Aria by Jennifer Hartmann

11Chapter Eleven

“Thanks for coming on such short notice, Rosa.”

Rosa smiled at Noah as she placed her sweater on a nearby coat hook. “Oh, it’s my honor, señor Noah. Mi chico dulce loves spending time with his abuelita.”

Noah guided her to the kitchen where Sam was coloring in his notepad. “One of these days I’ll learn Spanish,” Noah laughed.

“Miss Rosa! I missed you.” Sam bolted out of his chair and gave his caretaker a hug. “Come color wif me.”

Rosa followed Sam to the kitchen island where he was eager to show her his artwork. “Muy bonita!” she declared, kissing the hair on Sam’s head. Her gold necklaces tickled at his nose as she leaned over him.

Noah grabbed his keys and wallet from the counter and stuffed them into his pockets. He checked his reflection in the microwave and made a mental note that he needed to get a haircut. “I’ll be back in a few hours, Rosa. Sam’s dinner is in the fridge. You’ll just need to warm it up.”

Rosa shooed her hand at him. “Disparates! You know this chico will only get a home-cooked meal from Rosa.”

“Yay!” Sam squealed. “I love when Rosa cooks.”

Noah smiled. “If you insist. Don’t make anything too hard on yourself. I’ll check in later.”

“Enjoy, mi querido. Have a wonderful night with señorita Chelsie.” She gave him a knowing wink.

Noah ignored the inuendo. “Goodnight,” he said. He made his way out the door and to his shiny, new Corvette Stingray. He grinned with immense satisfaction as the engine growled to life. The only thing he was missing was a female counterpart in the passenger seat to enjoy the ride with him.

His mind wandered to Julia. They had been “seeing each other” over the past two weeks. It was nothing serious. Nothing ever felt serious when it came to his sexual partners. Noah wasn’t sure if it was because Ruby had ruined him or because a certain someone had set the bar too high. There was always something missing. No one compared to Chelsie Combs and how perfectly she had fit into his life.

Noah was aware of how ridiculous that sounded. Chelsie was a walking headache – and she was dating his bandmate. But somehow, every woman paled in comparison to her. He was trying his best to get past that feeling. That’s why he had called Julia up one night for a sushi date – maybe he would see something in her he hadn’t noticed before.

He hadn’t found it yet.

Noah pulled up to the valet service and noticed Devon and Chelsie approaching from the opposite side of the parking lot. He locked eyes with Chelsie. She was wearing a yellow sundress with a high side slit, showing off her long legs. She pushed back her halo of golden hair, revealing dangly, bohemian earrings. A smile pulled up from the corner of her mouth, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. She looked away as they approached, and Noah pulled out a cigarette and fumbled with the lighter.

“Be right in,” he mumbled.

Devon nodded as he and Chelsie entered the upscale restaurant. After a couple of deep drags, Noah ground out his cigarette and joined his friends at a private rooftop table. Julia had already been seated, and she pounced on him with a commanding hug. Noah was enveloped in a heady cloud of designer perfume and champagne.

“Hey, stud.” She wrapped both hands around his arm and pulled him towards his chair.

Noah’s eyes met with Chelsie’s again, and she raised an eyebrow. He responded by swinging Julia back around and planting a kiss on her crimson lips.

“I didn’t know you two were a thing.” Chelsie sipped her sparkling wine, her eyes fixed on the display.

“I think it’s great,” Devon added. “You guys make a sexy couple.”

Julia beamed as she took her seat and flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. “We know,” she said. “Can someone pass the champagne?”

Noah sat next to Julia and across from Chelsie. Her gaze was still pinned on him. “You know I don’t do that bubbly shit. Let’s get some whiskey over here.”

Miles raised his empty glass in agreement. “Shit, yeah. Bottle of Blue Label would be nice.”

Noah gave the server a quick nod and beckoned her to their table. When she approached, Miles leered at her half-exposed breasts as she pulled out her notepad. Noah kicked him.

Lisa shifted in her chair. “I’m so happy we could all get together tonight. Chelsie, I feel like it’s been forever since we spent quality time together. How did the move go?”

Chelsie sipped her champagne, her feathery earrings fluttering against her face as she addressed her friend. “Devon was amazing. We cleared out the apartment in less than two hours. I can’t wait to get settled and start this new chapter.”

New chapter built on lies and guilt by omission. Noah was feeling on edge and he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the growing resentment that Chelsie had barely spoken to him in weeks. Or maybe he was envious of the fact that Devon seemed to have his shit together, while Noah had never felt more lost. Or maybe it was that he saw his whiskey coming and whiskey always brought out the grit and vigor in him.

Noah focused his eyes on the woman across from him as the amber liquid was poured into his glass. She was illuminated by the rooftop string lights and a subtle glow from the moon. Her bracelets jangled as she laughed at something Lisa had said, while she tucked her hair behind her ear. It was difficult not to stare. It was difficult not to regret being such a dick to her at the start of it all. Maybe things would be different.

Maybe she would be more than his imaginary tabloid girlfriend.

Wait. He couldn’t possibly have feelings for Chelsie Combs. Noah was incapable of feelings ever since Ruby. He was fractured – an empty shell. A single dad with a chip on his shoulder. And Chelsie was his front man’s girl.

But, oh, when she looked at him – he felt it. That thing. That thing people feel when they realize they’ve met their match. He felt it when she read bedtime stories to his son and when she argued with him over cinema. He felt it when she called him up out of the blue to get ice cream. And he felt it the goddamn most when she didn’t call him at all.

Here she was, sitting two feet in front of him, oblivious to Noah’s fucked up revelation. She was smiling – again – because she did that. She was always smiling with her sparkling teeth, her dimples, and her rosy lips, unaware of the effect she had on men. Maybe that was part of it: her complete and utter indifference to her own perfection. And now she was looking at him – again – because she fucking did that, too.

Noah didn’t look away. No, he continued to drink her in – her furrowed brow, her eyes twinkling with confusion, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

She was the opposite of Ruby in every way. Maybe that was why he was falling for her.

***

What the hell was that?

Chelsie chugged her champagne and tore her eyes away from Noah.

Why was he looking at her like that? Why was there a sudden swarm of butterflies in the pit of her stomach? No one had looked at her like that before – not even Devon.

“I gotta take a piss,” Noah said, breaking into the conversation.

“Me, too… actually,” Chelsie blurted. She did not have to take a piss. But she sure was interested in finding out why Noah needed to. Chelsie noticed Devon’s curious frown as she rose from her chair. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Be right back.”

She caught up to Noah just as he was pulling his cigarettes out of his pocket. “Noah, wait.” She slowed down until she matched his pace.

He plucked out a cigarette and popped it between his lips. “What is it, Combs?”

“That’s what I want to know,” she said. “What was that all about?”

“Huh?”

Chelsie blew a few careless strands of hair out of her face with a huff. “Can you stop walking and talk to me?”

Noah stalled in resignation. He eyed her over the rolled paper and nicotine. “What do you want?”

When he finally made eye contact, she saw it again. That look. “That,” she said pointedly, jabbing a well-manicured finger in his face. “That thing you’re doing with your eyes. At me.”

He shook his head with a dry chuckle. “I’ve got something better,” he replied. “What’s with the radio silence for the past three weeks? Shit, Chelsie, I gave you my gun. If Devon didn’t talk about you all the time, I probably would have thought you were dead.”

Chelsie stiffened in defense, her hands immediately planting on her hips. “I mean, you basically told me I was nothing more than blood on your hands, remember? Honestly, I didn’t think you cared.”

That was only part of it. The other part was that she’d been spending more time with Noah than she had with her own boyfriend. Plus… she had enjoyed their time together. More than she should have. But Noah’s ego didn’t need to hear that.

“Didn’t care?” Noah asked in disbelief. He tossed his cigarette to the ground and snuffed it out with the toe of his shoe. “Are you insane? You know I didn’t mean it like that. I think it’s pretty obvious that I care.”

As much as Chelsie wanted to shoot back a hurtful retort, it would not be deserved. She did know Noah cared. She’d dodged his calls and texts for weeks. She’d avoided him at practices. She had pushed away her trusted friend.

Chelsie let out a breath that sounded a lot like apologetic defeat. “You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“I guess that’s something.” Noah stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Chelsie swallowed and let the champagne finish the talking. “I’ve missed you, Noah. You’re kind of my best friend.” Noah blinked but did not respond. Had she said too much? Was it weird? “Listen, we were spending a lot of time together. It wasn’t fair to Devon. I was just trying to… distance myself. You know?”

Noah scratched the back of his neck. His t-shirt inched upwards, revealing the top of his boxers. Chelsie refocused her gaze while she waited for his reply.

Was he ever going to reply?

“It’s cool,” he finally said.

Chelsie waited another moment, assuming he had more to say.

More silence.

“Damnit, Noah, is that all? I’m trying here.”

Noah let a smile slip. “It’s cool. We’re cool,” he said, shaking his finger between them. “We don’t need to hug it out or braid each other’s hair.”

“I mean, your hair is getting kind of long,” Chelsie teased. She reached out her hand and fiddled with a strand of his hair. It was almost beginning to curl at its end. Hints of gold had been sprinkled into his locks, thanks to the autumn sun. His eyes had flecks of gold as well. Had they always been there?

Chelsie felt his hand wrap gently around her wrist to lower her arm. Color flooded her cheeks. “Sorry,” she said softly. Chelsie expected him to release her, but he lingered. That damn look was back in his eyes. She inhaled a sharp breath as his thumb made delicate circles around her wrist, as if tracing the intricate pattern of her veins. Tiny goosebumps prickled her arm.

“You two look cozy.”

Noah dropped her arm and Chelsie clutched it with her other hand, massaging away the tingling sensation. She looked up in time to see Devon breeze by them towards the bathroom, deliberately bumping shoulders with Noah as he passed.

Neither said a word. Noah was already on his way back to the table, and Devon had disappeared into the restrooms. Chelsie hesitated and glanced down at her wrist.

What the hell was that?

The rest of the evening had gone by uneventfully. Band talk. Devon on his phone. Julia all over Noah like she was trying to earn herself a damn rose on ‘The Bachelor’.

Chelsie’s alcohol buzz escalated as she finished her champagne. 

“It was so great hanging out with you, Chelsie,” Lisa said, sliding her chair closer. “I know you’ve been busy, but I’ve missed you. We’re not even on the same shifts at work anymore.”

Chelsie pouted her lips in disappointment. “I swear Jerry does it on purpose. He’s such an asshole.”

“I know,” Lisa agreed. “I’m surprised you still work there. You’re basically a celebrity now.”

“Should I come out with my own line of lip gloss or something?” Chelsie teased. “Or better yet… nametags! I hate those damn things. I can bedazzle them.”

The girls giggled as they finished picking at their dessert.

“Please tell me I’m coming home with you tonight,” Julia whispered to Noah. One of her hands was resting on his thigh, as the other trailed up the front of his chest.

“I’ve got Sam.”

Devon sneered. His eyes were lowered to his cell phone. “Please take her up on it. You need to get laid, man.”

Chelsie raised an eyebrow and glanced at Noah. He was downing the rest of his whiskey. “Thanks for the vote of encouragement, but I think I do okay for myself.”

“I mean, you clearly need a distraction. Something to redirect you from my girlfriend.”

A chill encompassed the table. Chelsie almost spit her drink as she turned to face her boyfriend. “Devon, please. That was completely unnecessary and not true.”

“More importantly, what do you mean I’m a distraction?” Julia demanded. She sat up straight and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll have you know I rock his world, buddy. I guarantee you he’s not thinking about your girlfriend.”

Devon shrugged and leaned back in his chair as if nothing had happened.

“You know, this is rich coming from you,” Noah said. He was twirling his whiskey glass, unfazed by the accusation. “If we’re on the topic of boundaries, I have an interesting story I could share.”

Devon’s eyes finally reflected something other than apathy. He set his phone on the table and scratched his head. “I think I’m ready for the check. You guys good?” He looked pointedly at Chelsie.

“Uh, yeah. I’m ready when you are,” she replied, turning her gaze towards Lisa. Lisa looked equally confused. Miles had a smirk on face, as if he knew exactly what Noah was implying.

“Sure.” Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He tossed several one-hundred-dollar bills onto the table and stood up. He held his hand out to Julia. “You coming?”

Julia jumped out of her seat and adjusted the straps of her cocktail dress. She reached for her designer purse and blew a kiss to her friends. “Goodnight, everyone. I’m off to have mind-blowing sex.”

Chelsie tried not to gag. The thought of Noah and Julia together made her stomach turn. “Have fun,” she forced out. Chelsie couldn’t shake the feeling that Noah deserved… better?

Shitty. She was a shitty person for thinking that. What kind of a friend was she? Why did she even care who Noah slept with?

When Chelsie’s friends began to leave, she gathered her leftovers and followed Devon out to his car. The drive home was made in silence. It was the kind of silence she didn’t dare break – the kind that penetrates the air and is thick with tension and unanswered questions. If she were to speak, the sound of her own voice would be so jarring it would fracture her entire essence. So, she sat there with her thoughts and questions, bubbling with anxiety, and addled with impatience. Every minute felt like a lifetime and every mile felt like an eternity.

Luckily, that eternity came to an end and they were standing face-to-face in Devon’s luxury condominium. The sound of his keys clanking against the glass entry table had been kind enough to break the silence.

“Well, that was –” Before Chelsie could finish her sentence, he was on her. He was pulling at her dress as he backed her down the hall and into the bedroom. “Devon, what…”

Her words were cut short again by his lips. His tongue dove into her mouth, tasting her questions, worries, and doubts. Devon was never aggressive with her – their lovemaking was gentle. Unhurried. This was… different.

Devon flipped her around, tossing Chelsie face first onto the bed. He yanked up her dress and a sense of panic crept in. This felt too familiar.

“Do you like it rough?”

His voice was alarming. He didn’t sound like himself. Chelsie tried to pull herself up, but he pressed her onto the bed with a firm hand, as the other unlocked his belt buckle.

Chelsie gathered her strength and twisted her body, so she was lying on her back. “Get off me, Devon. I don’t want it like this.” Her heart was pounding. Beads of sweat were trickling down her forehead. Visions of Ian flashed through her mind and her breathing became more labored – more desperate. It felt like she couldn’t breathe at all. Chelsie sat up as Devon backed away. She was clawing at her chest with her hands, attempting to get her breathing under control. It had been years since she’d had a panic attack.

“Shit, are you okay?” Devon asked. He zipped his pants back up and sat next to her on the bed. He wrapped a strong arm around her. “God, I’m so fucking sorry.”

Chelsie closed her eyes. She needed to compose herself. Devon had no idea his aggressive sexual advances would trigger deep-seated memories. He couldn’t know.

Chelsie hadn’t told him any of that.

“I – I’m fine. I’m sorry,” she croaked out as her breaths began to slow.

“You’re sorry? Fuck, I’m a total asshole. Jesus Christ.” Devon stood up and paced the room, running his hands through his hair. “I guess I had too much to drink and I was… angry. You probably think I’m a psychopath.”

Chelsie’s eyes fluttered open. “No, I…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to center herself and gain control of her thoughts. “I was raped before.”

That wasn’t exactly what she had meant to say, but she supposed it needed to be said.

Devon stared at her in bewilderment – or shock. Maybe a combination of both. “Are you serious?”

She nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you, Devon. I didn’t want you to think I was screwed up.”

“Why would you think that? You don’t trust me?” He was pacing the room again, shaking his head back and forth. “Well, now… I guess you have little reason to trust me.”

“I do trust you, Devon,” Chelsie said. It was the truth. Despite his actions, she knew he would never hurt her. He wasn’t Ian. “I’m sorry I never told you the truth about my past. I should have. There’s no excuse.”

“Does anyone else know about this?”

Chelsie paused. This was another relationship defining moment – would she pass or fail? “Just Lisa. No one else besides my family.”

Fail.

There was no point in opening that can of worms. Devon was already feeling jealous and paranoid of her friendship with Noah. If he knew she’d confided in Noah over him – well, that would be the end of their relationship. Chelsie could kiss her future with Devon Sawyer goodbye.

Devon sat down beside her and placed a gentle hand on her knee. “Tell me everything.”