The Rockstar I’ve Loved for So Long by Marian Tee Page B

talk, Bree thought with an inner wince. But what else was there to say? If it had been Dylan, she wouldn’t have—
    No.
    Remember the Get-Over-It plan , she told herself and squared her shoulders, turning to look at Mr. Marketing with a flirty smile this time. “Want to dance?”
    Small talk she sucked at, but dancing she totally knew how to do.
     
    ****
     
    He stayed inside his car, trying to spot Bree in the crowd of college students that filled the shores of Christopoulos University’s private beach. He knew that once he got out of the car, it would only be a matter of time before one of the students realized who he was and the crowd would be upon him.
    Hopefully, by that time he would’ve already managed to whisk Bree away and have a chance to speak his piece in private.
    It took fifteen more minutes before he finally saw where she was, and Dylan expelled his breath harshly. No wonder he had been having a hard time searching for her, with Bree slow-dancing with another guy, her head on his shoulder, her beautiful face turned away from him.
    She was dressed in a skimpy polka-dot bikini and all he wanted to do was cover her with a blanket, toss her over his shoulder, and take her away from this testosterone-driven crowd.
    “Found her yet?” Bob, the head of Staffan Aehrenthal’s security team and which the rock star had “politely” insisted Dylan use when he told the music industry’s power couple about his intentions. 
    Staffan had a distinctly amused look on his face after listening to Dylan’s words of apology. “Are you by any chance treating us like the parents of the bride and you’re asking for our permission to court Bree before offering her marriage?”
    Dylan had answered calmly, “If she takes me back, I will want to marry her.”
    Staffan glanced at his wife. “It’s up to her.”
    When he had looked at Saffi, Dylan had been surprised at the sad look on the woman’s face. It was the first time he had seen the famous fangirl-turned-rock-star’s-wife to be anything but cheerful.
    “Can you promise not to hurt her again, Dylan?” she had asked quietly, her blue eyes a lot like his in color but instead of darkness, hers shone bright and clear. 
    Her innocence was more than daunting, and he could feel her weighing him as she continued to look at Dylan in waiting silence.
    “I can’t promise that, but I can promise you that I’ll love her best, love her always, and if I ever do hurt her, it won’t be intentional and hurting her will always hurt me more.”
    Cold sweat had enveloped Dylan as Saffi March-Aehrenthal still did not speak. 
    And then Staffan said dryly, “Drop the act, H.”
    Saffi’s giggle had surprised him. “Well, I just wanted to make him squirm. He deserves it after everything he did to my friend.”
     
    ****
     
    One moment she was trying her best to lose herself in the music, trying to feel a little bit more excited that she was in the arms of a young and handsome guy and then the next, someone was tapping on her partner’s back, a familiar voice saying, “Mind if I take my turn with the lady?”
    Oh my God. 
    She drew away quickly, her face paling when it was indeed Dylan Charbonneau standing in front of her, dressed in a hoodie and jeans, dark shades hiding his famous blue eyes.
    Classic rock star disguise syndrome, was her next thought and she almost smiled because of it. Rock stars were so delusional when it came to disguises. Did they really think something like this could fool people for long?
    It had been a month since she had last seen him, and with him covered head to toe and her in a skimpy bikini, Bree couldn’t help feeling like a slut.
    Looking at him was like having all her barely-healed wounds slashed open for the second time. If only it was possible to wish him away, she would have done so. 
    She didn’t need the past to haunt her again. She didn’t need this. She didn’t need him. 
    “Hi.” Dylan felt it was his role to speak first. Bree