The Complete Rockstar Series

I walk into the tiny washroom and check my reflection—boring and plain, as usual. Oh well.

“Ready?” Ellie asks.

“Let’s go!”

The tube to the DK seems to take forever tonight, probably because I’m nearly crawling out of my skin to see Dax perform again. Yeah, last time sucked. Watching the groupies stalk Dax and Adam from the edge of the stage was a nice solid punch to my ego. But the fact that I’ve spoken to Dax a few times since has given me a microscopic sized amount of courage that I plan on exploiting once I have a pint or two.

“Bugger. They’ve already started,” I complain, hopping from one foot to the other. I twist my hair nervously around my hand.

“What’s the big deal? We’ve seen them before,” Ellie asks.

I shrug, not wanting to discuss my enormous, pathetic, decade-old crush on Dax. “You get to see them practice nearly every day. I’ve only seen them the one time.” Ellie hands me a pint of lager, which I down much faster than I should. I need to relax or I’ll combust.

“Jeez, Kate. Thirsty?” Ellie is raising a questioning eyebrow at my empty glass.

“Oh. Yeah. I was. Sorry. Let me grab another and we can move closer to the stage.”

Five minutes later, we’re situated a few meters from where Adam and Dax are singing and strumming their hearts out. The two new blokes are good as well, making them sound like a proper band.

“They’re really good with the Americans joining up!” Ellie shouts in my ear so I can hear her over the music. “They even wrote some more songs now that they have drums and a bass!”

“They are good!” I yell back. Personally, I liked the acoustic set they did a bit better. But she’s right. They do sound like a proper band. Professional. The fact that all four of them are strikingly gorgeous in their own way doesn’t hurt their popularity one bit.

I know the exact second Adam notices Ellie in the crowd. When he sees her, he smiles like he’s found his reason to live. He sings to her and her alone, exposing his heart and soul with each beautiful note.

It’s almost uncomfortable to watch, as if I’m intruding on an intimate moment. A seed of unease blooms in my chest. No one has ever looked at me like that. I can’t even imagine what that level of devotion would feel like.

My eyes leave Adam to focus on Dax. He’s singing and playing as much as Adam, but Dax keeps his emotions sealed up tight—if he even has emotions. His face is as expressionless and distant as it’s been every single day I’ve known him. In fact, the only time I’ve seen that cold, unreadable face change is when he talks to Adam or his band mates. Never for anything or anyone else.

That’s not entirely true, he had a laugh with me the other day at the café. Of course, Adam was there, but still. I saw it, and it was breathtaking.

Iceman. I giggle at the thought.

As Dax’s eyes roam the crowd, they land on me and freeze. Too late to hide it, I see his eyes widen in surprise. To my complete and utter shock, Dax winks at me before returning his attention to the music.

My chest is suddenly full, and it’s not from that seed of doubt. No, it’s from hope. The hope that maybe, just maybe, I’m no longer invisible and Dax Davies might actually see me.

* * *

“You sure you’re okay going home? It’s a long way and I don’t want to feel like I’m ditching you.”

I smile at Ellie. “You’re not ditching me, El. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll make sure she gets home, Ellie. No worries, yeah?” Dax has silently edged up next to us, apparently overhearing our conversation. He doesn’t seem to think twice about his offer. I stifle a smile. Surely Dax must realize I’ve been walking around Hackney by myself my entire life?

Ellie’s gaze shifts from me to Dax and back. I see an impish sparkle in her blue eyes right before she smirks. “Thanks Dax. I was worried, but Adam wants to—”

“Adam wants to what?” Ellie’s boyfriend, Adam Reynolds, wraps his arms around her waist, leaning his lightly stubbled chin on the top of her blonde head. He’s exactly what you want for a lead singer, tall and lean, with tousled black hair and a permanent grin. Charming as well. “Spend time with his girl?” Ellie tips her head back so Adam can reach her mouth, giving her a quick kiss.

It takes everything in me not to squirm or fidget as they give us another peek inside their relationship. A prickly heat creeps up my neck and into my cheeks. If Dax weren’t standing so close, close enough to catch his alluring masculine scent, maybe it wouldn’t be so uncomfortable, but Adam and Ellie are always snogging when Dax and I are around. Their intense heat combined with Dax’s close proximity makes every cell in my body ache to spin around and press against his huge, muscular form.

“Ummmm, yeah,” I stammer. “Go. Spend time together. Be happy and loving and snog all night. I’ll find a way home. No need to bother Dax.” I have to allow him an out. He isn’t my keeper and isn’t responsible for me.

I can’t bring myself to look at Dax directly. If I do he’ll see right through my lie. He’ll know I want him to insist on taking me home. That it will make me feel that a teeny tiny piece of me somehow belongs to him.

Dax immediately rebuffs my option. “Nonsense. I’m taking you home.” Even though I can’t see his face, I can tell from his voice that our discussion is over. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t allow me to walk home alone, and that controlling, possessive streak of his brings a smile to my face that I can’t hide.

“Fine. See El? Dax is taking me home. Go.” I bodily push her and Adam out the door of the DK. Hawke and Gavin, their American band mates, have already left. Only Dax and I remain in the cramped back room.