're here in town and a certain someone you've been linked with is here in concert tonight. We were wondering if the rumors were true.»
«Well my family lives here so I'm here to visit my mom. My mom is a big fan of that certain someone so we will be at her show tonight. Plus I was in her band so we keep in touch, you know?.»
I feel the color drain from my face as I sit back on the couch. I can't believe him.
There's a knock on the door and I go to open it. When Tony sees me he says, "Is there something wrong?"
I walk away and leave him standing there. I turn around and say, "Yeah, when Brad gets here...turn him away. I don't want to see him right now."