Rebel Rockstar Read Online Free Page B

sip and am trying to calm my nerves when I see Jem walk into the room, arm in arm with a pretty young girl in bright pink.
    My heart skips a beat. Jem looks drop-dead gorgeous in her midnight-blue dress; her legs are long and shapely, and she moves gracefully forward like a dancer. Her cleavage is tastefully on display. Oh, wow... It’s the only thought I can muster and it spins around in my head. She’s always made me feel lost for words, even in her casual jeans-and-shirt combinations.
    I watch her walk to the table, smiling as I hear her laugh at something the other girl says. I wonder who the younger girl is… I can’t help noticing how cute she is, especially in the pink ensemble she’s wearing. Jem slides into the leather dining chair far down the table. I wish she’d sit next to me.
    Suddenly, the room goes silent and I turn to see what the fuss is about. Tonya walks in, dressed in a form-fitting black evening dress. She looks great. I won’t deny it. But I’ve always felt like prey in her presence. She sits across from me and smiles hungrily, and I feel her eyes moving down my body,.. Appraising me. I don’t want to give away how I’m feeling—about anyone —so all I do is nod in return.
    As I pick up my glass to take another sip, I see Jem leaving from the corner of my eye. She looks pale. She rushes to the side of the cruiser and vomits; she’s clearly seasick, and I know she’s unhappy that Tonya is here.
    Jem makes her way shakily to a bench and sits down. She’s not looking well at all. I should help her . I stand up with a fresh glass of fruit water in my hand.
    “Paul, you got any Aspirin?” Paul looks up at me and reaches into his blazer pocket.
    “Here. That had better be water, Nate…” He purses his lips. I nod and take the pill.
    I know Jem doesn’t really want to see me, but I can’t help worrying about her. She looks so pale. All I want to do is take her into my arms and hold her. I make my way toward her, careful to be quiet and not startle her. She looks up at me and I hand her the water. Our fingers touch. My nerve endings do the electric slide—her skin is as soft as I remember it and I catch a whiff of her jasmine perfume on the sea breeze. After she has gulped down some water, I hand her the Aspirin.
    “Sit down, Nate.” Jem says, catching me unawares.
    I thought she was going to tell me to leave her alone. I sit down next to her and look at her profile. Jem’s slightly upturned nose softens her beauty, making her look young and fresh. I hope her manager doesn’t convince her to get a nose job. She’s obviously made some changes to Jem’s look already , I muse.
    “It’s so peaceful on the dock tonight. The sea sounds like music almost,” she says, still gazing out at the ocean. I have to say something in return. Neither of us is fond of awkward silences.
    “Yeah, it’s beautiful out at sea. The water looks like silk, and you can see all the stars,” I reply, hoping it doesn’t come out sounding as cheesy as it does in my head. “You look amazing in that dress, you know. I never thought I’d see you in such a tight outfit!” She laughs and teases me back.
    “I never thought I’d see you in a clean white shirt! Seems like your manager wanted to make you over too, mister Bad Boy.”
    I’m happy for the light-heartedness, but something tugs at my mind. “Jem, what happened with us? Why did you break up with me?” I plead, realizing how much it bothers me.
    “Nate, I don’t want to talk about this right now,”
    “You didn’t give me an actual reason, Jem! You just…you just left me.”
    She tells me I’ll never understand, but how can I understand when she never tells me anything?

    J em stands so far away that in the dark she is almost invisible. I’m still sitting on the bench, looking at the sea but not really seeing it—my heart is too heavy to concentrate on what is actually a lovely night. I hear heels on the wooden deck and turn quickly to see