Aimee and the Heartthrob (15 page)

“Hey, buddy.”

Miles froze. “Nick—hi. W-What’s up?” He glanced past him and saw that Aimee had vanished. “Were, uh, were you at the show?” Shit, shit, shit. And had he heard what Miles said about being up all night?

“Naw, I just got here. Helping the roadies, since they have to move all the gear over to the new venue in less than two hours.”

“That’s cool of you.” Miles’s taut muscles relaxed, and he put a hand on Nick’s shoulder, playing it cool, while his eyes darted anywhere but his friend’s.

“It’s good experience. Those guys work hard but they throw down hard, too.”

“Always looks like they’re having a blast, even when everything’s about to shoot out the crapper and the show’s starting in ten minutes.”

“Totally.” Nick laughed and glanced over his shoulder. “Have you seen my sister?”

Miles’s gut clenched, and he didn’t have time to worry about his expression. “What? No. When?”

Nick gave him a funny look. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Um, have I seen Aimee? Have I seen…?” Dude, he was a terrible actor. “Umm, well…” He scratched his jaw.

“I know she was here tonight because I stopped by her room at the hotel so we could call our parents together, and she was on her way out. I think she drove over with your mom.”

“Mum didn’t come tonight,” Miles said, though he’d just blown a solid alibi. “And, no. I, um, I don’t know where Aimee is.”

“Really? Huh. I saw Ryder a second ago and he
specifically
told me to ask
you
.”

“Yeah?” He rubbed his jaw again. Ryder Brooks was a dead man. “Uh, no dude, haven’t seen her.”

He felt a hard, heavy brick of guilt in his stomach. He hated lying to his best friend, and he was big-time sucky at it, anyway. He knew he had to tell him the truth but didn’t know how or when. And now would’ve been the perfect time to find out why the hell Nick had told Aimee all that crap two years ago. But frankly, Miles could barely look him in the eyes.

“Okay,” Nick said. “Well, I’ll catch her later, since you obviously won’t be running into her tonight, right?” He wiggled his eyebrows, giving Miles a very deliberate look.

He felt even sicker. “Ha-ha. Right. No worries about that.”

“See ya.”

“Later, mate.”

After Nick was out of sight, Miles ducked around the corner to the last place he’d seen Aimee. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t anywhere, and it was a good thing, because he ended up running into Nick another two times on his way out to the bus.

The One
was idling in front. Trevin stood on the bottom stair, hanging out the open door. “Dude.” He waved both arms over his head. “Get your ass over here. Lester came by twice. He knows we’re waiting for you.”

Miles gave one more glance over his shoulder then sighed. Damn, no Aimee. Sulkily, he climbed aboard the bus, unknotting his tie. The second the door closed, Donnie put the bus in gear and pulled away from the curb. Miles sank into the leather bench seat beside Trev, slid off his jacket and tie, and sighed again.

“Rough night, Casanova?”

“Sod off.”

Trevin cackled and tossed him a PlayStation controller. “I’m about to thrash you. We’ll be at the hotel in twenty minutes—all the time I need.”

Miles didn’t feel like playing, even though it was his favorite way to blow off steam with Trev. Tonight, it was torture. All he wanted was to be with Aimee. When exactly had the girl from his childhood grown up and wrapped around him like a vine?

They played for a while. Once Miles’s avatar was blown up for the second time, he turned to Trevin. “Thanks for covering for me earlier, and for last night.”

Trev shrugged. “No prob. Not even going to ask any questions, like
why
you’re purposefully going after the sister of your supposed best friend, when this supposed best friend specifically told you to step off.”

Miles felt another guilty clench in his gut. “I know.”

“She better be worth it.”

He lifted his chin and stared up at the ceiling. “She is.”

Chapter Fourteen

That was a close call. Aimee wasn’t as worried as Miles about getting caught by Nick. Even if he got mad at them, she had way less to lose than Miles. After all, it wasn’t like Nick could stop being her brother, but if he went ballistic enough to stop being Miles’s friend, that would be way tragic.

If keeping their brand new
whatever
on the down low was important to Miles, that was good enough for her.

Though it epically sucked that she couldn’t see him after the
Unplugged
concert. Holy shiz, that had been the most magnificent thing ever. Not only had Miles looked unbelievably gorgeous in a tailored suit, but that wink after the first song, and commenting on how he hadn’t slept all night…

No one else in that room had known it was because they’d been together, laughing and kissing and eating peanut butter sandwiches and lying under the stars with nothing but the sound of each other’s whispers and the glow of the pool lights.

If she could bottle a feeling to keep forever, it would be last night’s.

But when Nick had cornered Miles, and she’d heard him ask Miles if he’d seen her, she knew she needed to jam out of there fast. The same car and driver had been waiting for her in front of the venue when the show was over, and she texted Nick from the car saying she was almost at the hotel. At least now he wouldn’t be looking for her.

She half expected to see Miles standing there when the hotel elevator opened—like last night. But it was empty. While inside the elevator, she remembered her cell was on silent. She turned it on and saw she had five missed calls, all from the same number, the one that had called her earlier today.

Before her fumbling fingers could hit the necessary sequence of buttons to call him back, her phone rang. “Miles?”

“Is this the girl who kept me up all night?”

“Stop it…” She grinned as thick warmth gushed through her veins like yummy lava.

Even though he wasn’t there, his laughter filled the elevator. “Where are you?”

“At the hotel, in the elevator.”

“Me too. In my room.”

Aimee’s hand twitched, ready for him to remind her which floor he was on, which room number, so she could punch it in and be outside his door in twenty seconds flat.

“I gotta stay in tonight,” he added.

Her happy spirits wilted like a flower at sunset. “Oh?”

“Yeah. LJ got ahold of me on the way back. He knows I ghosted last night, so I think we should lay low for a while.”

Her spirits tanked even deeper. “Okay.” The doors opened and she walked to her room.

“Are you bummed?”

She laughed darkly and pushed open her door. “That’s one way of putting it. I guess I’ll finish the novel I started this morning and post the review.”

“You read a whole book in one day?”

“I’m speedy.”

“I’ll say. I’ve never been a fast reader.”

“Oh, then you
can
read books?”

“Har-har. It’s been a while since I’ve tackled anything non-school, but I’ll get right on it. Not tomorrow afternoon, though. I’ll be busy. So will you.”

“Why?”

“I have the day off.”

Aimee walked straight into the bathroom door, bonking her head. “Seriously?”

“I’ve got a plan, and your name’s written all over it. Plus, I believe you owe me one official date. I never forget a bet.”

She put a hand over her heart and sank onto the bed. “Just tell me when.”

…

The next day, after FaceTiming with Becky, posting two reviews, and taking the fastest shower in the west, Aimee was downstairs, outside the hotel at the backdoor Miles had described. But there was no Miles. She had her phone and could’ve called him to see if she’d gotten the meet-up time wrong. But what if LJ was with him? Or Nick?

Before she could get too stressed, a shiny red car came roaring around the corner and screeched to a halt in front of her. The passenger side window rolled down as a Seconds to Juliet song came spilling out.

“Need a ride, gorgeous?” Miles said, leaning across the passenger seat.

Nutty nut-burgers, could he make an entrance.

“I would get out and open your door like a gentleman, but I’m not sure how to put this thing in park.”

She laughed and climbed in. The car smelled like expensive leather, the dashboard was shiny black and chrome, and behind the wheel sat the most beautiful boy she’d ever beheld. Smiling at her. It was better than any fanfiction she’d dreamed up.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” She smiled back.

“Surprised?”

“Not really. Let’s see, you driving up in a ‘Little Red Corvette’—which was probably Prince’s biggest hit—while blasting S2J’s newest number-one hit seems just about right for your ego.”

“You say the sexiest things.” He put a hand on her knee, leaned over, and kissed her. Not a kiss like they were brand new to each other, but a quick, deep one, like they’d been doing this forever.

It was perfect.

“Buckle up, babes.” He slid on a pair of mirrored aviator shades.

They drove for a while, Miles singing over his own voice, then even louder over his bandmates’. Aimee laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes by the time they pulled into a parking lot.

“Where are we?”

“The circus opened today.”

Aimee felt a shiver and looked around, but she didn’t see any Ferris wheels or funnel cake vendors, and luckily, no painted faces with red noses. “Miles, I know I said you could decide where we go on our date, but circuses give me the unholy creeps.”

“Clowns, I know. I remember that about you, just wanted to see if it’s still the case.” He flashed one of his charming smiles. “That’s why we’re here, while everyone else is there.” He pointed as they coasted by a sign.

“A park?”

“The hotel’s concierge told me about it. It’s got a section at the far end that’s all trees and bushes, like a maze.”

Aimee gazed toward the huge greenbelt. “Nice.”

“I thought so, too. Plenty of secluded corners for two red-blooded teenagers to get lost.”

She swatted his arm, though her heart was doing excited backflips off a springboard, imagining getting lost with Miles in the bushes.

He parked at the far end of the lot. It was after lunchtime and there weren’t many other cars. Huh. Maybe everyone
was
at the circus.
Awesome plan, Miles!
He slid on a baseball cap, the bill down low, and kept his sunglasses on. It might not have been the craftiest disguise in the world, but it would probably work well enough. And
damn
did he look hot.

As they started to walk, Miles scooped up her hand, linking their fingers. She leaned into his side, holding his biceps with her other hand. That magnificent photo wrap on the side of
The One
would never do his body justice. The boy was a work of art.

“What have you been doing all day?” he asked. “More reading?”

“Uh-huh. Becky and I finally decided which books we want to review next, then we brainstormed. And, um, even though Becky does all the celebrity stuff, I was thinking I might vlog about one of your concerts.”

He grinned, his whole face brightening under the sun. “Finally breaking your code of silence and publically admitting you’re crazy about me?”

“Something like that,” she said, knowing she was blushing and didn’t care. “How was your day?”

“Good. We had a management meeting where they
informed
us we’re recording a Christmas song next week for a compilation.”

“But it’s June.”

“Which apparently is the perfect time to sing about icicles and figgy pudding.”

“About Santa Claus and trimming trees?”

He laughed and wrapped an arm around her. “About snowy nights and snuggling in front of a fire with the one you love.”

Her heart tapped a happy dance. “Don’t forget the mistletoe.”

“I
never
forget the mistletoe, even in June.” He stopped walking and put his hands on her hips, his fingers splaying, stretching, making her heart beat even faster. His lips touching hers made her knees go all wobbly, and just when she was about to throw her arms around him, a kid ran by and actually bumped into them, jostling them apart.

“Um, so what did you do after your meeting?” she asked, knowing they probably shouldn’t be making out in front of little kids. No need to shine attention on them when Miles was trying to be incognito.

“After that, ummm, lemme think.” He stepped back, wiped his forehead, then put his hands on his hips, taking a few deep inhales. His ragged breathing made her smile.
I did that to him
, she thought. “We rehearsed with Cherry,” he finally said.

“I didn’t know you did any songs with your opening band.”

“We haven’t. We were kicking ideas around.” He took her hand as they started walking.

Aimee looked down at the ground. “You…dated her. Paige.”

“There weren’t any
dates
, per se, but yeah, we were a couple for about a millisecond. Doing a song together was her idea, actually.”

“Of course it was,” she mumbled. “She’s still into you.”

Miles chuckled, squeezing his hand around hers. “You sound jealous.” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Now you
look
jealous.”

“You’re traveling together all summer. Isn’t it awkward to see her everywhere?”

“Incredibly. Well, it was at first.” He tipped his chin toward the sky. “But I don’t notice her anymore. I only see you.” He looked at her, but all she saw was her own reflection in his mirrored shades.

“You say all the right things.”

“I only speak the truth.”

Aimee didn’t reply, and Miles was quiet after saying it. Miles was never quiet. Had she just turned him off by being all needy and insecure? She hadn’t thought to be jealous of Paige before, but now all she pictured was that perky blonde with huge boobs getting Miles to sing some brazenly sexy duet with her, trying to rekindle their romance. And here was Aimee being the stupid, clingy girl, pushing the boy she was crazy about back to his ex.

Miles dropped her hand, and Aimee instantly felt the gaping space between them. Not five seconds later, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side, touching his fingertip to her chin. “Hey, listen. Paige was the wrong person for me. I realized it almost right away but didn’t know why at the time. Then the rumors started, feeding the tabloids.” He shook his head. “To put it mildly, she broke my trust, which, unfortunately, wasn’t new. At least it paid off for Cherry; they became our permanent opening act.”

Aimee caught the bitterness in his voice. Yeah, his exes had really screwed him over. He deserved so much better than that. Hopefully he thought she was good enough.

“But that has nothing to do with you. I know you. I
trust
you, Ames. I don’t expect you to understand why, but that’s a pretty big deal for me.” He ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek, leaving a trail of warmth, making her want him to touch her more. “This tour goes all the way through the summer, but then we’re taking a break before recording the new album. Know what that means?”

They stopped walking and she blinked up at him. “What?”

“I’ll be home.”

“Pacific Pali?” Her heart lightened immediately. “For how long?”

“Few weeks, I reckon. I haven’t seen the final schedule yet, but it should be long enough to take you to Homecoming.” He held both of her hands, staring down at them. “I know that idiot,
wanker
ex-boyfriend from France broke your heart, and that you’re scared of being left behind again.” He paused and pressed his lips together. Aimee loved his lips. She wanted to eat his lips. “I want to be with you, Aimee. I want to be where you are, but I obviously can’t all the time. Not right now.”

She shut her eyes in a long blink. “I know.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t make this work. I know we can do it, and I want to. Do you?”

She didn’t waste one split second thinking it over. “Yes.”

A huge smile took over his face, and seeing it made Aimee smile back, kicking over the last of that brick wall she’d built to protect herself from falling for Miles, or any other guy.

“Well, that’s a relief,” he said. “Now, can we please get to why I brought you here in the first place?” His smile disappeared, and a look of smoldering concentration took over his face, as he traced a finger high up her cheekbone. “I missed this spot, remember?”

He pulled her in, and her eyelids fluttered closed, relishing in the feeling of his lips on her cheek, kissing the same place over and over, the warm sun on her face, his hands curling around her hips, squeezing tight at first, then sliding down…

“Miles Carlisle, I thought I’d find you here.”

Miles stiffened and they both turned to see a man in a backward baseball cap, camera around his neck.

…

How the hell had this happened? They must’ve been followed. Though Miles knew he’d been careful while talking to the hotel concierge about places to go in town. No one else had been around, so the guy at the desk must’ve ratted him out.

Dammit. How many times would he have to learn the same lesson? No one—no matter how trustworthy they might seem—could be trusted.

But at least there was only one of them…that he could see. Though, in his experience, leeches traveled in packs. Before renting the ’Vette, Miles had actually considered asking Beau, their head bodyguard, to come along. But, hell, he’d wanted to show Aimee that he was capable of taking her on one normal damn date, and that it wouldn’t always be the S2J sideshow.

“We’re here on a date,” Miles said, trying to subtly move Aimee behind him. Judging by the long-lensed camera hanging around his neck, the guy was paparazzi. Though it was odd he hadn’t taken any pictures yet. “I don’t give interviews on dates. Call our PR—”

“I’m not here for an interview.” The guy scoffed. “I’m not even a fan of your”—he paused and made air quotes with his fingers—“‘
music
.’”

Miles was used to haters. Not everyone liked S2J’s style, and he wasn’t out to conquer the world by way of pop music. He just didn’t want to have to deal with it in front of Aimee. He squeezed her hand to let her know it was all right. “What might I do for you, then?”