Page 72 of Ravaged For You

There’s no way I’m dropping the fact of Axel’s actual job on my mother right now. Honestly, I’m guessing her heart wouldn’t take that news.

“I will get on a flight tomorrow. Be ready for me.”

* * *

After the phone call with my mom, I just sit still in quiet and try to process what the hell is going to happen tomorrow.

Mom is coming here. To LA. To meet Axel.

Okay, so that’s not how I expected the phone call to go.

I thought I’d get a hard no, and then have to tell Astrid that unfortunately Mom can’t do it. That would be the end of that.

Would’ve been a better outcome. For everyone.

Sure, I could’ve faked the phone call, but I’m so bad at lying I’m sure someone as emotionally intelligent as Astrid would’ve seen through my charade. I’m already lying too much in regards to this fake relationship.

There’s a knock on the hotel suite door. I hesitate before looking through the security camera. Axel’s not meant to be home yet.

It’s Lucas. I let him in.

“How are you doing, Maddie?” he asks as he steps inside the suite. I offer him a seat and he takes it.

“Okay.”

“Good to hear. And last night? How did it go?”

I nod. “Really good, I hope. Did you see that we… kissed?”

He raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t checked the news?”

“I’m trying to avoid stuff like that,” I reply.

He takes the remote from the living room table and turns on the TV. He switches over to an entertainment channel.

And there is my face.

On the TV.

On the news.

Well, more like half my face. You can’t see much due to the fact that Axel is in the middle of the frame kissing me.

Holy shit, the kiss from last night? That’s all over the news?

I knew it’d be big, but not front-page news big.

“Get ready for this,” Lucas tells me, observing my open-mouthed reaction. “This is just the start.”

I check my phone messages. Everyone’s been trying to contact me. Everyone I know. Even people I thought had completely forgotten about me. They all want to talk to me. Ask me how in the world have I ended up on their social media and TV making out with one of the most famous men on the planet.

“Have I gone viral?” I ask the band manager. “For kissing a rockstar?”

“Yep, it seems like you have.”

“Crap.” My response is one word. I can’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. There are no words beyond ones that would make my mother blush.

“I’ve dealt with this exact situation plenty of times,” Lucas tells me, turning off the TV. “No matter what, it’s always insane. Everyone handles sudden fame in different ways. Axel, for instance, bought that crazy motorbike of his. What I suggest you do immediately is turn off your phone and TV and forget all about it for at least a day. Take a moment and make some time for yourself, Maddie. That’s the best thing you can do to process what’s happening.”