There was no doubt in my mind what he meant by that.
"I'm glad you're here," he said. "I didn't think you'd come."
"Why?" I asked.
"I didn't think you were a fan."
I'd meant, why was he glad I was here, but I didn't ask again. I wasn't sure what kind of answer he would give.
"I like your music," I said. "I just didn't recognize you the first time I saw you. Especially with that ridiculous ball cap."
He spread his arms out, gesturing to his current outfit. "Is this better?"
Leather jacket and eyeliner? I couldn't think of anything that would suit the guy better. As I stared at him, my eyes went hazy again, taking in the delicious sight.
"Like what you see?" he asked.
I snapped my eyes back up to his to find a wide smirk creeping across his lips.
"It definitely does look more rock star," I managed to say. "You're only missing a guitar to complete the look."
His eyes drifted over my shoulder and he nodded his chin. A crew member came over and handed him exactly that. He shrugged the strap around his shoulders and settled the body of the instrument against his hip. My face grew warm when I remembered that familiar pose from his modeling ads.
"You're stroking that thing like it's your lover," I noted.
Nathan paused with his hand flat on the body of the guitar, stopping his slow caress back and forth. He blinked down at his instrument as if he hadn't realized what he'd been doing.
"This girl's been with me a long time," he explained. "I don't like to play favorites, but there's something special about her."
"It's a her?"
"All my guitars are hers."
"I suppose they would be," I said, "considering you spend hours feeling them up."
"We do make sweet music together," he grinned.
"Have you been playing for long?" I asked.
"My mom bought me my first guitar at nine," he said.
"Is this one her?"
"No. I had to get a kid-sized guitar. But once I started growing, I bought this one myself."
"Yourself?" I raised an eyebrow. "Aren't those things expensive?"
"Sure are," he said. "I saved up all my money from odd jobs. Paper routes and mowing lawns, stuff like that."
"That's very mature of you." I tried not to sound surprised and insult him, but I had a feeling maturity and Nathan Walker didn't really go together. "Most kids wouldn't think to save like that."
"Wait, say that again." Nathan cupped his hand to his ear in an exaggerated motion. "I need the guys to hear someone call me mature."
"That rare of an occurrence, huh?" I asked with a laugh, knowing my suspicions had been right.
"It isn't the first thing that comes to mind when people think of me," Nathan said. "What about you? Were you mature? Did you save up money from your odd jobs for something cool?"
How weird would it be to admit I'd never had the opportunity to do odd jobs as a kid? Didn't most girls at least babysit or something?
