Never Land (5 page)

            My mouth fell open. Until a few weeks ago, I didn't even know that Luc liked me like that – and now to find out he'd liked me for years! “I didn't know it was that deep.”

            “He's had it bad for a while. Since the eighth grade.”

            “Then why didn't he say anything?”
Why hadn't I noticed anything?
I thought about Luc, about his sweet smile, his kind eyes, his handsome face. He'd always been so wonderful around me, so attentive and loving – but he'd never let on that his feelings were anything more than genuine friendship. “Don't answer that...” I didn't want to hear the truth. That Luc had held off out of respect for the band – something I'd been unable to do. “I have to talk to Luc,” I said. I turned back towards the door. “But first, I need to deal with Geoff.”

            I returned to the room to see Kyle and Luc in Geoff's face, questioning him about the video. He looked utterly defeated, filthy and exhausted in the harsh light of day. They stared at him with anger in their eyes.

            Geoff staggered to his feet. “Neve, I'm so sorry...I fucked up, I know that. I was off my face last night. I'd taken every drug in the book. Listen, I'll get clean, I'll get sober, I promise. Only...I don't want to leave knowing I didn't apologize to you. I don't want to go through life regretting that I didn't.”

“You, you, you,” said Kyle loudly. “It's always about you, isn't it?”

“Just Neve...please...” Geoff reached out towards me. “Don't press charges. I can't have a criminal record, I just can't! This will follow me for the rest of my life – I'll be ruined...”

            I felt sick. Even now, all Geoff could think about was himself. And I knew I couldn't waste another second of my life thinking about him. “You're not staying in jail,” I said, turning away so I didn't have to see his face. “You don't have to worry about that. But if you don't delete every one of those tapes, you'll wish to God you never knew me. Now get out of my face. You find your own flight home.”

Chapter 5

            Security escorted Geoff out, and Cassie folded her arms. “Right,” she said. “You're better off without him, if that little display was anything to go by. Now, what am I going to do about RRR?”

            “Brief them that Geoff's gone,” said Steve. “Tell them they'll have a replacement within the hour – in time for the photo-shoot.”

            “Who?”

            “That's confidential,” said Steve. Cassie looked perplexed, but shrugged and left. Luc, Kyle and Steve started walking out. I knew what I had to do.

            “Hey Luc,” I said. “Do you want to grab a quick breakfast or something?”

            He turned around, surprised.

            “Yeah, sure,” he said, coming up to me. He patted me on the shoulder. “How are you doing, Neve? Are you okay?”

            “I've been better,” I admitted, “but it's a lot easier being here among friends. Better now.”

            “Neve...” Luc turned to me. “What he did was unconscionable. You and I know that. He took advantage of you in the worst way possible.”

“He made me feel so violated...”

            “Nobody could violate you,” said Luc. “What he tried to do shamed him, not you.” He leaned in close, so that his words tickled my ear. “When I found out what he'd tried to do, I just saw red. Neve, you know my dad's high up in the force. Just got a promotion to Captain. If you do want to press charges...”

            “I think Danny's security guys have done what needed doing,” I said, and I saw a look of pain flash across Luc's face. I bit my lip and inwardly kicked myself. There I was again – unintentionally hurting Luc by reminding him of Danny. “I mean...security here already went through his laptop, and I don't want to press charges...”

            “I know,” said Luc. “But when we're back in the US, you'll want to feel safe there, too. I just want to help.” When he looked at me with those enormous, puppy-brown eyes, it took my breath away. I loved Danny – but I couldn't deny that the sight of those stunning irises made me swoon a little. I'd never thought of Luc as a romantic interest before – or of anyone else, for that matter, but somehow knowing Luc's feelings for me made me reassess the past, reassess our history. Had I just taken his beauty, his stunning charisma, for granted all these years?

            “Let's get that breakfast,” I said. “Just us. To talk.”

            “Sure,” he said.

            The breakfast room at the hotel was full, but Luc smiled at the hostess and soon we found ourselves sitting at the best seat in the house.

            “I see your charm works wonders abroad as well as at home,” I tried to tease.

            “To some extent, Neve.” Luc gave me a slow smile. “But not where it matters most,” he added softly.

            “Luc,” I reached forward to take his hand. “I just wanted to talk – to apologize for not telling you about Danny sooner. I wanted to keep it a secret from the band, and at first I thought it was just...not a serious thing. Something I wanted to keep private. I didn't know how you felt – I really didn't, not until...”

           
Until we kissed.

           
“What I felt for Danny, it surprised me, too. I couldn't believe it. It's not that I don't like you or find you attractive. I do – on both counts. And if circumstances were different, maybe...”

            “Don't say that,” Luc said, inhaling slowly, letting out his breath through his teeth. “Don't give me false hope. Don't say maybe. I can't deal with that.”

            “Luc...”

            “Neve,” Luc said firmly. “It's okay. I get it. You don't like me that way. I'm a grown-up. I'll get over it. I'm not like Kyle, who's so attached to you – or like Geoff, who thinks he can force you into wanting him. I'm sure there's a lot of guys out there who are going to have to get over you not wanting them – anyone with eyes in their head would want you.”

            I couldn't help but laugh. “This whole time, I had no idea.”

            “Since we formed the band. Since you and I met at Camp Summerside. But I was stupid. I was shy...”

            “I wish you'd told me earlier,” I said.

            “But I didn't,” Luc said. “There's no point looking back. I believe in fate and destiny. If we were meant to be, we'd be. And if not...” He threw up his hands. “It's not going to be easy for me, but I'll live. As long as you're happy.” He looked into my eyes.
“Are
you happy?”

            I nodded. “Yes,” I said slowly.

            Luc pursed his lips. “Then I'll just have to get used to it – if I want to keep you in my life.”

            “There's just one thing, Luc,” I said.

            “What?”
            “Danny. With Geoff out of the band, we need a new lead...”

            Luc visibly flinched. “Right,” he said. “And Danny's our best bet at such short notice. He's better than Geoff, that's for sure. More talented.”

            “Then you agree?”

            Luc considered. “Just...be sensitive,” he said. “If you can. The two of you. It's going to be hard seeing you...be romantic with each other around me.”

            “No PDA during band time, got it.”

            “Just let's keep it professional.”

            “I'll be a pro, like always, Luc. You don't have to worry about that.” I touched Luc's hands lightly, and felt his fingers twine around mine, a feeling that sent electric shocks through my body.

            “I love you Neve,” Luc said abruptly before looking away.

            I closed my eyes. Whatever Luc said, I knew he'd have a hard time with accepting Danny in the band. His words made my whole body ache.

            “Luc,” I tried to get the words out. “I care for you too. As a friend...”

            “Neve,” Luc said. “Danny is the best guitarist out there. And if I set my feelings for you aside for the good of the band, I'll do it wholeheartedly. Danny's a good guy, and I'll do what I have to do to keep my own feelings from ruining the band for all of us.”

            I smiled up at him.

            “Thank you,” I whispered.

            As I approached Kyle and Steve's room, I heard hushed voices. Apparently Kyle and Steve were already having the conversation about Danny's future in the band without me. Eager to hear what was being said, I leaned against the ajar door.

            “Look, we don't have time to hold auditions,” Steve was saying. “And even if we did – it would be bad publicity. It would look like we didn't have control of the situation.”

            “So who do we get? We can't work with Geoff again!”

            “Danny Blue, that's who.” Steve chuckled softly.

            “
Danny,”
Kyle almost spat out the name. “Is that really our only option? I mean, he's not a bad guy or anything, but don't you think we can find someone who...”

            “Kyle...” Steve's voice was soft, almost gentle. “You're going to have to get over the fact that Neve is dating someone. Sooner or later you'll have to move on. And do you really want to let your personal life interfere with the band.”

            “
Her
personal life is interfering with the band!” Kyle insisted. But he stopped and sighed. “I know I'm being ridiculous,” he said. “But it's hard.”

            “If you screw up the band, Kyle, you'll risk losing her altogether. As a friend and as something more. If the band implodes, that's it. For all of us. If you want to be in her life – in
any
of our lives – the thing to do is move on.”

            We were interrupted by the appearance of Cassandra Curry, who strode past us straight into the hotel room, followed by a photographer and a whole team of makeup artists. “Guys,” she said simply. “The good news is,
Rolling Stone
has agreed to having the shoot here. The bad news is, it's happening now. What's the final verdict on Geoff? If he's gone, then it's time to improvise. I want to know who this controversial new replacement is that Steve's been on about.”

            “Geoff's gone,” I said.

            “Then who's the replacement?” Cassie asked. “He'd better be hot – Geoff was getting tons of panty-dropping fan-mail, and the new guy's got to match a pretty tough fan base. Not to mention good, of course. You've got a performance tomorrow night to prepare for.”

            “It's Danny,” I said. “Danny Blue. Our old guitarist. He's back.”

            As if on command, Danny appeared in the corridor, having been summoned by my text. “What's going on?” He looked around in confusion at the team of artists and photographers prepping the hotel suite.

            Cassie looked him up and down. “At least he's got the hot part covered,” she said. “I'll wait and see how the talent turns out. Does he
always
look that good?”
            My mouth opened in a surprised O at her words. “Yeah, basically.”

            She looked at me sternly. “Then he'd better be worth risking a band over. If your history with him goes south...a band can only go through so many replacements in the early months.”     

            “It won't go south.”

            “Ah, youth,” Cassie said dryly. “It must be good to be young.”      

            Danny came over to me and grabbed my hands, pulling me in for a kiss. Mindful of Kyle and Luc, I did my best to pull away, signaling him that we should act with more subtlety.

            “So what am I doing here?” Danny said. “Your text said it was important. Is it Geoff?”

            “No,” I said. “You're in the shoot.”

            “I'm
what
?”

            “
Rolling Stone.
They're prepping the room now. That girl in the corner will be handling your makeup.”

            Danny gaped. “What? When did that happen?”

            “When you became the lead guitarist of the Never Knights.”

            “Are you saying...?”

            “Geoff...resigned, shall we say. And we need an emergency guitarist.”

            Danny was stunned. “But what about...” he looked over at Luc and Kyle.

            “It's fine,” I said. “They've cooled down. We all have. We've agreed it's the best thing for the band. If it's what you want.”

            Danny didn't need to take too much time to consider. “Let's rock and roll,” he said, leaning into my ears. “Anything that means I get to spend more time with you is a good thing,” he whispered. “Because last night? That was just a prelude...”

Chapter 6

            Immediately the room flooded with people. Before Danny or I could move, what seemed like dozens of makeup artists, photographers, and on-site coordinators were swarming into the room, setting up camera tripods, bringing in rack after rack of costumes, carrying enormous boxes and suitcases.

            “Wow,” Steve's jaw dropped. “This is insane, guys. Look...”

            We all looked around, utterly fascinated by what we saw. Row after row of the most beautiful clothes I'd ever seen, gorgeous black satin gowns and white lace, couture red velvet and damask silk, spikes, chains, military jackets.

            “We were able to borrow some costumes from the National Theater,” explained Cassie. “We want to have a costume theme. Sort of – playing dress-up, kids trying on new clothes, that kind of feel.”

            I reached out to touch the silk, feeling its smoothness against my fingers. My whole body was  tingling with excitement. This was the most luxurious hotel suite I'd ever been in, and these people around me...they were the sort of people I'd associated with my dad's life. With rock stars and fame and fortune. Not with a college band that two months ago had been rehearsing in Luc's mom's basement and living off frozen pizzas. And now, suddenly, here we were. Being primped and prepared for a shoot with
Rolling Stone.
I wasn't sure whether to be overjoyed or overwhelmed. Did this mean we'd made it? That now, finally, people were starting to see the Never Knights as a band with the promise to make it big? A gorgeous brunette with sparkling green eyes took hold of me and sat me down in a chair, gripping me firmly by the shoulders.