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“Never, Jaxon.”
I drive us out of the lookout and back to the mountain road. “You pretend like you aren’t impressed that I’m a rock star, but you sure were quick to kiss me after you found out.”
She barks out a laugh, and my chest warms. “You are not a rock star.”
I gasp, pretending to be offended. “My last album went platinum.”
“Right. Because you are a pop star. You fly to concerts on a fluffy pink cloud, slide back down to earth on a candy cane and emerge to perform on a lemon drop stage to crowds of people with soft hands.”
I glance over at her. “Soft hands? What does that even mean?”
“People who don’t work with their hands for a living.” She squeezes my hand in hers like she’s making a point. “People who’ve never slept on the street or seen the barrel of a gun from the wrong side.”
My heart breaks a little. “You’ve done those things?”
She waves a hand. “Once on both counts. My hands are pretty soft. I’m just saying, rock stars play rock music. They’re not afraid to get dirty and rough, to scream out their pain. Their fans are the same. Totally different from pop stars.”
“So because I don’t scream or have a hard-hitting bass beat, my songs have no emotion?”
“I didn’t say that.” She’s all confidence, chin high, nose in the air. “But yes. If I’m feeling a lot of things that are overwhelming me, I listen to rock music. Usually heavy metal. It speaks to my soul. Pop is a manufactured good feeling with no substance.”
“Huh. Want to bet on that?”
She laughs. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Jaxon.”
“I’m serious. When we get back, I’m going to play a song for you and I promise you will feel something.”
“That’s what she said.” She lets her head drop back as she laughs.
“Laugh it up now. You’ll see.”
She gets quiet, staring out the windshield, and nerves slink into my belly. “Am I truly forgiven? Do you trust me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
That shocks me. Is this some sort of trick? “I lied to you about what I do for a living. After you opened up to me, I paid you back with lies.”
“But I knew you were lying all along.” She shrugs. “I’m more annoyed with myself for not figuring out sooner you’re a pop star. The touring thing should have been a dead giveaway, but I was completely stuck on you being a criminal because of my own baggage.”
I grip the steering wheel tight as the road gets curvier. “You knew I was lying? Why didn’t you say something?”
“If you wanted to tell me the truth, you would have. I was having fun trying to figure you out.” Her tone doesn’t match her words. She may have forgiven me, but I’m certain she doesn’t trust me.
“I promise you, Honey. I’ll never lie to you again. You can ask me anything, and I’ll tell you the truth.”
“What if I ask private questions about Lucia? Don’t you famous people all have NDAs all the time?”
She’s trying to make light of this, but there’s a heaviness beneath her words. I reach over and take her hand, lacing my fingers through hers. I focus more fully on the road now that I’m steering one-handed, but I know these roads well enough to know I can drive safely with one hand. “I shouldn’t have lied to you. I was a selfish bastard, but I promise I won’t do it again. You can trust me.”
She gives my hand a small squeeze, but she’s still not looking at me. “I get why you lied to me, Mac…. I mean, Jaxon. Just know that I’ll always be able to tell when you lie, because you are a terrible, terrible liar. And, if you lie to me again, we’re done.”
“You matter to me, Honey. And I swear to you that no matter what happens between us, you can trust me.” I’d do just about anything for this woman.
She’s silent for a long time. “I really hope that’s true,” she says finally. “Because I know where you live, I know all of your secrets now, and I can be a petty, petty bitch.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Honey
