Chapter 8

I didn't knowif I was relieved or disappointed that Levi had knocked on the door and interrupted us. There was something about my bodyguard that was incredibly easy to confide in. The only issue with that was if I wasn't careful, I would start to see him as something more than just my bodyguard. Especially now I knew how nice it was to have his arms around me. How safe and comforting it felt.

I didn't know how long it would be before my stalker was found and dealt with, so I knew hoping for any long-term thing to happen with him probably wasn't the best idea. I had been celibate for the entire time that I was sober. I wasn't even really sure if I wanted to risk my sobriety for a relationship. What would happen if or when we broke up? Besides, with his job and mine, how would that even work?

Christ, why was I thinking about this? These were not the kind of thoughts I needed to be having about anyone at the minute, let alone my paid babysitter in what was probably a dangerous situation.

No, I needed to be sensible. Getting involved with someone at this point wasn't going to be helpful for my life, my career or my sobriety. Something in me was saddened by that thought; my heart sank a little.

What the hell was wrong with me? I grabbed my guitar, nodded that I was ready to Tom, and let him escort me out to the stage. For the next couple of hours, it was just going to be me and the music. Sod the rest of it for now.

Comingoff the stage in Forum Birmingham made it seem like the world was alive again. Colours were more vivid, sounds were richer, smells more distinct, and tastes more flavoursome. This was what I was born to do. Every other thought in my head disappeared. I got lost in the music I was playing and the atmosphere feeding back from the crowd.

Tom nodded as I walked off the stage, ready to move before there was a crowd to contend with at the stage door. "Nice work. See, I told you everything would work out." He smiled and nodded his head. Warmth flooded through my body. If I hadn't learned how to control my blushing back in my boy band days, I would have flushed red with the feelings that Tom's compliment was filling me with. The man made my heart flutter and my mind race with all the possibilities and what ifs.

"Time to go?" I asked, changing the subject to distract myself.

He nodded again, and walked alongside me, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings. The stage door was thrown wide, and as predicted, the timing was perfect. There were very few people standing around outside. I put all thoughts of Natasha being somewhere around us out of my head and bundled myself into the back of the waiting car. Tom sat in the front passenger side and his driver, Levi, sped off.

The next morning,I woke early, only to find a post-it stuck to the door between our rooms.

There's been some info from the PI, I need to go check it out. Levi's going to take you to Sheffield, and I'll meet you there later. Don't worry, everything will be okay!

Tom

I hadn't had much time to talk to Levi yet, but he seemed like a funny guy who was sure to have some stories to tell. I knew that the other member of the team, Nathan, was also now with us. But there was still something that made me feel a little disappointed I wasn't going to get more time in the sole company of Tom again.

Whatever it was he had heard about, I hoped it was something that would help to sort this whole Natasha situation out.