Page 33 of Rockstar Retreat

I blinked at her in surprise. “What? When? Why?”

She shrugged, looking so carefree for someone that had just lost their job. It was so different to the reaction she’d had when she worried about our secret being found out.

“It was just yesterday before I came to you. I don’t know how, but the boss found out, and he just calmly told me to leave. So I was kind of hoping you still wanted me around.”

The smile she sent me was edged in relief, and I made a sound of surprise.

“Why would you even think that? Of course, I want you around, Sharon. I don’t know if you realize this, but you’re good for me.”

She rolled her eyes. “I think we’ve talked a lot about flattery, Jerrik.”

“Not enough,” I countered. “Not if you can't tell the difference between me flattering you, and me saying what’s the simple truth. You do realize that without you, I’d probably still be as bad as I was when I first came to the retreat?”

Her lips pursed in disbelief. “You do understand the position you’re in, don’t you? You’re famous, Jerrik. When you get back out there, you’re going to be reminded that you get to see extraordinary people a lot more often than most people.”

“Maybe, but remember when I told you none of the people I kept near were considered friends of mine?” I waited until she nodded. “I need someone like you, people someone less poisonous and more positive, someone I trust. You make me feel like no one ever has in my life, Sharon. With you, I feel whole. And I want to keep feeling that, for as long as you want to keep me around.”

For a moment, she just stared back into my eyes with a blank expression on her face. Then, she smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms around my neck to pull me into a hug.

“Then we’ll be together for a long while, Jerrik,” she said simply.

I hoped so, because for the first time in my life something about it felt right and it started and ended with Sharon.