Filed to story: Breathe Story (Sadie White & Jax Stone)
I grinned and shook my head. “Nope.”
Preston broke out into a grin. “So, you don’t like the competition, do you, big boy?” he teased, and Marcus glared at his friend and sighed before he turned to me.
“What he doesn’t realize is that the competition isn’t even at this table.”
Preston frowned, and then like a light went on he sat back, and he grew serious, which was a first.
“Can I get you something to drink…wait, OMG
it is you! Ah, I can’t believe it! Jax Stone’s girlfriend.”
The girl rummaged through her apron and pulled out a piece of paper and handed me a pen. “Can I have your autograph, please?”
I was too shocked to respond, or move for that matter. I looked at Marcus, and I guess he noticed the panic in my eyes, because he took the paper and pen and handed it back to the girl.
“Uh, why don’t you take our drink order instead?”
The girl’s grin fell, and I dropped my eyes to my hands. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to respond. This was not something I had seen coming.
Marcus ordered me a Coke, and then took my hand. “I guess you haven’t been around town lately?” he asked cautiously.
I shook my head, but didn’t meet his gaze.
He sighed deeply and leaned down toward me. “Things are going to be a little different for you, for a while at least. You’re still on the news some, and, well, around this small town, you’re a star. No one has ever gotten as close to fame as you have.”
I closed my eyes. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. Jax had left me to keep this from happening. Was my life going to always be this way? When would everyone realize the rock star had left me? I was no longer his, and I was no longer interesting. I was just Sadie White.
“Sadie, look at me, please,” Marcus whispered.
I met his eyes slowly and noticed the waitress pointing our way.
“Great, she is announcing my presence,” I muttered.
Marcus turned around to see the girls looking our way. He turned to Preston. “Could you go put those pretty boy looks to good use and distract the ‘OMG’ squad over there.”
Preston nodded. “Sure.” He went over to the girls, and, almost immediately, he had them giggling and smiling at him.
Relief washed over me. “Do you think he will go to school with me and do that?” I asked quietly.
Marcus chuckled. “No, you’ll be on your own there. But, remember, they will get over it. It’s just Jax recorded a new song, and it’s rumored all over the news that it is about you. It hit number one its first week on the radio. The buzz is being fed a little more.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “What does the song say?” I heard myself asking. Why I wanted to know was beyond me. This was going to be painful but I still wanted to know.
Marcus dropped his hands from mine and shifted in his seat. “Enough for me to know it is about you,” he said with no emotion to his voice.
I nodded and turned my attention to watching the world outside the window. Preston returned with our Cokes and sat them at the table.
“Thanks for that,” I said, nodding toward the giggling girls who now only had eyes for Preston.
He shrugged and grinned. “Not a problem. I’m glad these good looks are good for something.” He winked and took a sip of his Coke.