Hawk and Dove (Rock Star Romance Novel) by Amanada Lawless Page A

This whole being-pampered thing is totally
foreign. I can’t tell whether I’m excited or uncomfortable all of sudden,
though I have a pretty good idea which way Teddy is leaning.
    With mounting anxiety, I look out into the jostling crowd. I
feel eyes all over me, eyes of people that I’ve never met before. I suppose
this is what famous musicians feel like all the time, but I’m not a famous
musician. I’m just Eleanor Jackson from Barton. I’m not anyone special.
    I feel like I’ve led these people on, somehow. That they
must be mistaken. I let out a gasp as I see a very tall figure saunter up in
the back of the crowd. Trent’s decided to come watch the show. He’s got big old
aviator sunglasses on, but I can tell it’s him. That blonde is still hanging
onto his arm, too. Perfect. He catches me looking at him and gives a little
wave. I avert my eyes quickly, pretending that I wasn’t staring. Mitch raises
an eyebrow at me when he sees the source of my caginess.
    “Don’t tell me you’re getting all swoony over that asshole?”
he asks, not very kindly.
    “I don’t get swoony,” I tell him angrily, “I’m just a little
confused. And a little nervous.”
    “You don’t need to be nervous,” Mitch says, taking my hands
in his, “This is just like every other show we’ve ever played.”
    “Not exactly,” I laugh.
    “Well, try to think of it that way,” he urges, “You’ve got
nothing to worry about. Your voice is beautiful. These people obviously think
so, or they wouldn’t have come.”
    “Maybe they just like your suspenders,” I suggest.
    “Well...they are excellent suspenders,” Mitch admits,
cracking the rare joke.
    “Are you guys ready for me to introduce you?” Pearl asks
excitedly, “We like to do a little Q and A before a new act takes the stage. Is
that OK?”
    “Sure,” Mitch says, “Whatever.”
    “Super!” chirps Pearl. She dashes through the curtain, a
pretty arbitrary divider since both the backstage and audience are open air. We
watch her tap the mic and address the audience.
    “Hello everyone!” Pearl says, her voice amplified in the
afternoon air, “It’s my pleasure to introduce a brand new act to you today.
You’ve probably been reading all about them the last couple of days, as their
most recent song, ‘Patch Me Up’, has been all over the Web. Please give a big
Hawk and Dove welcome to the adorable and magnificent duo, Ellie & Mitch!”
    “Adorable?” Mitch hisses.
    I grab onto his hand and drag him through the curtain. A
huge wave of applause washes over us as we step out onto the modest stage. For
a moment, I’m caught like a deer in headlights, totally frozen before this
unexpected wash of praise. I look over and see that even Mitch is startled by
the attention. We’re used to playing in tiny little bars and dorm rooms. This
is another animal completely. I don’t think I could have fully imagined the
sensation of walking out before a big group of people who are actually gathered
to listen to me...it’s absolutely wonderful. And terrifying.
    “We’re so glad you two could be here!” Pearl says.
    Mitch and I take our places before our microphones. My
fingers tighten around his—I’m too nervous to let go. I lean into the mic,
smiling. “We’re glad to be here!” I say brightly.
    “I hear that you’re a veteran of the festival yourself,
Ellie,” Pearl says.
    “Oh yeah,” I say, “Big time.”
    A cheer goes up in the crowd as Pearl goes on. “Well, you
two have become quite the internet darlings over the past week or so. That
interview you gave, Ellie, gave such a wonderful account of the way you two
met, fell in love, and started making this excellent music together.”
    “I—What?” I splutter.
    “Everyone here loves to see a couple on love making music.
It always adds so much to the sound, don’t you two agree?”
    I feel Mitch’s fingers leave mine as the heavy weight of his
arm settles across my shoulders. I look up at him,