MARRYING THE ROCKSTAR (#3 ROCKSTAR SERIES)

♪ thirty ♪

ONE YEAR LATER

Seated at my desk, with a gorgeous view of Central Park, I looked at the collection of clippings hanging from my corkboard. Memories of friends, allies, things I'd wanted to keep sight of, to keep me going as I worked.

My gaze was drawn to the biggest cut-out of them all: Daphne's success story.

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAPHNE DELANEY — A BEAUTY BLOGGER TURNED STAR

"Daphne enters the headquarters of SHOW SoHo, the fashion magazine she writes a monthly beauty segment for. As she sits down for this interview, in the gorgeous, newly refurbished downstairs lobby, her makeup is impeccable. As it should be for the main representative of UTOPIA products, a brand she helped create along with other master makeup artists in the NYC area. She's glowing and refuses to tell us her secret; but she promises we'll know soon enough.

'And what's on the agenda now?' we ask her, as she crosses one leg over the other, smirking while she ponders her response. 'You've been very busy with the brand, writing for SOHO, traveling the country to hire models, and producing the most amazing photo-shoots. Tell us what's next!'

She looks like she's about to spill out her biggest secrets but blocks herself. 'I can't say too much.' She blushes. 'But my following has grown to such an extent that I've been organizing giveaways and special events to honor my fans. I want to do more for the community, more for the underprivileged, more for the world.'

She's beaming now. She's got that air of someone who wants to burst into giggles and jump around and clap her hands with joy. It's contagious, because we're all smiling with her.

'And what of the rumors about you and a certain rockstar canoodling whenever you have a free moment?'

At this, she turns beet red, her skin matching her vibrant hair.

'One who often wears purple contacts and who continues to turn the rock scene upside down in her wake?'

We don't expect her to answer this one, because she tends to dodge this inquiry. She keeps her guard up. But we catch the glint in her eye as she licks her lips and shakes her head, amused. 'I'm sure I have no idea who you're talking about.'

She urges us to move on to other topics, playfully warning us against any more daring questions like that."

I chuckled, remembering when I'd asked the same question. Daphne had evaded me like I was a mosquito trying to suck up her blood. But I hadn't missed the flaring red of her cheeks and her subtle smile as I mentioned Sapphire.

Because it was the same reaction Sapphire had whenever anyone asked her about Daphne.

I'd been too blinded by my own relationship issues to notice it, but the two had grown close, over the months of my wedding planning. Very close. They sat close, they giggled together, they conspired together. But I'd never paid attention because I was so absorbed in Leo, absorbed in our troubles.

Daphne and Sapphire were absolutely a thing, and it was a shock to all of us, but especially to Daphne herself. She'd been one hundred percent straight her entire life. A firm ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, yes, but she swore up and down that she'd never partake.

That was, until she met and fell prey to Sapphire's charm.

No one could resist her. Sapphire was a treat, a sweetness in this world of chaos, and talented to boot. How lucky was I to still call her a friend?