Rockstar Romeo - Abbie Zanders Page 0,25

I’m just saying.”

I caught Ian looking at me curiously. Ross said something to him I couldn’t hear and gestured toward the limo. With one final glance, Ian turned and swaggered out the door, but for all the boys had been chomping at the bit to head out, they now seemed reluctant to leave.

Tommy restlessly toed the tile. “You going to be okay, Mom?”

“Of course I will,” I assured him. “You’re going to text me every day and send me lots of pictures, right?”

“Right,” he said, giving me a boyish grin and revealing that adorable dimple.

Lord help the young girls he used that on. They wouldn’t stand a chance, which didn’t do a thing to ease my fears.

I lightly pushed at his arm. “Don’t keep your uncle Ross waiting. Go now, before I change my mind.”

He didn’t realize just how close I was to doing exactly that.

With one last hug and kiss from each of them, I watched as they turned and walked away. As they made their way down the walk, I saw them straighten their shoulders and stand taller. Just knowing that this was hard on them too gave me a small measure of comfort.

“Eva,” Ross said, lagging behind the others but still keeping an eye on Ian, “you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s all good,” I lied.

“I can stop by after I take them to the airport. We haven’t gone out to dinner in a while. My treat.”

“I’ll take a rain check, okay? I think I’d just like to be alone, so I can wrap my mind around all this.”

Ross gave my shoulder a brotherly squeeze and kissed the top of my head. “We’ll postpone dinner until tomorrow, but that’s as long as I’m willing to wait. I’ll call later and check up on you, whether you like it or not.”

My lips quirked at Ross’s CEO tone. His bossiness could be frustrating at times, but I knew it was because he cared. And the truth was, the boys and I wouldn’t be where we were if Ross hadn’t been there for us. It was worth the occasional humility on my part. He’d earned that much.

“Deal.”

I stood in the foyer for a good ten minutes after they left. What was I supposed to do now? For that matter, what was I supposed to do for the next twelve weeks?

Despite the early hour, I poured myself a glass of wine and considered typing out an email to “Ida,” but what I was feeling was too raw and personal to express in black letters on a white screen. I picked up my phone, my thumb hovering over her number, then changed my mind about that, too, when the first tears fell.

I put the phone down, picked up my wine, and curled into a tight, upright ball on my sofa. I’d call her later, once I had a chance to process the glut of emotions threatening to suffocate me.

Chapter 8

Dear Ida,

I find myself in uncharted territory. The woman I’m interested in is going through a rough patch, and I want to be there for her. How can I do that without making it seem like I’m trying to take advantage of her vulnerability? – Supportive Rocker

* * *

Dear Supportive,

Congratulations! You have officially evolved beyond caveman mentality. The simple answer: be there for her. Pay attention. She will let you know exactly what she needs.

~ * ~

Jace

“Want to run through that one again?” Kurt asked as the final notes faded away.

We’d spent most of the day in the studio, working on a couple of songs for the new album.

“No. We can’t do any better than that last one, man.”

Kurt was a perfectionist, but if this track got any more perfect, it would be divine. Besides, I was anxious to wrap it up. I hadn’t seen Eva all day, and I was as jittery as a junkie craving a fix.

“Guess you’re right,” Kurt admitted. “What about the new one?”

I frowned. Our latest song had all the makings of an epic hit, but it was missing something, something we hadn’t yet identified. We were close—I could feel it—but we weren’t there yet.

“I need a break. Maybe it’ll come to me.”

Chaz, our bassist, nodded and grinned. “It always does. Hey, are you hanging with us tonight? The wives and kids are going shopping or some shit, so it’ll be just us guys. We’re grabbing some Chinese takeout and a case of beer or two, doing it up old school with some cult classics. You in?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

Kurt smiled