First Crush (Dark Falkon #1) (20 page)

Jake looked at his Mom, as she smiled at him, he couldn't help but get slightly emotional. His eyes began to tear up slightly, but he took a deep breath and managed to quickly calm himself down. 

“There is a grocery store about a mile down the road.” He handed her the keys to his car, she grabbed her purse and headed out the door. Jake grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed one to his Dad and poured Emily a soda. 

“So, can we hear this album?” Mr. Cooper asked. 

“Shouldn't we wait for Mom to get back? We can listen to it over dinner.”

“Sure, good idea.”

“How's work going, Em? How do you find juggling college and a job?”

“It's actually not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I've managed to change my roster so that I'm only working on weekends, giving me time for study. It's working really well.”

“That's really good, I'm so proud of you sis. And how's Chris?” 

“He's great. Working hard and looking after me.”

“I'm really happy for you.”

The door opened some thirty minutes later and their mother walked in, bags of groceries in both arms. She walked over to the kitchen and unpacked the groceries. 

“How does Mexican for dinner sound?”

“Taco's?” Emily and Jake said together. Their mother made the best tacos, it was their regular weekly meals and one of their favorites.

“I realize it’s not Wednesday, but I think we can make the exception, just this once.” Jake and Emily smiled, whenever they were down and things were bad, their Mom's tacos always made everything feel right again.

“Hey, Jake since Mom's back, you promised to play us that CD,” Emily said.

Jake grabbed a copy of his CD and placed it into the CD player. After pressing play he sat at the table and Mrs. Cooper dished up the tacos. The familiar smell of his mother's cooking that he had so badly missed, circled the living room. 

“Mom, these look delicious, just the way I remember them,” he said.

The CD started playing, and as Jake's vocals echoed through the living room, Mr. Cooper raised his glass.

“To, Jake! May all your hopes, dreams and desires come true,” he said.

“To family,” Mrs. Cooper added.

“To love and friendship,” Emily said raising her glass also.

“To happiness,” Jake finished, raising his glass also. 

The four of them clinked their glasses and enjoyed their meal as Jake looked at his family and smiled.

“Why the hell can’t I stop thinking about her?”

Lukas lay awake in his hotel room, staring up at the ceiling. He turned and looked at the photo of the two of them that was resting on the dresser next to his bed.

“It’s been over a week since the Vegas gig and I just can’t get her out of my head. I know she gave me her number, but should I risk it? Should I call her and let her know that she’s all I’ve been thinking about?”

Reaching for his phone, Lukas thought carefully about what he was about to do. He had millions of girls chasing after him, many of them throwing articles of clothing at him on stage. But Sienna, she was different, he felt a connection with her. There was something about her presence that filled his body with an unexplained desire.

He wanted her.

He stood up and headed for the bathroom. Stripping out of his clothes, he stepped into the shower, hoping to relieve the stress and frustration that had now suddenly replaced the desire that he previously felt.

He walked out of the bathroom, water dripping down his chest and the towel wrapped around his waistline. Sitting down on the bed, he grabbed his guitar that was resting against the wall and swung it over his neck. 

“Oh, Sienna,” he hummed, as he strummed the strings on the guitar.

He placed the guitar on the bed and stood up, walking over to his window and stared outside.

His head was full of thoughts, was it right for him to fall for a fan, instantly? Was there really such a thing as love at first sight? One thing was for certain, this was more than just a crush.

With his mind finally made up, he grabbed his phone and began typing;
Sienna! I know this is going to sound really crazy and dumb, but since meeting you, I just can’t stop thinking about you. You're all that I think about. I know it’s crazy, right? The band and I are performing in Rome tonight. I’ve been sitting in my hotel room for hours and I just can’t get you out of my head.

He looked around, trying to remember where he placed the card with Sienna's number on it. He finally found it amongst his clothes which were lying all over the floor. He added her phone number and hesitated.

“This is wrong, I shouldn't be doing this. I don't have time for a relationship. It would never work, the tours, the late night recording sessions, the stress, and the moods.” It was as though his finger had a mind of its own, without any control, it hit send. 

“Shit!” He whispered, throwing the phone on the bed.

Feeling frustrated and nervous, he paced the room, running his hands through his hair. He looked in the mirror and stared at his reflection. Letting out a deep breath, he slowly began to relax.

“Oh, well! She'll probably ignore the message anyway and just think it's someone playing a prank,”

No sooner had the words left his lips, his phone beeped. Lukas turned around and stared at the phone, which was still lying on the bed.

Slowly and nervously, he walked over to it and read the message on the screen.

Oh my god! Lukas? Wow! I seriously don’t know what to say. I actually didn’t even expect you to text me to be honest. How can I be sure this is REALLY you?

It was exactly what he had predicted, there was no way she would ever believe it was him. He had no way of proving who he was. Then he realized, he had handed her the jacket she was wearing as she was leaving the room. 

You were wearing a leather jacket with the initials SF stitched on the front left side in maroon thread. I handed it to you as you were about to leave.

He remembered the feeling of the soft leather, the satin and the distinctive smell of her Rhianna fragrance all over it as his finger hit send, once more.

After a few minutes of silence, his phone beeped again.

That’s right! Oh my god! It really IS you
, her message read. 

Lukas replied with a smiley face emoji, his stress and frustration seemed to vanish and suddenly he felt quite happy and relaxed.

So, how are you?
Lukas text.

I’m good! I’m just sitting here at my desk, working. What about you? How is the tour going? What time is it in Rome?

Lukas smiled as he replied;
The tour is going great. We have two more shows here in Rome, tonight and tomorrow and then Monday, we head to Japan. You're working on a Saturday? It’s almost four p.m. here at the moment.

The smile on his face widened, he sat down on the bed and waited. 

It’s almost ten a.m. here. Oh my god!

What?
Lukas replied.

I just still can’t believe I am actually talking to you, I mean, this is so surreal.

He sat there, thinking. He could only imagine how she looked right now. 

Well, believe it. You said you were at work, what do you do?

I work in real estate
Sienna replied. 

That must be very hectic and stressful at times
he said.

Yes, believe me it can be. 

Working in real estate, does that require a special uniform or dress code? 

Well, I have to wear business attire, so usually a skirt, a blouse and a jacket. I know sounds boring, right?
She said.

Actually, I think it sounds kind of sexy.

He threw the phone down again and quickly stood up, taking a deep breath and running his hands through his hair. 

“Now she's going to think I'm a complete creep. Fuck! I can't believe I just did that.” He slammed his fist on the dresser beside his bed and looked at his phone, waiting. But there was nothing. Nothing at all. 

It had been some time and there was still no reply from Sienna. Convinced he had completely fucked things up, he began organizing himself for the concert. He put on a pair of jeans and a black Tee, and threw on his leather jacket. As he continued getting ready, the telephone in his room rang.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Dark, this is Connie at reception, just letting you know that your limousine has arrived.”

“Thank you, I'll be right down,” he said, hanging up the phone.

He finished getting ready and headed for the elevator. As it came to a stop at the lobby, Lukas put on a pair of glasses and his white hat with a black strip circling the center. He stepped out of the elevator where one of his bodyguards greeted him. Together, they walked through the lobby, there were a few stares in his direction from onlookers as he walked towards the black limousine that was waiting for him.

He sat inside, removed his hat and poured himself a drink, the driver pulled out and headed towards their destination. 

Lukas stared out the window, his thoughts getting the better of him as he thought about the last message he had sent to Sienna. 

“Fucking, stupid,” he blurted out suddenly, getting the attention of his driver, who opened the window that was separating the two of them.

“Excuse me, Sir?”

“Nothing! Sorry, Joseph.”

The driver closed the window and continued driving while Lukas continued to sit there drowning his sorrows. 

His phone beeped, altering him of a text message. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the screen;
Sorry, I got busy with a client and had to step out. Sexy? I wouldn't exactly call it that, sounds rather dull, if you ask me
. She ended her text with a smiley emoji, and Lukas's own smile brushed over his face once more, relieved that he hadn’t freaked her out.

I can't imagine anything looking dull on you. You looked pretty when I met you.

“Pretty? Seriously? Lukas, you fucking idiot!” He said aloud.

Pretty? Oh, ok!
Sienna replied. 

He thought about it for a moment,
Beautiful, I meant to say that you looked beautiful
he corrected as he sent his reply.

Thank you.
Sienna replied, with another emoji. 

The limousine came to a halt as the driver pulled up outside the PalaLottomatica  

I've just arrived at the venue and need to get ready for the show tonight. Maybe I can give you a call afterwards? 

Joseph opened the door, Lukas put on his hat and stepped outside.
Sure! I'd like that,
Sienna replied. 

Lukas smiled as he sent his reply;
Well, I guess I'll speak to you later.

Yes! Looking forward to it,
she replied. 

Me too!
He ended his text with a kiss emoji. 

As he walked into the building, his phone beeped again, Sienna replied with a heart and a kiss emoji. With a bright smile present, he put on his shades, and headed for the stage.

####FRIENDSHIP####

It was almost four p.m. by the time Sienna got home. After a soothing shower she made herself some dinner before changing into her pajamas and settling in for the night. It was nearing eleven p.m. in Rome, which meant that Lukas would still be performing on stage. 

She sat there, eating her roast lamb and potatoes and suddenly thought about Jake. She hadn't heard from him since he and the band left to go on tour. Grabbing her phone, she sent him a text
; I realize you're probably busy, but I was just sitting here thinking about you and wanted to see how the tour was going. 

She finished her meal and sat on the sofa. All she could do was think about Lukas, all the text messages and the limited conversation that they had, it must have meant something. Maybe he was genuinely interested in her. She smiled at the thought, and the prospect of them actually being together, swept through her mind. It had been her dream to meet Lukas, she had always thought and fantasized about him, but it was just an idol crush, she never imagined that one day they would actually be texting or calling each other. There was also one problem, Jesse! He was an amazing guy, an amazing fuck and Sienna did care for him. In the beginning, it was all just some casual fling and maybe there could have been a possible future with him, but since meeting Lukas, she wasn't so sure Jesse was the one for her anymore.

Flicking through the channels and unable to decide what to watch, she stood up, frustrated. She needed to talk to someone, she grabbed her phone and called Ivy.

“Hey, Hun! What's up?” Ivy answered.

“Hey, are you busy?”

“I'm out with Dick at the moment. Why?”

“Oh! Sorry! Never mind, it's ok.”

“No, what's wrong?” Ivy asked. 

“It's nothing. I'm sorry to have bothered you. Say hi to Dick for me.” Before Ivy had the chance to say anything else, Sienna hung up the phone. 

She checked her phone some time later and there were two messages, one from Jake and the other from Lukas. She opened Jake's message first;
Hey! Sorry, just finished at the concert. It was amazing and the band and I had a really great time. We received some big news today. We are actually headed to Japan on Monday. We've got a gig as a support act for Dark Falkon, of all bands it has to be that one. I'm still excited, but Lukas Dark, really!