CLASS ACT (A BRITISH ROCKSTAR BAD BOY ROMANCE) by Julia Gardener Page B

felt my heart stir again.

 
    Charlotte was jealous. It was written so plainly on her face that a blind man could see it. Normally, this would’ve been a quite the ego boost. I loved it when women fought over me like I was a designer bag on sale during the Christmas rush.
     
     
    With Charlotte, it was more amusing. My teacher didn’t need to be jealous of Megan. That woman wasn’t my type. Besides, she had been Howard’s soul mate. The only thing that could fill the hole in her heart was overseeing Howard’s legacy.
     
     
    Megan worked tirelessly to expand the Howard Lane Foundation for Orphans. What had started as a small operation in England soon became a worldwide organization. The woman had a knack for managing my various charities. I may have lost a brother in Howard but I gained a sister in Megan.
     
     
    Charlotte probed. “How long have you known Heath, Megan?”
     
     
    “We met during Double Damage’s first tour in America.”
     
     
    “It wasn’t even a tour,” I elaborated. “Howard and I booked tickets to Los Angeles after publishing our first album. It was more of a work vacation than anything else. We ended up performing across the West Coast.”
     
     
    “I remember those days,” Megan added. “It wasn’t anything like the Dell Music Center. You had to fight just to get a slot at a nightclub that could seat a hundred people at most.”
     
     
    “Even back then, California wasn’t exactly starving for aspiring musicians,” I said, recounting the early days. “Howard and I had to fight tooth and nail just to get our name out. We played at some seedy places back then.”
     
     
    “Look at the bright side,” Megan replied. “I got to meet the two of you back when I was waiting tables in Santa Barbara.”
     
     
    I chuckled. “How could I forget? It was the first time my charms failed to win a woman over.”
     
     
    Megan sighed. “I would’ve given you a shot if it wasn’t love at first sight with the man sitting next to you.”
     
     
    We didn’t speak for a moment after that.
     
     
    Charlotte broke the silence. “Are you a fan of Heath’s music? Or go to his concerts?”
     
     
    She shook her head. “Please, I have a very hard time enjoying myself during concerts.”
     
     
    I pointed to Megan’s ear. “She’s not exaggerating.”
     
     
    “I’m going deaf,” she giggled, my finger still pointing at her ear. A small hearing aid could be seen in its interior. It was an expensive one that could barely be seen. I made sure she wouldn’t want for anything. “I never had the stomach for rock music and less so even now.”
     
     
    After ordering our food, I sat down with Megan and Charlotte in a corner of the cafeteria. “Nothing like a full English breakfast.”
     
     
    Charlotte raised an eyebrow at the mountain of food in front of me. She had opted for a bowl of soup. “A full English breakfast for lunch?”
     
     
    “It might be breakfast time in London,” Megan said before pausing. “No wait, it’s actually dinner time.”
     
     
    I dug into my food. “This is much better than the rats we had to eat at the old orphanage.”
     
     
    “It was not rats,” Megan groaned. “It was a healthy porridge that provided all the vitamins and minerals a growing British boy needed to become a sexy rock star. Howard even made it for me.”
     
     
    “It tasted like rats.”
     
     
    Charlotte giggled. “How would you know what a rat tasted like?”
     
     
    I groaned. “Walked into that one.”
     
     
    “She’s got you there!” Megan fired back. “I’ll admit Heath makes sure we’re all well-fed and clothed. Napoleon said an army fights better with a full belly.”
     
     
    “Speaking of which,” I began, scooping up my baked beans. “How are things going with the foundation?”
     
     
    Charlotte leaned back as though feeling like a third wheel. “Do you want me here, Heath? I can take a walk around the complex if this is private