Read Online Rocked in the Light by Clara Bayard - Free Book Online

It can help to talk to someone who isn’t super close to you.”
    “Thanks, but I’m okay. Just tired, I guess.”
    “It’s more than that. I’m sure you know people are talking.”
    He nodded. “I’m tired, Julia. Exhausted by everything. Even my band. Especially my band. This is all I ever wanted but now I kind of want to run away. Hop on a plane and go see my girl, you know?”
    “Yeah, I understand.” I didn’t, actually. Not for a second. He was the lead singer of the biggest band in the country right now and he wanted to leave that all behind to hang out with a college student? Liss must have been made of magic. That, or things between him and his bandmates were worse than I thought. Either way, it was bad news.
    “I gotta run. See ya later.”
    “Bye, Joe.”
    I went on to my dressing room and found one of the wardrobe people waiting for me. Apparently one of my suitcases had gone missing and I didn’t have anything to wear tonight. Someone was off trying to get an emergency dry cleaning, whatever that meant, but in the meantime I had to figure out a backup plan.
    That took forever and by the time I’d eaten and showered, there wasn’t a free minute to talk to Rick. I was annoyed, but somewhat grateful for the distraction the show provided. My set went well and the crowd was amazing.
    Since I was up first, I had some time after coming off stage to hunt Rick down before they had to start. I made my way to his dressing room and opened the door.
    “Hey,” he said, casually. He was in just jeans, freshly out of the shower and it was a struggle to not drool.
    “Have a sec?”
    “Sure.”
    I shut the door behind me and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
    He cocked his head to the side and took a swig from a bottle of beer. “For what?”
    “Being a selfish bitch.”
    “Can you narrow that down for me?”
    “The last time I talked to you, I was terrible. And I apologize.”
    “Really? This isn’t a trick?”
    “No. You were right. I was only thinking about myself. This tour is a huge deal for everyone, and we’re all stressed. There’s no point playing the ‘who needs this more’ game.”
    “True.” He walked over and stood close, looking down at me since I’d kicked my boots off after my set was over. “Your timing is fucking miserable, Julia.”
    “What? Why?” Shit. Had I screwed up again?
    “I gotta go get ready. We’re on soon.”
    “I know, I won’t keep you.”
    “You don’t get what I’m saying.”
    “No, I don’t.” And it was starting to annoy me a little.
    Rick smiled slyly. “We had a fight. Now we made up. But I don’t have time for the all-important make-up sex.”
    “You…what?” I burst out laughing and smacked his arm. “Asshole. I thought you were actually still pissed at me.”
    He wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck and rubbed gently. “I wasn’t really pissed at you before. Just…a little fucked in the head lately.”
    “I know. And I’m sorry. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
    “Mmm. I have a list of things you can do. But like I said, it’ll have to wait until after the show.”
    I rolled my eyes and rose up on my toes to kiss him. “Go to work, sex maniac.”
    He laughed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
    The knot in my stomach began to loosen. Things weren’t perfect, but I felt like I was finally living like a regular person. Noticing and caring about more than just myself. And admitting when I was wrong.

    The next morning I had to get up really early for the photo shoot. By early I mean actually in the morning. Well before noon. Horrible. I was sitting in the makeup chair, freezing to death because they chose a warehouse that I think was actually some kind of meat locker to shoot in.
    A production assistant kept bringing me fresh cups of coffee I had to sip through a straw. Every time I took a sip it burned and annoyed me. So glamorous.
    “Honey, you’ve got to stop snarling like that,”