My smile fell. “What?”
“Language, baby. I don’t like when your pretty mouth curses. It doesn’t fit you.”
“Jason…” I growled at him. He laughed, as if I wasn’t a second from ripping out his throat with mypretty mouth. I hated being told what I could and couldn’t say even more than I hated having my clothes criticized.
He pecked my nose, ignoring my pissed-off state. “Come on, baby. We don’t want to be late.”
I sucked it up. I wasn’t in the mood to argue. It occurred to me I’d been doing that a lot lately, and I wasn’t a fan. I’d have to analyze that when I wasn’t in a party dress.
Jason waited for me as I locked my front door. I fumbled my keys, so it took me a few extra seconds. His impatient huffs made me go even slower. Who was he to huff on my birthday?
My next-door neighbor’s door flew open, and I looked up from my keys, a polite smile poised and ready. My neighbor appeared, and when his deep-blue eyes landed on me, he winked.
“Hey, neighbor,” he drawled, pulling his door closed.
“Hey,” I answered.
I’d moved into this apartment three or four months ago. My dad had picked it out without any input from me. Since he was footing the bill, I couldn’t really say much. Thankfully, the apartment was more than decent, and it came with Adam Wainwright as a neighbor.
Handsome as hell, famous, talented, rock star Adam Wainwright.
I’d met Adam a few times in passing prior to becoming his neighbor, and I’d learned three important things about him.
He liked to play his guitar on his balcony, often in his underwear.
He had a terrible memory.
The rumors were indeed true, and he was the ultimate fuckboy.
Adam’s friendly gaze swept over me, from my sparkly heels to my poofy dress, to my bare shoulders, finally landing on my face. His smile was open and real. The way he bounced on his toes like an excited kid made my stomach flip a little. Which was weird. I wasn’t the stomach-flipping type.
“Like your dress.”
Oh, wow. There went another stomach flip. “Thanks. It’s my party dress.”
He waggled his brows as he passed me on the way to the elevator. “Must besomeparty. Shame I wasn’t invited.”
I lifted a shoulder, though he didn’t see since his long legs had eaten up the length of the hallway in no time. “There’s always next year.”
He raised a hand. “I’m counting on it.”
Jason gripped my arm, dragging my attention to him. “We’re not riding the elevator with that guy.”
My forehead crinkled. “Why not?”
He clucked his tongue at me like I was a naughty child. “I saw how he was looking at you, and he didn’t even acknowledge me. There’s no way I’m allowing you to be in a small enclosed space with him. You know how musicians are.”
I wasn’t the guffawing kind either, but dear god, I wanted to. “Jason, there’s so much wrong with that statement, I won’t even touch it.” I nodded toward the closing elevator. “Your point is moot anyway. He’s gone.”
His grip on me relaxed. “I can’t believe your father thought it was a good idea to move you in next door to a rock star.”
I wasn’t sure my dad knew or cared who my neighbor was. Hispeoplehad found a suitable apartment in a secure building. That was that. I had a home.
“Can we go now? The scary rock star is long gone.”
Jason’s brown eyes were hard when they assessed me. Then the corners of his mouth kicked up into something that was probably supposed to be a smile.
“Yes, Addie. Let’s go. Time to celebrate my gorgeous birthday girl.”