Rock Me (New Adult Romance) Read Online Free

next move: cupcakes. All the cupcakes.
    Before we’d come to New York, Aimee and I
had been obsessed with them. We’d even gotten matching pink cupcakes tattooed
on our upper arms. We’d become experts at baking them, too. Aimee loved red
velvet but I liked plain old vanilla with pink icing.
    Since we’d discovered Magnolia cupcakes
in New York we’d been making regular pilgrimages. So that morning we took the
train downtown and hopped off near the Rockefeller Center. As soon as we
entered the tiny shop we were overwhelmed by the scent of freshly baked cake.
We both sighed simultaneously and looked at each other with glee.
    Red velvet and vanilla cupcakes procured,
we settled down by the fountain outside the Rockefeller Center to munch and
people watch.
    “How do people here not eat there every
day?” Aimee commented.
    “Maybe they’re sick of them.”
    “Not possible,” she gravely replied. She
looked at me out of the corner of her eye.
    “Be straight with me Shay, are you happy
about Liam or not? You seem a little down.”
    I savored my last bite of tender cake and
rich frosting. “It’s probably just the late night.” I caught Aimee’s serious
look and sighed. “I just don’t want to be hurt,” I said in a low voice. “Liam’s
nice to me but he’s hot, a rocker, he could get any girl. I’m just some awkward
chick from the Midwest. What if he blows me off?”
    Aimee leveled with me. “Look Shay. Not
every guy is going to be that idiot Bobby. He was so self-absorbed that he
wouldn’t have seen a car speeding towards him. You’re super cool, super smart,
super hot, and super single! You’re a sweetheart but you need more confidence
in yourself.”
    “That’s what Liam said,” I mumbled,
wishing I had another cupcake so that I could eat my feelings.
    “Well he’s right.” Aimee grasped my
shoulder and looked into my eyes. “We’re here this summer to be more than just
some small-town Duluth girls. Here’s your chance to shine. What are you waiting
for?”
     
    * * *
     
    “One day,” Aimee sighed as we stood in
Tiffany’s, gawping over the display cases of engagement rings. We’d decided on
a leisurely stroll on Fifth Avenue after our cupcake feast. Without saying
anything, we’d both gravitated towards the famous jewelry store.
    The shop on Fifth was a grand stone
multi-level affair with row upon row of glittering glass jewel cases. We’d
already been in several times to sigh and moan over the engagement rings on the
upper floor. I preferred the simple diamond solitaire in white gold while Aimee
swooned over the extravagant emerald cut with a diamond band.
    An elegant saleswoman with a tight
chignon frowned at us from the other side of the display case, clearly
recognizing that we were not there to buy.
    Just then my cell rang. I jumped slightly
but relaxed when I realized it must be Felicia. After all, no one else had my
cell number, except for Aimee.
    “Hello?” I answered, still distracted by
the dazzling objects in front of me.
    “Shayla?” a deep and very sexy male voice
answered. I started. A memory started to emerge out of the fog of my
brain—sweet kisses on a moonlit rooftop, the musky smell of a certain
tall rocker, me writing my phone number in pen on his hand.
    “Liam?” I squeaked. “Hey.” Aimee’s head
whipped over to look at me, her eyes wide. I shook my head at her and scuttled
off.
    “Err hey, you took off kind of fast last
night. I just wanted to check in and say hi.”
    “Oh yeah, uh I just wanted to get Aimee
home. We’re in Tiffany’s right now.” I smacked my head. Tiffany’s? What
girl admits she’s looking at engagement rings?
    “Is there something you’re not telling
me?” he said, sounding amused.
    “No,” I said quickly. “We’re just trying
to find a present for Aimee’s mom.”
    “Wow, big spenders,” he chuckled. “Well
if you’re not too busy blowing your credit card, I was wondering if you’d like
to meet up with me this