Page 160 of Hard Rock Tease

My heart clenched. Jayce had been right this whole time. There were crazy fans everywhere. If the two of us weren’t together, would this girl be here trying to kill me? Losing out on an internship couldn’t possibly be enough to cause a psychotic break. Finding out your idol was with another woman, though? I could imagine a hundred different scenarios where that could push someone over the edge. Obsessions could be dangerous, and even more so when love and emotions were involved.

Maybe Jayce had been right to try resisting our attraction in the first place. I should have listened to him back then. I shouldn’t have tried to push the issue. Look at the situation I had gotten myself into. If only I had believed him when he told me the fans would be upset.

A flicker of motion out of the corner of my eye brought my attention to the front of the bus. The top of a dark head was approaching.

Jayce.

He had no idea what was going on in here. What if he startled this girl and she shot him by accident? I wanted to shout and warn him, but the bus door opened before I could and Jayce walked up.

“Ailey, are you okay? Why did you need to see—”

“Jayce!” the girl cried.

He froze as he walked up the steps and saw a strange girl with a gun in her hand.

“Who are you?” he said slowly. “What’s going on?” He enunciated each word carefully, not making any sudden movement.

“I was hoping I’d get to meet you.” The girl broke out into a grin and lowered the gun an inch. I darted forward, trying to tackle her, but she was too fast, or I was too slow, and she brought her gun back up, pointing it at my head.

“I don’t think so. You just stay there.”

“What are you doing with that gun?” Jayce asked, still speaking in a low, soothing voice.

“I’m just taking care of a small piece of business,” she said.

“Why don’t you hand that over to me before someone gets hurt?”

“But I want someone to get hurt.” Her voice was almost gleeful.

“Ailey, are you all right?” Jayce’s eyes flicked to me for a split second before returning to the girl, not wanting to take his eyes off her.

“I-I’m okay.” I couldn’t hide the tremor in my voice.

The girl’s face twisted into a horrible expression of hatred and disgust.

“Why do you even care about her?” she growled. “She’s just some stupid fangirl. I’m just as good as her.”

“She’s right. She’s better than me. She’s even got more followers,” I said, trying to sound encouraging, hoping I could stay on her good side.

“Really?” Jayce aimed the question at the girl with the gun, giving her his full attention “What’s your name? Maybe I’ve heard of you.” He narrowed his eyes in that cocky way of his, giving the girl a full blast of the rock star god he played on stage. I’d fallen prey to it many times. This girl didn’t stand a chance. She loosened her grip on the gun even further, letting it rest at her side.

“I’m Melissa. Online, I’m Melissa Melody Reviews.” Her voice was breathless.

Jayce hummed in interest. “I’ve seen your stuff before. You’re good, a very talented writer.”

“Really?” She looked at him with hope in her eyes.

Jayce nodded, keeping that gaze trained on her. I saw him tense his muscles, getting ready to move.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that. I love your music, Jayce, I really do. Do you think you could—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Jayce lunged forward and grabbed at the gun, trying to wrestle it from the girl’s hands. She moved faster than him and ducked, whirling her hand up and around before aiming the gun at his chest.

“Why would you do that?” she cried. “I’m just trying to help! Once that girl is out of the way we can be together!”

“Give me the gun,” he ordered, not sounding the least bit afraid of having a bullet tear through his body.

“No!” she shouted. “You go stand over there. Next to her.”