Page 42 of Ravaged By Lust

I know who that is.

I leap up from the couch and open the door to Maddie, standing there with a beaming smile on her face.

“Hello,” I greet.

“Hi! Sorry, I could overhear you playing. That sounded really good.”

“Thanks,” I blush.

“I hope I’m not intruding, but Axel gave me the address where you’re staying. I thought you might need a friendly face in Los Angeles today, so I’ve brought some of my cookies.”

She holds up a Tupperware box full of the addictive sugary things. My mouth waters at the sight of choc chips.

“That is a godsend, Maddie. Thank you. Come on in.”

Maddie looks around the apartment. “Cute place.”

“Oh, the guy who lives here is super cool and so funny. He took me out for drinks last night.”

“Making friends already? That’s great.”

“Seems like,” I reply, looking over Maddie’s shoulder at the empty doorway. “Where’s my brother? He didn’t escort you here?”

“Oh, Ravaged has got a one-off secret performance tonight in some basement bar for a hundred fans. It’s a charity thing. They’re getting ready for it.”

“Oh, right.”

That’s where Bishop would be.

Why do my thoughts instantly go to him? I don’t want to be thinking about him. Not now, not ever.

“Are you going to see it?” I ask her.

“I won’t. I’d rather give up my ticket to a fan,” she replies. “Plus, I wanted to come and say hi to my baby’s new auntie.”

I smile at that. “You want anything?” I ask. “Juice? Coffee?”

“Just a glass of water.”

“Well, I’m going to try one of these cookies,” I say, reaching into the Tupperware box. When that taste hits my lips, I let out a satisfied moan. “Still freaking amazing, Maddie.”

“How are you feeling about tomorrow with the producer?” she asks me as we take a seat on Gary’s couch and I hand her the water.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Maddie. I’m freaking out.”

“Can I hear you sing? Properly and not through a door, if that’s alright? I’m no musician, but I guess performing in front of someone is good, no?”

Any practice is good practice.

“Yeah, okay.”

I pick up my guitar and start playing the song I was just practicing. Maddie nods along to it, smiling encouragingly.

But I only get halfway through the song before I have to stop.

“I’m not feeling it,” I excuse, not wanting to get into the real reason I can’t do anything live in front of someone.

I can’t do it when she’s right there looking at me like that. Looking at me like she’s in awe. I feel like a fraud.