Rock Star: The Contest (Book 2 of a Bad Boy Romance) by Kate Ward Page A

Over the years she had settled down a bit, but that fire was always brewing underneath the surface, looking for any reason to be let out.
    “You want to watch a movie tonight?” Spike asked. “You know how we used to?”
    Growing up Spike and I had bonded over our love for horror and kung fu movies. When our parents got together, initially hanging out was awkward. But we soon got used to each other, especially once I showed him my collection of movies.
    I knew what he was up to. Trying to wiggle his way in and have a cozy night with me. It was obvious, but things were different now.
    “I don’t know, Spike.”
    “C’mon, I know you have the night off. I heard Teddy invite Sophie out.”
    “But I might be out with—”
    “Right,” he cut me off.
    “Listen, do you mind if I use your place tonight? I’m just going to kick back and watch a couple.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “Sure.”
    It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hang out with him. I missed the days of being a kid. When responsibility was a foreign concept. When we didn’t understand the stress our parents were under, or why they fought so hard. Weekends were carefree. Mornings spent at the museum or library with Sophie, evenings spent with both of them or just Spike watching a movie, chowing down on popcorn and laughing over the most idiotic jokes. What happened to that? What happened to all those days? It wasn’t like I had changed. Of course I had grown up, and taken over the store but deep down I was still that little girl who enjoyed adventure, who loved to get into trouble with my pals. Somewhere over time that had been lost.
    After all that I had been going through with the show, Chase and now Leann, the idea of get cozy on the couch with Spike was actually starting to appeal to me.
    “Look, I might be there tonight. I don’t know. I have a few things to work out today and we’ll see.”
    I caught him smile as he walked off.

    * * *
    L ater that afternoon as I headed up to the cottage, I felt a sense of dread. It wasn’t that I was scared of Leann. I had met enough of her kind that I was used to bitchy behavior. I just didn’t want to see Chase’s life screwed up. Mine, well I could always go back to the coffee store. Sure I would be bummed out, but I had experienced enough over the past few weeks that the idea of singing for a living had made me rethink what was important to me.
    As I killed the engine on my truck, I could see Leann beyond the window. She was seated on the porch rocker. I climbed out and made my way over to her.
    “So?”
    She took a deep breath.
    “How long have you been together?”
    “What’s it to you?”
    “Careful. I don’t like the tone of your voice. I could quite easily make a phone call to the coordinators and I’m sure they would love to hear about what I saw.”
    “Cut the crap, Leann. If you wanted to tell them, you would have done so by now. What do you want?”
    “There are six of us left. Now only five will make it into the finals. I plan on being part of that five and the sooner one of us leaves or gets eliminated the better. Now I know you have attracted the attention of the media and no doubt care for Chase Bryan. So I’m going to make this easy for you. He gets to stay and you get to go.”
    “You want me to just quit?”
    “I didn’t say quit. No, that would raise too many eyebrows. I want you to fail.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “Do I sound like I’m joking?”
    “And how do you propose I fail?”
    “Oh, c’mon now. Bad cold. Trip on the stage. Sing out of tune. You know, what some of the idiots did.”
    “Were you behind some of them getting eliminated?”
    She smiled.
    “Really, Meghan? You must have a very low opinion of me, if you think I would stoop that low.”
    I rolled my eyes. Was she insane? She was doing it right now. I paced back and forth a few times. A part of me wanted to tell her where to go, then I remembered what Chase had said. This bitch was playing us like a fiddle.