Bad For Me (My Forbidden Rockstar) (20 page)

“Yes,” I say carefully. “I’d like him to meet my mom.”

Liz raises her eyebrows.

I shrug and stuff a big spoonful of cereal into my mouth so
I can’t talk.

Liz doesn’t seem to notice that I'm in no mood for
conversation.

“Just be careful, Annie." She says, staring out of the
windows at Diesel's tour bus, "I saw Dom go through a ton of girls on the
last tour. It was a new girl every night and sometimes more than one girl in
the same night.”

I swallow hard. I know this about Dom. He never tried to
hide who he was. I have to trust that Dom doesn’t want that anymore.

“I really appreciate you looking out for me,” I say evenly,
“but I’m a big girl and I have to make my own choices. If I get hurt, I’ll take
full blame.”

“But you
have
been hurt,” Liz argues.

I want to smack myself for sharing so much with Liz. It
seemed like a good idea at the time, but I never imagined that Dom and I might
make up afterwards.

“I know, and I have to trust that Dom is true to his word
now. He apologized and explained. People can change, and they deserve second
chances.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

She finishes her eggs and rinses her plate off in the sink.

“Do you want the bathroom first?” she asks.

“Sure. Thank you."

I shovel in the last two bites and dump my bowl in the sink.
I grab one of my nicer outfits, as well as my toiletries bag and take them into
the bathroom. Forty minutes later, I emerge, freshly showered and dressed.
Mel’s bunk is empty and I hear her on the phone in the other room. It sounds
like she’s arguing with someone. Last I heard she and Sid had broken up after
she discovered who Ammara is, thanks to me. It didn’t make me jealous that Mel
had been dating Sid; instead it just made me feel sick that he was still taking
advantage of girls.

I finish up my makeup and then pull out my phone to text
Dom.

I’ll be ready in 10 min. Is that OK?

I start switching out my purse to a small clutch when the
text comes through.

Sounds perfect. See you in 10. xx

It's only 9AM and I'm already Swooning. I stand up and check
myself in the mirror. I don’t recognize the name of the restaurant where we’re
having brunch, but knowing my mother it’s sure to be a classy place. I’m
wearing a sleeveless peach sheath dress, and I’ve twisted my hair into a low
knot at the nape of my neck. I switched out my black leather purse to a demure
gold clutch and paired the ensemble with gold sandals. Hopefully, I look respectable
enough.

There’s not much else I can do and I head out into the
living space on the bus. Mel is still in a heated conversation, but Liz is
lying on the couch, her nose buried in a book.

“Wow! You look gorgeous!” she exclaims.

“Thanks." I say, "And thanks for letting me get in
the bathroom first.”

“No problem. Have fun. I think I’m going to get ready to go
out and explore the city with Avery.”

“Oh,” I say, caught off-guard. I’ve never really seen Liz
and Avery talk.

She gives me a little shrug, but I can see she’s excited.

I grin. “Have fun!”

“Thanks! You too!”

I hurry off the bus and see Dom making his way towards me.
The sight of him takes my breath away. He’s dressed in well-cut tan pants, with
a long-sleeve button up black shirt. His wild hair is slicked back, and he’s
freshly shaven. He looks like he has walked off the cover of a JCrew ad.

“You look amazing,” I stutter. I can’t get over how
different he looks with his hair slicked back. I still prefer his bad boy
rocker look, but this look is almost as drool-worthy.

He doesn’t respond, and I catch him ogling me.

“You’re a fucking knock out,” he breathes.

I beam and then throw myself in his arms. Dom doesn’t miss a
beat - he pulls me in towards him and plants a big kiss on my lips. I wrap my
arms around his neck and pull him closer because I need more, after the past
few days it feels good to be this close to him again. After a minute or so, Dom
pulls away and chuckles darkly.

“You are going to be the death of me,” he jokes. “Let’s get
in the car before I start undressing you right here.”

I giggle and let Dom lead me towards the discreet black car
that’s parked to the side. We climb in and Dom repeats the name of the
restaurant to the driver. We make two turns and then pull out into the busy
Manhattan streets.

“I love New York,” Dom sighs as he looks out the window.

“Me too,” I say, "I forgot how much I loved this
vibrant city. I have only been here a few times, but it's always an
adventure."

We speed towards the Upper West side, and soon we pull up in
front of the restaurant. Dom hops out of the car and runs around to help me
out. His grip is warm and strong which sends my mind spinning in a thousand
naughty directions. Somehow I'm going to have to make it through all of today's
events, brunch with my mom, and the concert later, before I can indulge in Dom
again.

Dom leads me into the bright restaurant and I hear my mother
before I see her.

“Annie!” she squeals, and I look around to see my mother
waving wildly from a private booth. She looks radiant, and I almost forgot how
gorgeous she is. I smile broadly as she pulls me into a tight embrace.

“Annie! I’ve missed you so much! My sweet girl, it’s so good
to see you!”

I hug my mom tightly, and inhale her familiar scent of
floral perfume. I pull away to get a better look at her. She’s dressed in cream
slacks and a pink blouse, and she looks more trim than I have seen her in
years. Her hair is no longer light brown, she's dyed it blonde and the effect
is youthful. Her bright blue eyes are the same as mine, and they compliment her
youthful looks.

It isn’t until after I have taken in her appearance that I
notice the man standing next to her. He’s tall and wiry, with thinning salt and
pepper hair. While he isn’t exactly handsome, he is certainly striking with his
high cheekbones and strong jaw line.

“I nearly forgot! Annie, meet Sheldon! Sheldon, my daughter,
Annie.”

I shake Sheldon’s hand and he smiles broadly.

“So nice to finally meet you, Annie.”

I then remember that Dom is standing behind me.

“Right! This is Dom! Dom, this is my mother Lilly and
Sheldon.”

“So nice to meet you,” Dom says graciously, shaking both
their hands. My mother was not expecting me to bring a boy, but she is as warm
and welcoming as ever, though I can see a million questions swimming in her
eyes. I’ll be able to explain more after brunch. Dom is only staying for the
meal, and then he’s allowing my mother and I some alone time to bond and catch
up.

Brunch passes quickly, and the conversation is light and
fun. Dom is witty and sharp, and I can tell my mom and Sheldon enjoy his
company immensely. I, too, am caught up in Dom’s allure and from my mother’s
glances, I can tell she picks up on my rapture.

Sheldon is pleasant and kind, and I can tell that he loves
my mother. Though Sheldon doesn’t speak much, when he does, it’s always to
share a loving anecdote of my mother or to compliment her in some way. No
wonder my mother is so enamored with him. He adores her and worships the ground
she walks on. In a way, my mother is like a child, desperately craving
attention and love. I’m glad that she’s finally found someone like Sheldon;
he’s nothing like the jerks she used to date.

After a few hours, countless Mimosas, and plates full of
delicious food, we rise to leave the restaurant. My mother hugs Dom and says
how nice it was to meet him. He says likewise and shakes Sheldon’s hand.
Sheldon goes to shake my hand but I lean in to hug him instead.

“We’re family now,” I whisper and I catch him smile. Sheldon
gets into a waiting car and heads towards his office to catch up on some
business. I don’t quite understand what he does, but he owns some type of
investment company.

My mother takes a few steps away to give Dom and I some
privacy.

“Thank you for coming,” I whisper as Dom embraces me. “My
mother loves you. I can tell.”

“I’m glad,” he says, kissing me. I kiss him back, but
keeping myself in check because I know my mother is only a few feet away. I
force myself to pull away and the unbridled lust burning in Dom’s eyes nearly
brings me to my knees.

“See you on stage,” he promises.

“Yes,” I squeak, still reeling from his smoldering gaze.

“And you can pack light for our stay tonight,” he says
referring to the mysterious hotel room that he’s booked. “You’re not going to
need any clothes.”

I bite my lip to keep myself from moaning right there on the
busy New York street. My sex aches, and my nipples harden at the thought, and I
take a deep breath of air to clear my head.

Dom licks his lips and winks before he ducks back into the
car we arrived in earlier. I wave as it pulls out in traffic, and then I turn
towards my mother.

“Alright, missy. You better explain yourself,” she says,
taking my arm to walk up the block with me.

“That’s Dom,” I say lamely.

My mom lets out a peal of laughter. “Yes, I gathered that
much from brunch. I wanted to know why he was
with
you.” She’s only
half-joking, but I can tell that she’s worried.

“I know he seems like the exact kind of guy that I should
stay away from, but I don’t know, Mom, he’s different once I got to know him.”
How could I explain to my mom the strange feelings that I had for Dom, or the
bizarre way we had gone back and forth? I’m not sure she would understand. But
there was one thing that I did have to tell her.

“So, do you want to know how I met Dom?” I ask tentatively,
as we walk up a quieter tree-lined street.

“Sure,” she says, “I figured you just met him when you got
the job.”

“Well, yes, but it was Dom himself who offered me the job.”

“Oh, how exciting! How did he hear you sing?”

I clear my throat, I haven't really thought about how to
tell my mom. I’m not sure how she will respond. Obviously, she didn’t know much
about Dom, and she had somehow missed the YouTube sensation of the past
twenty-four hours in which I’m telling Dom off in Nashville.

“His mother is marrying Daddy.”

My mother stops dead in her tracks, and I nearly trip as we
come to a halt.

“What did you say?” Her voice is too high.

“I met Dom when I went over to Daddy’s house to meet his
fiancé. Dom was there too because he hadn’t met Daddy yet.”

My mom takes a deep breath. “So, Dom’s mother is marrying
your father?”

I nod.

“Which would make you step-brother and step-sister?”

“Mom!” I exclaim. “It’s not like we’re really related! And
we’re not little kids that will grow up together living in the same house!
Sheesh!”

Is that her concern?

“Sweetheart,” she says gravely, “The media is going to have
a field day with that one. It will ruin the band's reputation. It will ruin
your reputation, forever!”

My heart plummets. I didn’t think about that. And maybe the
media had already discovered it since Dom and I were all over YouTube now.

“What happens if you break up though?” My mom presses,
“Won’t that be awkward?”

“Well, we’re not really labeling ourselves,” I explain.
Suddenly I want to talk about anything else. “And yes, if it happens, it will
be awkward, but we will just have to deal with it. I wouldn’t have to see him
that much.”

“Well, as long as your happy, Annie. I learned a long time
ago that you’re going to do whatever you want, and the best thing I can do is
to let you know that I’m here for you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say squeezing her arm. I think that was a
compliment.

The mood is lighter from then on and we spend a relaxing day
getting manicures and pedicures at my mom’s favorite spa, and then head back to
my mom and Sheldon’s swanky penthouse to relax. Sheldon still isn’t home, and
my mom and I stretch out in her ridiculously comfortable family room and munch
on fresh salads and tea sandwiches from a nearby delicatessen. All too soon,
it’s five o’clock and I need to get back downtown for the concert.

“Are you sure you don’t want to sleep here tonight?” my mom
asks as she walks me to the elevator inside their apartment.

“Thanks Mom, but I think it’s going to be a really late
night and I don’t want to inconvenience you. But I’ll be back over around lunch
time tomorrow so we can spend the afternoon together again.”

And I’m spending the night with Dom, by the way.

My mom hugs me. “It was so good seeing you, Annie,” she
says, her voice is cracking and I feel a wave of guilt when I think of how much
time has passed since our last visit.

I say goodbye and hurry down to the waiting car that Dom has
sent me.

Chapter Twenty-One