“I just assumed they both knew I wasn’t with anyone. That explains the tension.”
“I think you need to sit down with both of them and explain the situation. They don’t need to be competing for your affections like this is some sort of historical romance novel.”
“Good thing I’m not stuck in a historical romance. Kissing two different guys? I’d be branded with a scarlet letter.”
“Hey, it’s the twenty-first century. You’re free to kiss whomever you desire. In fact,” Kell wiggled his eyebrows at me in a cartoonish come-hither stare, “feel free to kiss me whenever you want.”
I huffed out a laugh. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, thanks.”
I moved to sit up, but Kell tugged on my arm.
“Hey, listen.”
I sat back down. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking.
“Jayce… he has this weird complex about being famous.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what everyone says about him. He’s a sex god. He melts the panties off girls.”
“No argument there.”
“That’s the thing. Jayce doesn’t want to be a sex god. He’s a musician. An artist. He lives for the music.”
Understanding dawned on me. “But all anyone talks about is how hot he is…”
“Right. On stage, he loves the spotlight. I mean, heisa rock star.” Kell grinned, but it soon faded. “But off stage? He hates the media. He hates how it created this shallow image of him.”
“And Jayce is worried that’s all anyone will ever see,” I said softly.
“If he could, I think he’d prefer to avoid all that attention entirely. And I think…” Kell leaned back against the sofa and propped his head up on his hand, looking weary and sad. I wondered whether or not Jayce had confided in him, or if it was just Kell being perceptive. He was much more insightful than people gave him credit for. “…Jayce probably assumes the same of everyone else. He doesn’t get why I crave media attention.”
“Because you’re a vain glory hog.”
Kell just grinned.
I thought for a moment. “Jayce said we couldn’t be together because the fans would get mad.”
“That’s stupid. I mean, I guess a few of them would, but it’s not like we care. Is that what he told you?” Kell shook his head, exasperated.
“You think he lied about why he didn’t want to be with me?”
“Oh, he definitely wants to be with you. He’s been following you online forever, and then you show up on tour with us? It’s too good to be true. As for why he’d lie to you—” Kell was brought up short, looking stumped. “I guess you’ll have to ask him that.”
I was silent for a moment, processing everything Kell had told me. I needed to diffuse the tension between Jayce and Neil before things exploded between them, but first I needed to get some answers from Jayce.
If he wanted to be with me, why had he lied?
