West Coast Soulmates

Chapter 7

Chapter Four

Dylan

It’d been five days and Jen hadn’t called, yet.

I couldn’t get her out of my head or my dreams, and it drove me crazy wondering if she regretted our time together, or was merely busy.

We didn’t know much about each other, of course, but the girl was already in my blood. My favorite high. I knew if she’d only see me again, we could create something fantastic.

For Christmas, I went over to Jake and Beth’s house.

When it turned out I was the only guy there without a date besides her father, it hit me that maybe I should’ve stayed on the mountain at least another day.

I hadn’t thought about having a girlfriend since my ex broke my heart years ago, but now…surrounded by friends with serious relationships, I realized it was time. I wanted it.

I wanted to love again.

“Why the long face, Uncle Dylan?” Beth asked in a high voice, carrying her daughter. The nine-month-old reached for me with one of her chubby little arms.

“Sorry. Lost in thought for a minute. Did you need something?” I let the baby squeeze my finger.

“Nah. Just noticed you were quiet over here. Girl trouble?”

“Why would you ask that?”

Beth arched a brow. “I’ve known you guys how long?”

He smiled. “Fair enough. I met someone yesterday.”

She smiled. “And you’d like to see her again. Does she know?”

“I left my number.”

“You’re a great guy. If she made this big of an impression on you, I’m sure you did with her. She’ll call.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I usually am.” She winked. “You got her number, too, right?”

“Uh, no.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? What were you thinking?”

“It…there wasn’t time to ask.”

“Uh-huh. Well, I’m not going to ask what you were up to last night.”

“Good, because I’m not sharing. Keep this under your hat, okay? The others get wind of it and they won’t leave it alone.”

“The munchkin and I have your back. But Dylan…I do hope I get to meet your friend.”

“Me, too.”

Eventually.

EventuallyMy bandmates were an intense bunch to break into. Beth, our lead singer’s wife, knew that better than anyone, and she was the one friend I wasn’t afraid to introduce Jen to—if she ever called me. Well, Mikey was alright, too, but s**t at keeping secrets.

I hadn’t dated since getting famous. Well, there hadn’t been any relationships. I went on dates here and there, but they were more a night of fun than a potential thing. Groupies rarely interested me. There were women that specifically followed bass players for some reason, so I had a lot of fans, but anonymous hook-ups held little appeal.

relationshipsThat was Aaron’s style, their youngest bandmate.

One, it was hard to find a girl that would be with any of us for the right reasons, and two, I hadn’t been willing to risk my heart again.

It was always hard to know—to guess—when to bring up the fame angle with a girl if it wasn’t talked about when you first met. I was pretty sure Jen didn’t recognize me on Christmas Eve…but had she figured it out since? Is that why she hadn’t called?

And if not and I did see her again, then I had to worry about her reaction when she found out. She wasn’t a gold-digger, I thought, so she might be repulsed.

Or not care.

Or, like Beth, be afraid of how public life would change hers. Sure, I flew more under the radar than Jake and Bob did, but even if the media didn’t report on my relationship, the fans would notice.

Would Jennifer still want to see me after I told her the truth?