Phone Calls From a Rock Star (22 page)

When I woke next, Jake was still sleeping. I
noticed that he didn’t have a t-shirt on like usual and I couldn’t
keep my eyes off of him. His face was soft and vulnerable with
sleep yet sexy all the same. I kissed his jaw line, trailing my
lips to his chin and down his throat.

“
Hmm, Iz,” he mumbled,
tightening his arm around me. “Nice wake up call.”

I moved my lips to his mouth and kissed him
firmly. In one swift movement, he flipped us over so that I was on
my back, and he hovered over me. He took my mouth with his, and my
eyes fluttered shut in pleasure. He massaged my mouth softly and I
wound my hands behind his neck. I pulled him flush with me, the
heat from his body causing electric shocks to course through mine.
I tangled my hands in his hair as I gasped for breath and he
continued to kiss my neck.

I breathed his name, and he pulled back to
smile.

“
Morning,” he said with a
sleepy smile. He moved away, and I cried out in protest. “We have
to stop, Iz.”

“
I don’t want to,” I
pouted. I already missed the warmth from his body and the
excitement from his touch.

He pressed a quick kiss to my mouth. “It’s
too soon. Be patient.” He ran his fingers through my hair in an
attempt to tame it. “I don’t want to rush things with you.”

I nodded in understanding, my feelings for
him growing. He tucked me in his arms and kissed the top of my
head. Disappointment radiated from my body, and he felt it.

“
It’s too soon, angel,” he
repeated, whether more for my benefit or his, I wasn’t sure. He
fell back to the bed with me still in his arms. “Let me just hold
you for a while. It’s been too long, and I missed you.”

I snuggled into him and sighed. My heart
soared straight out of my chest and right into his hands, and I was
helpless to stop it.

Chapter Sixteen

Jake let Seth into his room that afternoon.
He entered, cell phone to his ear and pretty brunette on his arm.
She smiled, a little nervous, as Seth spoke into the phone.

“
As a matter of fact, Mom,
she’s right here,” Seth said, impish glint in his eye, as he handed
me the phone.

So unfair. I gave him my best death glare as
I held the phone to my ear. “Hello, Mom.”

“
Darling, how are you? Seth
says you’re at his school this weekend,” she gushed.

I caught Seth and Jake whispering in the
corner of the room, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
My mother went on about how wonderful it was that Seth and I
remained so close and decided to hang out together this weekend. I
grunted positive little sounds whenever she stopped to take a
breath. Jake pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number as he
walked out the door.

I furrowed my brow at Seth who just shrugged
and stepped out in the hall with Jake.

“
So Seth says you’re dating
that rock guy, Jake,” Mom said.

“
Yeah. He’s a nice guy.
You’ll like him,” I said absently as I watched the door.

“
Invite him over for a
weekend. Your father and I would love to meet him,” she
suggested.

“
I will when he’s done
touring,” I mumbled, waiting for Jake to return.

She quizzed me about school and other things
parents frequently question their children about, and I answered
best I could, still distracted by Jake’s disappearance. Finally,
Jake opened the door, still whispering to my brother, and I took
that as my sign to terminate my conversation.

“
Mom, I really need to go.
Tell Dad I love him and I’ll call you later.”

“
Of course, dear. We love
you, too. Take care and call more often.”

I promised I would and hung up the phone. I
hurled it at Seth’s head but he expected it and ducked in time. He
picked it up off the floor and laughed. “Problem?”

“
What’s the deal with
calling Mom to distract me, huh? And what’s with the secret
conversation in the hall? What are you two planning?” I
demanded.

“
Nothing,” Seth said,
attempting to look angelic. He failed miserably. “We went out in
the hall so we wouldn’t disturb your conversation.”

“
You’re such a sissy,
mama’s boy,” I snarled. Jake snorted.

Seth just rolled his eyes. He’d heard it all
before. “This coming from the spoiled little princess of a daddy’s
girl?”

He had a point but I wouldn’t admit it now.
So what, anyway?

“
Okay, children, enough,”
Jake said, stepping between us. He motioned toward the brunette.
“Did you meet Haley?”

“
No, my rude brother didn’t
introduce us,” I said petulantly.

Seth blushed and introduced me to his
mysterious girlfriend. Once the introductions were finished, Jake
ushered us out of the room to meet the others.

***

The show was just as awesome as the New
Year’s bash except Seth and Haley were just off stage with me.
Also, I managed to squeak out a ‘hi’ to Rob Ross when he greeted me
this time. Ronnie and Matt still succumbed to a fit of laughter,
but I ignored them.

“
You really got to do this
New Year’s Eve?” Seth yelled in my ear as Controlled Environment
took the stage. I nodded, huge grin on my face. “Didn’t I tell you
to dump Lance for Jake a long time ago?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention
back to Jake. He was dressed in his usual torn jeans and t-shirt
and his hair was styled in that messy sort of way that I loved. A
fire erupted in my stomach; the flames spread throughout my body as
his raspy voice filled the Hall. My hands began to shake so I
shoved them in my pockets. When he glanced my way, his crooked grin
adorning his face, I was certain I’d melt into a puddle of mush
Seth would have to mop.

Controlled Environment’s set finally ended,
and I was able to wrap my arms around Jake again. It amazed me how
one little touch could ignite so many emotions, each one stronger
than the last.

Everyone followed us to Jake’s room, much to
my dismay, and stayed even after Jake pushed me to my room and
ordered me to get some rest. I frowned at him, wanting to stay by
his side even though my eyelids were heavy, and I had a difficult
time framing coherent sentences. He kissed me chastely and guided
me to the connecting room, promising quietly he’d join me once he
got rid of everyone. I nodded tiredly and changed into one of his
t-shirts and a pair of shorts. I crawled into bed, planning to wait
for him to join me, but fell asleep instantly. I didn’t wake until
early the next morning and he was already sitting on the side of
the bed, talking softly on his cell. He’d slept without a shirt
again so I crawled behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
He placed a hand on top of mine, and I kissed his bare shoulder. He
shuddered under my lips and it emboldened me. I kissed him a few
more times; under his jaw, on his throat, along his collarbone. He
ended his call and squeezed my hand.

“
Iz,” he said, his voice
hoarse and his eyes filled with fire. “We have to get ready to
go.”

I rested my chin on his shoulder. “But I
don’t have to be back at school until tonight. Are you trying to
get rid of me?”

“
Not at all,” he said
turning to face me. “Seth is coming up now. You better get in the
shower. I’ll meet you back in my room.”

After my shower, I packed my bag as slowly
as I could. I wanted to prolong my weekend as long as possible. But
it didn’t take long.

I wandered back to Jake’s room. He’d already
showered and was talking quietly to Seth. They both shut their lips
and smiled at me a little too quickly for my liking. I kept my eyes
on them both as I sank to Jake’s bed.

“
What are you doing here?”
I asked my brother.

“
I came to say goodbye,” he
said, avoiding my eyes.

I did not trust him. I did not trust him at
all. And for good reason, too, because as I sat there staring at
him, waiting for him to break under my gaze, Jake opened the door
and allowed Nick, Matt and Ronnie inside. I transferred my gaze
from Seth to Jake.

“
Gee, I didn’t know I was
getting such a big send off.”

Jake dug my keys out of my coat pocket
before holding it out for me. “Not a send off, angel. I’d call it
more of an escort.”

I froze, one arm halfway in a sleeve. “No.
Oh, no way!”

“
Put your coat on, Bella,”
Seth ordered. He picked up my bag and walked to the door. “I need
to get going. I have to come back here some time
tonight.”

“
So stay here,” I shouted,
slamming my hand through the arm hole of my coat. I glared at all
five of them equally. “This is so totally not
necessary.”

“
Yeah, well, we’ve wanted
to go on a road trip for a while,” Ronnie smirked.

Was he serious?

“
What the hell have you
been doing the past few months?” I asked. I didn’t expect an
answer, luckily, because I didn’t get one.

Jake took my arm and ushered me to the door.
“We have to get on the road, Iz.”

I sighed and allowed him to manhandle me out
the door. “We better be stopping for junk food on the way,” I
grumbled.

***

The drive back to school was mostly silent.
I fumed for the first half, not really angry, just worried. I
didn’t want Jake or Seth or the others getting into any kind of
trouble, especially for me and especially over Lance and his idiot
friends.

So I pouted, alternating my stare between
the passing scenery out my window and Seth’s SUV in front of me.
Jake kept his eyes on the road and gave me the space I needed to
calm down.

But I could last only so long being next to
him and not touching him. I reached across the console and took his
hand. “Jake?”

He glanced at me, crooked smile on his lips.
“Yeah, angel?”

“
What exactly are you guys
planning?”

He lifted a shoulder and puckered his lips
in thought. “Just a little tour of your school.”

“
But you’ve been there
before.”

“
I talked to your Dean
yesterday and told him I was a friend of yours, and that I was
thinking of holding a charity concert at your school. Imagine the
good press.” He smiled and I rolled my eyes. Again. “He said to
have Miss Ames escort us to the Admin building for our guest passes
and we could stay in the guest dorms. You’ll be excused from
classes tomorrow to show us around.”

“
Liar,” I muttered as I
turned my head back to my window. “Let me guess, Seth gave you the
number?”

“
Of course he did,” Jake
said a little too cheerfully. He was enjoying himself far too much.
He squeezed my hand. “Aren’t you excited?”

I groaned and banged my head against the
cool glass.

We arrived at my school, and I retrieved
their passes from Admin. They all annoyingly followed me back to my
room, and my eyes automatically darted to Annie’s bed. A soft smile
graced my face as I noticed the box was missing. Jake appeared at
my side and took my hand.

“
Iz, do you think you have
enough concert DVDs?” Ronnie asked as he eyed my
collection.

Seth joined him and gasped. “I don’t
remember you having this many.”

“
Jake gave them to me for
my birthday,” I said, my eyes on him. He pecked my cheek and
released my hand. He plopped on my bed as Seth dropped to Annie’s.
I grabbed Ronnie’s arm as he headed to my bathroom.

“
What?” he asked with as
much innocence he could muster. I narrowed my eyes. “I have to use
the restroom.”

“
I don’t believe you,” I
said, enunciating each word.

His grin was irresistible as he chucked me
under the chin. “Come on, Iz! I’m not going to get in your feminine
products or anything.”

A chorus of ‘oh man, that’s gross’ echoed
off the walls, and I shook my head helplessly. I released Ronnie’s
arm so I could check to see what the others were up to. Matt was
seated at my desk, scribbling on what looked like my Calculus
homework.

“
Do you even know what
you’re doing?” I asked.

“
He’s a math genius,” Jake
answered absently. He had a picture frame in his hands, studying
the photo carefully. I sat on the edge of the bed, peeking over his
shoulder. The picture showed Jake smiling at me with his arms
wrapped possessively around my shoulders. Nick had snapped it New
Year’s Eve and had emailed it to me. “Where did you get this
picture?”

“
Nick,” I told him, taking
the frame from his hands. I stuck it back on my nightstand and
shouted. “Ronnie! Let’s GO!”

Ronnie emerged from the bathroom wearing a
smirk that frightened me. I grabbed Jake’s hand and tugged him out
of my room, hoping the others would follow. I was about to show
them to the guest dorms when I noticed they had no luggage.

“
Ah, we’ll get them out of
Seth’s truck in a little while,” Nick said when I voiced my
concerns. “We want to take a look around first.”

My nerves were shot, simple as that. No
other adjective could describe them. So I ignored it, momentarily.
“What do you want to see first?”

Seth draped his arm around my shoulders.
“How about if we show them the Student Center, sister dear?”

His smile was as false as my grandfather’s
teeth. I smiled back, equally as false. “How about not?”

Seth knew as well as I did that the Student
Center was usually crowded, especially on a Sunday night.

“
Oh, but Iz,” Jake purred,
lifting my hand to his lips. “We all really want to see this
Student Center. I didn’t get to see it when I was here last
time.”