Surrender (Seaside Pictures #4) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,59

and stretched.

Drew walked back in wearing nothing but his low-slung pair of jeans from last night and a mesmerizing smile. “So, how’s it feel?”

Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t jump to conclusions.

“Waking up next to me?”

I threw a pillow at him and then shrugged. “I don’t know since, when I woke up, you weren’t there.”

His face fell, and then a guilty look flashed before his sexy smile was back. “Sorry, a man’s gotta have some secrets.”

“Is this… a bad secret?”

He frowned. “Is this our first fight?”

“Stop deflecting.” I watched for any more clues in his posture, but he was back to his old self.

“I’m…” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then my mouth. “…not deflecting.”

“You’re using your sexual prowess,” I grumbled, nearly forgetting why I’d been worried in the first place.

“Hey, a man’s gotta use everything in his arsenal. Besides, it’s your birthday morning, and since you’re probably exhausted…” He dove under the covers.

And my worry was completely forgotten.

Sucked away by Drew’s magnificent tongue.

It was the best birthday morning of my life.

With my rockstar boyfriend by my side.

Literally.

He managed to make pancakes and kept on talking about a surprise. He told me he needed to run an errand really quick, and that Amelia was already on her way back to celebrate with us.

I was giddy with excitement.

Which should have been my first clue that something was about to go wrong.

I cleaned up the house a bit and turned on the TV so that I could have some background noise. I hated feeling alone in that giant place.

“Hey, Mom!” Amelia bounced through the door and slammed it. “Happy birthday!”

“Thank you.” I pulled my baby into my arms and hugged her tight. “How did the night as Protector of the Ring go?”

She pulled out the black AmEx and handed it to me. Was I seriously holding his credit card now?

Life. So strange.

“I bought pizza for all my friends then thought about making up a fake receipt of huge purchases, including a yacht in the south of France, but decided that he’s old enough to have a heart attack so…”

“Heard that,” Drew suddenly said from the door, leaning against it so casual and sexy, my heart skipped a beat.

“You were meant to,” Amelia sing-songed with a grin. “I saw your car pulling up after mine.”

He let out a snort. “Too smart for her own good, folks.”

“The music world is being rocked this morning by the downfall of a legend…” said the prissy female newscaster. “A reliable source has confirmed that Andrew Amhurst, Adrenaline frontman, has fled to Seaside, Oregon, recently after pictures were leaked of him reverting to his old ways, partying late at night along with obvious drug usage.” She sighed. “We hope that Drew gets the help he needs from his bandmates in Oregon. Maybe third time’s a charm.”

Everything in me seized up.

Everything.

All the hushed conversations came back full force as a numbness washed over me.

“Amelia, go to your room,” I whispered.

“Mom, I—” Tears welled in her eyes.

“Now.” I flipped off the TV.

Drew looked just as upset as I felt, but he didn’t say a word, didn’t deny it, didn’t do anything except stand there with a pained expression on his face, as if he didn’t know what to say.

Those damn phone calls.

“You’re using?” My voice trembled.

“What do you think?” His face was stone, his jaw clenched.

“I-I don’t know what to think. I mean, you weren’t supposed to be here recording still, right? And then you’re suddenly here, and you keep making these phone calls and talking about demons and, and—”

“Wow, seems like you’ve got it all figured out. Every puzzle piece just fits together perfectly, doesn’t it?”

“You had wine,” I pointed out, “and champagne.”

“Are you serious right now?” His face completely broke. “After everything we’ve shared, everything, you’re going to believe a celebrity gossip?”

“Then tell me.” Tears spilled onto my cheeks. “Make me believe you. I don’t want—”

“You know the worst part?” He looked down at the floor, his posture defeated. “I thought that this was different, a fresh start. I thought that if I could just wake up to you, fall asleep next to you, that as long as you kept the demons at bay, I could trust you. I could finally be myself. I could, with some work, drop this exhausting facade, this persona people project onto me. And now—” He lifted his head and met my gaze, his eyes filled with inscrutable emotion. “—you’re looking at me as if I burned the world. You’re looking at me