Second Chance: A Rockstar Romance in North Korea Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 – Derek Chapter 2 – Ellie

  Chapter 3 – Derek

  Chapter 4 – Ellie

  Chapter 5 – Derek

  Chapter 6 – Ellie

  Chapter 7 – Derek

  Chapter 8 – Ellie

  Chapter 9 – Ellie

  Chapter 10 – Derek

  Chapter 11 – Derek

  Chapter 12 – Ellie

  Chapter 13 – Derek

  Chapter 14 – Ellie

  Chapter 15 – Derek

  Chapter 16 – Ellie

  Chapter 17 – Derek

  Chapter 18 – Ellie

  Chapter 19 – Derek

  Chapter 20 – Ellie

  Chapter 21 – Derek

  Chapter 22 – Ellie

  Chapter 23 – Derek

  Chapter 24 – Ellie

  Chapter 25 – Derek

  Chapter 26 – Ellie

  Chapter 27 – Derek

  Chapter 28 – Ellie

  Chapter 29 – Derek

  Chapter 30 – Ellie

  Chapter 31 – Derek

  Chapter 32 – Ellie

  Chapter 33 – Derek

  Chapter 34 – Ellie

  Chapter 35 – Derek

  Chapter 36 – Ellie

  Chapter 37 – Derek

  Chapter 38 – Ellie

  Chapter 39 – Derek

  Epilogue – Ellie

  Chapter 1 – Valerie

  Chapter 2 – Clay

  Chapter 3 – Valerie

  Chapter 4 – Clay

  Chapter 5 – Valerie

  Chapter 6 – Clay

  Chapter 7 – Valerie

  Chapter 8 – Clay

  Chapter 9 – Valerie

  Chapter 10 – Clay

  Chapter 11 – Valerie

  Chapter 12 – Clay

  Chapter 13 – Valerie

  Chapter 14 – Clay

  Chapter 15 – Valerie

  Chapter 16 – Clay

  Chapter 17 – Valerie

  Chapter 18 – Clay

  Chapter 19 – Valerie

  Chapter 20 – Clay

  Chapter 21 – Valerie

  Chapter 22 – Clay

  Chapter 23 – Valerie

  Chapter 24 – Clay

  Chapter 25 – Valerie

  Chapter 26 – Clay

  Chapter 27 – Valerie

  Chapter 28 – Clay

  Chapter 29 – Valerie

  Chapter 30 – Clay

  Chapter 31 – Valerie

  Chapter 32 – Clay

  Chapter 33 – Valerie

  Chapter 34 – Clay

  Chapter 35 – Valerie

  Chapter 36 – Clay

  Chapter 37 – Valerie

  Chapter 38 – Clay

  Chapter 39 – Valerie

  Chapter 40 – Clay

  Chapter 41 – Valerie

  Chapter 42 – Clay

  Chapter 43 – Valerie

  Chapter 44 – Clay

  Chapter 45 – Valerie

  Chapter 46 – Clay

  Chapter 47 – Valerie

  Chapter 48 – Clay

  Chapter 49 – Valerie

  Chapter 50 – Clay

  Epilogue – Valerie

  Chapter 1 – Harper

  Chapter 2 – Zach

  Chapter 3 – Harper

  Chapter 4 – Zach

  Chapter 5 – Harper

  Second Chance:

  A Rockstar Romance in North Korea

  Lilian Monroe

  (Twitter: @Lily_Author

  Facebook: @MonroeRomance)

  Copyright Ⓒ 2017 All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author except for short quotations used for the purpose of reviews.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 – Derek

  Chapter 2 – Ellie

  Chapter 3 – Derek

  Chapter 4 – Ellie

  Chapter 5 – Derek

  Chapter 6 – Ellie

  Chapter 7 – Derek

  Chapter 8 – Ellie

  Chapter 9 – Ellie

  Chapter 10 – Derek

  Chapter 11 – Derek

  Chapter 12 – Ellie

  Chapter 13 – Derek

  Chapter 14 – Ellie

  Chapter 15 – Derek

  Chapter 16 – Ellie

  Chapter 17 – Derek

  Chapter 18 – Ellie

  Chapter 19 – Derek

  Chapter 20 – Ellie

  Chapter 21 – Derek

  Chapter 22 – Ellie

  Chapter 23 – Derek

  Chapter 24 – Ellie

  Chapter 25 – Derek

  Chapter 26 – Ellie

  Chapter 27 – Derek

  Chapter 28 – Ellie

  Chapter 29 – Derek

  Chapter 30 – Ellie

  Chapter 31 – Derek

  Chapter 32 – Ellie

  Chapter 33 – Derek

  Chapter 34 – Ellie

  Chapter 35 – Derek

  Chapter 36 – Ellie

  Chapter 37 – Derek

  Chapter 38 – Ellie

  Chapter 39 – Derek

  Epilogue – Ellie

  New Release Alert!

  Chapter 1 – Derek

  My black rental car slides down Main Street and I can see the heads turning, the eyes staring as I glide by. I find a parking spot in front of Gray’s Grocer and pull in smoothly. I’m back. It feels like I never left but at the same time it’s like I’m on a different planet. The familiar giant oak trees are lining Main street, giving some shade from the sweltering August sun. A mother is pushing a stroller down near the hairdresser’s – I can’t see who it is from here but I’d guess it’s one of the Wilson sisters. Another car drives down past me at a snail’s pace. Everything is slower here, quieter. Once a year, I come back to this place. This sleepy, quiet town that I escaped from years ago. Nowheresville, Tennessee. It’s my mother’s birthday, the one occasion I bring myself back to my past. Not Christmas, not Thanksgiving, nothing. Just her birthday. She raised my brother and I on her own and I know she’d be devastated if I didn’t come back to see her. She’d never say it, of course, but I know it would kill her. I put the car in park and slide my hands through my hair, taking a deep breath. I can feel my heart beating a bit faster than usual, and I have that familiar weight in the pit of my stomach. I’m always nervous when I come back. It’s funny, I can stand in a stadium with thousands of screaming fans, belting out songs and shredding my guitar to pieces, but the thought of small talk with Mrs Gray makes my palms sweat. I might as well just go in. I’ll just grab some flowers for Ma and head out. I only have to spend the weekend here, and then I’m back to Los Angeles. I open the door and walk around to the sidewalk. Gray’s Grocer has the same green curtains hanging in the window, and I push the door open to hear the same jingling bell above my head. “Well if it isn’t the big rock star!” a voice calls out. Here we go. I turn towards the register and see Mrs. Gray leaning against the counter. She looks older than she did last year, but not much different. Her lips are still set in a thin line, curled up in one corner. Her hair has streaks of white in it now, but it’s pulled back in the same tight, low bun at the nape of her neck. “Hi, Mrs. Gray. How have you been?” I walk over towards her and paint a smile on my face. “Oh you know, things never change around here. We had to get a new roof on the shop, it
was leaking after the storms this year. The roofers just finished on Tuesday so you can imagine what a nightmare that was for the past few weeks!” “I can imagine, yeah,” I respond placidly. I wonder how many people will tell me about the Grays’ new roof between now and the time I leave. “Well, you must be here for your Ma’s birthday. We just got some beautiful sunflowers in, I can get Charlotte to put together a nice bouquet for you.” “That sounds great, thanks Mrs. Gray. You know those are Ma’s favourite.” My mother always said she thought sunflowers were the most beautiful flowers. Everyone should follow the sunshine in their life, she used to say. I’m not sure what sunshine I’ve been following, or what sunshine she followed, but it’s what she always says. Mrs Gray heads over towards the back yelling her daughter’s name. I turn towards the magazine stand, trying to pass the time until Ma’s flowers are ready. A few seconds later, I hear a voice. It’s the same voice that used to send a thrill down to the pit of my stomach when I was seventeen. The same melodic, sweet voice that I would hear every night before I went to bed when we’d stay up late, whispering to each other over the phone. The same voice that told me in no uncertain terms that she never wanted to see my scummy face ever again. The same voice that I’ve dreamt of, that’s reminded me year after year that I’m no better than the dirt under her shoe. I turn around and there she is. “You checking yourself out over there?” she says to me with one eyebrow raised. I try not to inhale sharply. She looks better than I remembered. She’s tall, willowy, and graceful. Her blonde hair is pinned back behind her ear and her deep green eyes are sparkling. My eyes drift down her body and I can feel my cock respond immediately. She’s wearing a tight white tank top and cut-off denim shorts. What was she saying? I frown slightly and she nods to the magazines. There’s Rolling Stone magazine – with me on the cover. I pick it up and hand it towards her. “Was just grabbing one for you, Eleanor.” I grin back. She hates her full name. “Although I guess you probably already have a couple copies stashed away under your mattress, or maybe hanging on the ceiling above your bed.” She rolls her eyes and waves the magazine away. I can’t help grinning when I put it back in the rack. My eyes rake back up her body until I rip my eyes up to her face. The sun is streaming through the window and she looks like she’s glowing. “Well it’s nice of you to grace us with your presence,” she says sarcastically. She starts piling items onto the counter as she waits for Mrs. Gray to get back to the till. I ignore her comment, watching her body move as she takes items from her cart and places up on the counter. Travel sized shampoos and soaps, tins of tuna, protein bars. “Interesting shopping you’ve got there,” I respond. “You stocking up your bomb shelter?” She glances at me sideways. “Didn’t take you long to slip back into the small town nosiness.” Her sarcasm doesn’t even sting. I’d listen to her insult me all day and be glad for it. I shift my weight from foot to foot. My heart is hammering in my chest and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s being back here. Maybe I’m not used to waiting for things anymore. Maybe it’s seeing her. “Ellie!” Mrs Gray calls out. “Sorry to keep you waiting, dear.” She shuffles towards the counter and starts ringing her items through. “I was just getting our resident rock star his mother’s flowers.” “That’s alright, Mrs. G. I only just got here, haven’t been waiting at all.” It’s strange being back. It’s like I’m a joke. I’m the world’s biggest rock star, but over here I’m just Mrs Hart’s son who moved to the big city a few years ago. Chapter 2 – Ellie

  He’s here. He’s back. I try to still the beating in my chest as I shuffle towards my car. I see the black rental car and I know it’s his. Who else would drive through this town? I still remember that day, almost ten years ago, when I gave myself to him. I lost my virginity to him and then I found out what was really going on. I found out that he didn’t care about me at all. The betrayal and anger and hurt I’d felt had been unbelievable. I remember crying and crying and crying until my whole body hurt. I can still feel a shadow of that hurt when I think about it now a decade later. Every month and year that goes by I think I’m over it. I’m a grown woman now, I have a career. On Monday I’m leaving for the biggest trip I’ve ever taken, the trip that will skyrocket my journalism career to new heights. I’m over Derek Hart. I was a teenager when all that happened, and it’s over now. I ignore the magazine covers, I change the radio when his voice comes on. My life goes on. I’ve had relationships – I almost got married! What happened when I was a kid in high school shouldn’t – no, doesn’t – affect my life. And then out of nowhere, once every couple years, I run into him on Main Street, at Gray’s Grocer, at Finlay’s pub. I can’t explain the jumble of feelings that assaults me whenever his tall, muscular body comes into view. Or when my name rolls off his tongue. Eleanor. I hate whenever anyone else calls me by my name but secretly when he says it… I don’t know. It sounds like music on his tongue. I dump my shopping into the back seat and jump into my car. I need to go home and pack, and I need to get Derek Hart out of my head. Whether he’s in town or not doesn’t affect my plan for the next couple days. I’m going to North Korea. Little Ellie Walters from Greenville, Tennessee is going to be the lead investigative journalist to the nuclear threat in freaking North Korea. It defies all reason and logic and it fills me with the deepest sense of excitement I’ve ever felt. My mother doesn’t approve, of course, but she’d have been happy for me to marry Chad Baker and have lots of babies in a house two doors down from hers. When I broke off the engagement six months ago I think she was move devastated than I was. I just can’t bring myself to stay in this place my whole life. I need to see the world! And what better place to start than North Korea? The thought makes me grin. This opportunity fell in my lap and I’d be a fool not to take it. My house is just on the edge of town. I pull into the drive and hop out, excited to pack up my supplies. I unload my shopping and head inside. As soon as I drop my bags on the kitchen counter, my phone starts ringing. “Hey Maggie,” I say as I answer. “What’s up?” “GUESS who’s back!” my cousin exclaims. “Umm.. Slim Shady?” I respond, nestling my phone in between my ear and my shoulder as I start unpacking the bags. “What?” “Nothing,” I reply with a grin. She’s been my best friends since we were born and I know that half the time she has no idea what I’m talking about. “Derek Hart is here! Charlotte put together a bouquet for his mother.” “I know, I saw him at Gray’s,” I respond, switching the phone to the other ear. Not even ten minutes and the whole town knows he’s back and what’s he’s bought and for who. They’re probably talking about what he was wearing and how his hair is still tousled and messy in that perfect rock star kind of way – or maybe it’s just me who notices those things. This is exactly why I need to get out of here. “You saw him?! How does he look?” Amazing, muscular, manly, sexy, irresistible, like a freaking ROCK STAR… all the words pass through my head at lightning speed before I can stop myself. “He looks fine,” I say. “Fine?” I can hear Maggie’s voice strain. She knows how I feel about him. I think she might be the only person who knows that I still think about him all the time. “Fine as in like… fiiinnnneeee, right?” “No, fine. Like… usual. Like he always does.” I say. I’m bluffing, delaying the inevitable questions from Maggie. “Ellie, stop. HOW did he look? And don’t say fine. You know yourself he looked incredible and now your head is spinning and you’re leaving and you don’t know what to think.” I pause, leaning against the counter. I’m holding a tin of tuna with one hand and grab the cell phone with the other, straightening out my head. How does she know me so well? “Yeah. I mean…” I sigh. “Maggie, what am I supposed to say? He’s a complete asshole and that hasn’t changed in ten years. He still had that stupid arrogant smirk on his face! Besides, I’m going to North Korea in two days and I’m going to publish a report on what’s going on over there and then who knows where that will take me! Who cares what Derek Hart is doing or what flowers his mother is getting for her birthday.” My exasperation is growing. I don’t know how I feel!
My heart was beating when I was talking to him and I can still smell that spicy, manly scent that surrounded him. I haven’t felt that thrill in the pit of my stomach since… I don’t even remember. But it’s Derek Hart. It’s the heartless bastard who made a fool of me when I was a teenager and I will never forgive him for it. “You need to come to Finlay’s tonight.” “I have to pack, Maggie, I can’t go to the bar.” “Ellie, it’s our last Friday night together!” “Fine,” I respond, pretending to give in reluctantly. I grin. I want to see her, and I know I need a distraction tonight or else my thoughts will drive me insane. Chapter 3 – Derek

  “Oh Derek, honey, they’re beautiful,” my mother says as she takes her flowers out of my hands. “Happy Birthday, Ma.” She ushers me into the house and I’m hit with all the familiar sights and smells that I grew up with. She’s wearing her faded apron with the little pink flowers on it, her long grey hair tied back in a braid. “Come in, Derek. Drop your bag. I made your favourite!” Every time I come back it’s like I never left. The wallpaper in the hallway is still peeling, and Ma is still cooking in the kitchen for me like I’m still eleven years old. I offered to buy her a house when my first album hit it big but she said no. “What would I do with a big fancy house now, all on my own here,” she said. I can’t blame her, but I wish she accept more help from me. I sit down at the kitchen table and watch her work. “Now not much has changed since you were here last, the Grays’ got a new roof on the grocery there, it was leaking like you wouldn’t believe during the storms,” she says as she stirs a pot of delicious smelling sauce. “Yeah, Mrs Gray told me that,” I respond. Ma keeps talking, updating me on who’s gotten married and who’s had kids. Who’s been sick and who’s died. I listen and answer when I’m supposed to, but my thoughts drift back to Ellie. Eleanor. I love the way she looked at me sideways and her eyes sparked at me. Then her hair fell forward and she tucked it behind her ear. I picture the way she was moving. She’s always been graceful, but purposeful in her movements. She’s fluid but she always looks like she has somewhere to be. I always admired that about her, her drive and determination. I’ve lived in LA for seven years now, surrounded by the most beautiful women in the world. Women trying to make it as models, actresses, singers. Women trying to get a piece of someone else’s fame. They’re all done up to perfection, but none of them make me look twice the way I look at Ellie. But she’s out of reach. I lost that chance ten years ago. She hates me. She’s hated me since the minute she found out about it. It was silly. It was stupid. Teenage boys thinking they were funny. I still remember seeing her face change. We were at school, and she’d come up to me wearing a huge smile. We had plans to go to the movies together after school that day. We were going to watch Into the Wild, because as Ellie said, both of us were only waiting for our chance to disappear from this town. She had walked up to me and asked me if I was ready. My best friend at the time, that brute Randy had laughed and opened his big mouth. It was almost like it happened in slow motion, everything fell apart right in front of me.