Aria by Jennifer Hartmann

6Chapter Six

It was Friday night, and a week had passed since Chelsie's mortification occurred in the presence of Devon Sawyer. Again.

It had been almost a week with no contact.  No follow-up phone call begging for a coffee date.  No text message forgiving her for making a giant ass out of herself.

Nothing.

It was a tough truth to swallow: Chelsie had blundered any chance she may have had with the famous musician.  And now, she was drowning her sorrows in a fruity cocktail with Julia and Lisa.

"You know," Julia began, taking a sip of her giant, frozen daiquiri. "You can always contact Devon yourself, Chelsie. You did immediately save his number to your phone, right?"

"Yes, Julia.  I'm not a complete idiot," Chelsie replied. Though, she didn’t entirely believe that statement. "I just don't feel comfortable bugging him. I feel like he would contact me if he really wanted to."

"True," Julia shrugged.

Chelsie's shoulders sagged in defeat. "I suck at life. I'm doomed."

"Don't be such a Debbie downer," Julia said. "You'll find the right guy. No one nearly as good-looking or successful, but somebody will come along."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Really not helping, Jules." She turned to Chelsie. "Hey, do you want to get out of here? Depression and alcohol rarely lead to good things."

Chelsie shook her head. "Thanks, but I’m okay. I just need to forget about Devon and enjoy myself. I've been harboring guilt and self-loathing all week. I have to move on from this." Her phone buzzed as she brought her straw to her lips. She glanced at it, then did a double take. Then she did a triple take – just to make sure. "Um, guys…?" Chelsie trailed off.

"What?" both girls asked in unison.

"Devon just texted me to meet him at Marley's."

"Fuck yeah!" Julia exclaimed, chugging down her daiquiri and flinging her purse over her shoulder. "Let's get out of here! I am totally having sex with Noah tonight."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Lisa said. She grabbed Julia’s hand to hold her back. "Are we even invited, Chelsie? Is this just a 'you' thing?"

Chelsie couldn't contain the beaming smile on her lips. She turned the phone around to face her friends, Devon's text message in full view: "I miss u. Bring your friends and meet us @ Marley's."

Thirty minutes later, Chelsie had her arms linked with Lisa and Julia as they strolled into Marley’s. The last time she had been there, the night had ended in heated words and a swift exit.  But Chelsie was feeling optimistic. She had smoothed over her contemptuous relationship with Noah, and Devon sounded eager to see her.

It was going to be a good night.

When they made their way inside, Chelsie heard her name in the crowd.  She looked up to find Devon Sawyer waving to her from atop the balcony.  Chelsie waved back with a schoolgirl grin and marched up the stairs to the V.I.P. room.

"Hey," Devon said. He had a genuine smile on his handsome face. "I'm so glad you could make it. I've been meaning to get in touch with you all week."

Chelsie reached over and gave him a hug. A delicious shiver crept up her spine as his body pressed against hers.  He smelled of musky cologne and expensive liquor.  She couldn’t help but nuzzle her face against the crevice of his neck and breathe in the intoxicating scent of him. Devon responded by running his hands up and down her back.

“Hey, how come you never greet me like that?” said a familiar voice to her left.  Chelsie pulled herself away from Devon and smiled at Noah. He was leaning against the wall with a beer in his hand. When they made eye contact, Noah gave her a playful wink.

“I see you two are finally getting along?” Devon glanced back and forth between Chelsie and Noah.

Chelsie shrugged. “For now.” She turned her attention back to Devon. She took him by the hand and led him over to their customary corner of the room. “We should probably talk about how things unfolded last week. I want to explain myself.”

Devon held his hand up and stopped her before she could continue. “No need. I know exactly what happened. My bandmate is a dick.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. “I won’t argue that. But I want you to know the person you witnessed that night wasn’t me. I’ll have a drink every now and then, but I don’t get blackout drunk.”

“Chelsie, I know this,” Devon assured her. He lifted his hand and tucked a strand of rebellious blonde hair behind her ear.

Chelsie’s heartbeat sped up and her eyelids fluttered at Devon’s touch. She inhaled sharply as his fingers swept through her golden locks. “I didn’t freak you out?”

Devon shook his head. “It takes a lot to freak me out. The reason I didn’t call you was because the band got a pretty amazing opportunity and it took up a lot of my time. I wanted to contact you when my mind was clear.”

Chelsie barely heard him. His hand was stroking her cheek and her legs began to quiver. She pulled him over to the adjacent couch with a flirtatious grin. “Sorry, standing is becoming problematic.”

Devon’s blue eyes sparkled as he studied her face. “God, you’re beautiful.”

Chelsie lowered her gaze to escape his intense stare.

“Hey, look at me,” Devon said, taking her chin in his grasp and raising her head so they were face-to-face. “I mean it.”

When their eyes locked, Chelsie knew he meant it. She hadn’t heard anyone say it with such sincerity before. The only time Ian told her she was beautiful was after a beating or a rape – it was his way of “apologizing” to her.  Those words had fallen on deaf ears ever since.

Chelsie responded in the only way that felt right. She leaned into Devon and kissed him hard. He kissed back with an equal amount of fire, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body against his. Chelsie decided she wanted this. She had been running from men for too many years. It was time to gain back control of her life. Men were not the enemy. Devon was not the enemy.

“Where do you want to go from here?” Devon asked, pulling back slightly to speak. His voice was husky and full of promise.

Chelsie wasn’t prepared to answer that question. She sat up and swept the hair back from her face. “I don’t know. All I know is I want to keep seeing you. I’ve never dated a famous person before, so I’m sure there’s more to it.”

“Famous or not, I’m still just a guy who likes a girl. We don’t have to complicate this.”

Chelsie considered his words, still hesitant to believe that Devon Sawyer wanted to be with her. Her. Granted, he wasn’t aware of her tremendous baggage and relationship history – no, Noah was, of all people, the one to be graced with that knowledge – but it was still something Chelsie was having a hard time coming to grips with. She had never felt like she was destined for great things. She was a shattered girl from a small town.

‘Leap or retreat’, her mother would always say.

“I want this,” Chelsie said. She cupped Devon’s face between nervous palms. She watched his face morph into genuine relief. “Let’s try to make this work.”

Leap.

And, so, they made their relationship official.

Four weeks had passed by. Four weeks of touring, paparazzi, crazed fans, and after-parties. The entire month had been a blur and Chelsie was loving every minute of it. She had cut back her hours at her job, so she was able to travel with the band when they played out of state. She had a good chunk of savings her parents had given her when she’d turned eighteen that she’d barely touched until now. It helped her keep up on her rent payments. Freeze Frame played a lot of local shows, but it was always a treat when she was flown to San Diego or Chicago on a first-class ticket, seated next to her celebrity boyfriend.

That took getting used to. Devon Sawyer was her boyfriend.

Lisa and Julia were incredibly supportive, albeit a tiny bit jealous of Chelsie’s newfound fame. It wasn’t just Freeze Frame making headlines – it was Devon’s mysterious, new girlfriend. The tabloids had been having a hay day with their story, and Julia made sure to text Chelsie covers of the newest gossip magazines whenever she was out of town. It was thrilling to be a household name – yet, it was also intimidating that every woman in America wanted to burn her at the stake. Devon did his best to shield her from the spotlight, but technology made it impossible.

Chelsie was standing backstage at the United Center in Chicago. She placed a pair of ear buds into her ears to drown out the deafening screams from the audience, as fans waited for Freeze Frame to take the stage. Devon was sipping from his water bottle while Noah tuned his guitar. Tad, the drummer, twirled two sticks between his fingers as he paced the room.

“This shit never gets any less nerve-wracking,” Tad said, grabbing a Red Bull from the mini-fridge and popping off the tab.

“Don’t be a pussy,” Noah shot back. His words were muffled from the cigarette dangling out of his mouth.

Chelsie studied Noah as he fiddled with his guitar strings. Her blossoming friendship with the snappy guitarist had been one of the stranger things to unfold throughout this crazy journey. No one seemed to question it – Chelsie figured their friendly alliance was preferable to their initial lethal banter.

“Want me to grab one of the techs?” Chelsie offered. He huffed through his cigarette as he struggled with the strings.

Well, mostly friendly.

Miles breezed past her, phone to his ear, and Chelsie could tell by his tone of voice who he was talking to. Chelsie smiled. Lisa and the Freeze Frame bassist had become quite cozy with each other during the past month. While nothing was official, they talked and texted constantly. It was apparent they were enjoying each other’s company. Lisa’s face lit up when she spoke of the skinny, long-haired musician. Chelsie was eager for Lisa to join her in the spotlight as a “Freeze Frame Girlfriend”.

“All right, boys, it’s show time.” Their band manager, Sean, bustled around the room and made the rounds to all four men. Noah had finally gotten his guitar in tune and it was time to make some music.

Chelsie could hear the screams of every woman in the Chicagoland area. She jumped up off her chair as the men made their way out, watching with anticipation from the side of the stage. It was always a rush watching them play. While Devon was her main attraction, Chelsie couldn’t help but fixate on Noah sometimes. He played his instrument with such passion – almost as if it were more of an erotic experience than a musical one. It was incredible to watch him hone his talent in front of the crowds. Chelsie watched as sweat dripped down his bronzed neck, soaking the collar of his t-shirt. She shook her head and refocused her gaze on Devon. The crowd was eating them up. Devon could sing. He wasn’t a synthesized pop artist in a boy band – no, Devon Sawyer was the real deal. His voice was raw. His range was incredible. Chelsie got goosebumps every time he opened his mouth.

Two hours had flown by and the show had ended. The four men exited the stage, much to the disappointment of the cheering crowd.

“We’re Freeze Frame! Good night!” Devon shouted, raising his guitar in the air. The applause was resounding. It was magical.

When the men returned backstage, Devon grabbed Chelsie by the back of the head and planted a heated kiss on her lips. She pulled away, breathless. “You nailed it out there.”

Noah came sweeping in and scooped Chelsie off her feet, crushing her in a tight hug. “That’s why they pay us the big bucks,” he said.

“Yuck, put me down… you’re all slimy!” Chelsie grimaced. She hugged him back with a playful squeeze despite her protests.

Devon draped a towel over his shoulder and took Chelsie by the hand, pulling her away from the sweaty guitarist. “We’re gonna hit the bars, babe. I’m feeling celebratory tonight. Want to join us?”

Chelsie shook her head. Late night drinking shenanigans with Freeze Frame were always entertaining, but she was exhausted from all the traveling. “I’m pretty tired. Mind if I call it a night?”

Noah approached them and snatched Devon’s towel to wipe his face. “Me too, Dev. I got no sleep last night.”

Devon’s eyes danced back and forth between the two of them. “Knock yourselves out. You’re just going back to the hotel then?”

Chelsie nodded. She was surprised Noah didn’t want to join the rest of the band. He was usually the first to suggest a night of alcohol after a grueling show.

Noah flung the towel over his shoulder. “It’s better you’re not on your own anyway, Combs. I’ll call our driver and make sure you get back to your room in one piece.”

Devon gave Chelsie’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You sure you won’t change your mind? I can’t imagine spending any time with this asshole is going to be all that fulfilling.”

She leaned in, playfully. “I’ll make a clean break,” she said, planting a quick peck on his lips.

Devon kissed her nose, then her mouth, before letting go of her hand. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight.”

Chelsie sighed. Her eyes were full of dreamy adoration as she watched him go.

Noah snuck up beside her and handed Chelsie her jacket. “Ready?”

***

Moments after they had stepped out of the limo, a torrential rain poured down on them. Noah took off his leather coat and held it over Chelsie as they sprinted towards the hotel entrance.

“Thanks,” she said. Chelsie shook the rain droplets from her hair as they hurried through the revolving doors.

Noah ran his hands through his own drenched hair while they took a moment to catch their breath in the hotel lobby. “Is this weather bi-polar or what?”

“Good ol’ Chicago for you,” Chelsie replied. She began walking ahead of him to a nearby elevator. “Well, thanks again for the makeshift umbrella. I’m going to turn in for the night.”

Noah followed her. “I’ll walk you to your room,” he offered. He pushed the button for the eighth floor. He wasn’t certain why he wasn’t ready to say goodnight just yet. Maybe it was the two beers he’d just washed down during the limo ride over. Or maybe it was the buzz from the show they had just performed.

Or maybe he was lonely, and Chelsie was looking rather enticing in her miniskirt and knee-high, leather boots.

Chelsie chuckled and shot him a peculiar glare. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I think I’ll be okay. We’re at the Ritz-Carlton.”

The elevator doors opened. Noah tore his gaze away from the sheen of her skin that was still glistening from the freshly fallen rain. He stepped into the elevator with her. “Can’t be too careful these days. Besides, I promised Devon I’d get you to your room in one piece. Can’t have any pieces left behind.”

Chelsie raised an eyebrow, as if to question his logic. “Are you drunk?”

“Not yet.” Noah laughed as the doors shut. “But the night is young. Hey, I do have a fridge full of beer in my room. Care to join me?”

“Well, now,” she quipped with a smile. After a thoughtful moment, she shrugged her shoulders. “Actually, I could use the company. As much as I love coming to these shows, I can’t deny getting a little homesick.”

Homesick. Chelsie had no idea how homesick he felt every time he stepped onto an airplane or drove off in a tour bus. Noah sighed as they rode up in silence. Devon was lucky to have Chelsie in his life. Noah yearned for that connection – that bond. He’d had it once. He’d had Ruby. But she broke his damn heart.

“Is this one your room?”

Chelsie’s voice broke through his hopeless daydreams and Noah realized they were already standing in front of his hotel room.

“Uh, yeah. This is the one.” He scrambled for the room key, stuffing his hands in every pocket. He sifted through his wallet, coming up empty. “Shit. Tad or Miles must have it,” Noah groaned. “I’ll run down to the front desk.”

Chelsie shook her head. “Don’t bother. We can hang out in my room. Devon won’t be back for a few hours and I want to change out of these wet clothes.”

A mental image of Chelsie changing out of her wet clothes popped into Noah’s mind and he had to wonder if this was a good idea.

“Yeah, okay.”

Yep. Good idea.

“We only have a couple bottles of wine, though. No beer. You know Devon isn’t much of a drinker,” Chelsie said.

Noah didn’t respond right away because he was still thinking about Chelsie changing out of her wet clothes. He felt an elbow nudge him in the arm and he glanced up. “Huh?”

“Wine. No beer. Comprendo?” she repeated, as if he were a preschooler – a Hispanic, alcoholic preschooler.

“Sure, yeah. Fine.”

Chelsie cast him a worried glance as she popped her room key into the door and opened it. She flipped on the lights and set her purse down onto a table. Noah threw himself on the bed with a dramatic sigh.

“Hey!  No wet shoes on the bed. Devon will flip,” Chelsie scolded.

Noah leaned back with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. “Devon is out enjoying his night. He is blissfully unaware that my wet shoes are on his bed.”

Chelsie was not amused by his answer. She stormed over and smacked his legs off the bed with an irritated swat. “Don’t be an ass.” She ambled into the adjoining bathroom to change.

Noah sat up and craned his neck to get a peep of her through the cracked door. Almost instantly, Chelsie shut the door all the way and Noah cursed under his breath. After a few minutes of debating whether he should fall asleep or pop open that bottle of wine, Chelsie emerged from the bathroom in a pink tank top and sweatpants. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail and yanked it tightly as she strolled past him. A whiff of citrus and lavender breezed by as she reached the mini-fridge and pulled out the wine.

“Cheers to Freeze Frame,” Chelsie said, handing him a glass. She filled her own glass with the sparkling Moscato and held it up.

“I’ll drink to that,” Noah agreed. He brought the wine to his lips and studied her over the rim. “Also… cheers to us.”

Chelsie swallowed abruptly. “Us? What about us?”

“You know… us,” he repeated. “From mortal enemies to a kindred fellowship.”

“A kindred fellowship? Are you sure you’re not drunk?” Chelsie pressed.

“Hey, I’m trying to have a moment here.”

“Yeah, an awkward moment. You’re being weird.”

Noah sighed, leaning back on one arm and chugging the rest of the wine. “Fine. I’m just glad we were able to get past our differences. You’re pretty okay, Water Girl.”

Chelsie’s expression softened as she sipped her Moscato. “You’re okay, yourself,” she said, her green eyes sparkling over her wine glass. She sat down beside him and held her beverage primly in her lap. She cleared her throat and cast him a sideways glance. “Can I ask you a question?”

“I suppose,” he answered. Noah poured himself another glass of wine and promptly chugged that one, too – just in case he didn’t like the question.

She tapped her perfectly painted toenails against the carpet. “What happened to the girl you were in love with?”

Chelsie’s question felt like a punch to the gut. Noah avoided questions about his personal life, and he especially avoided questions about Ruby. He knew something sinister must have flashed in his eyes because Chelsie recoiled and began to backpedal.

“I – I mean, I’m not trying to pry. You mentioned you were in love before. I was just wondering what came of it. You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to.”

The look in Chelsie’s eyes switched from sympathy to annoyance. “Okay. Sorry I asked.”

Noah stood up and began pacing the room. “You know, it’s not really customary to bring up ex-girlfriends out of the blue. In fact, it’s a terrible fucking idea.”

Chelsie rose to her feet, accepting his invitation for a fight. “You know, I didn’t mean any harm by it. I said you didn’t have to talk about it if you didn’t want to.” Her hands were firmly planted on her waist.

“I said I didn’t want to. Then you got all… pissy-eyed.” Noah wagged his finger in front of her face for emphasis.

“Pissy-eyed?” Her tone was incredulous. “Excuse me for wanting to learn more about you. Pardon me for caring. In fact, I think it was you I spilled my guts to not that long ago.”

Noah’s defenses went up and he leaned in close, her hot breath skimming against his face. “You think I wanted to know all that? Did I ask you for a recap of your tortured past?”

The look in Chelsie’s eyes turned again, this time from aggravation to something along the lines of ‘you killed my puppy’.

“Really,” she snarled through gritted teeth. “I confide in you, and you throw it in my face? Here I thought maybe I had misjudged you. Maybe you were just misunderstood.But no… you really are an asshole.”

Noah’s shoulders sagged. The fight in him had left as quickly as it had arrived. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. “Look –”

Chelsie pointed a sharp finger towards the door. “Get out. Just go.”

“Listen to me, Combs.” Chelsie crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes brimming with tears. Noah ran a hand over his face. “The girl I loved? Her name was Ruby. She broke my heart into a million fucking pieces and I’ve never really recovered from it. And it doesn’t help that Ruby gave me something that reminds me of her every day.”

Chelsie’s features softened but her stance remained stiff. “Yeah, well, Ian gave me scars and bruises that will never heal. What did Ruby give you? Herpes?”

Noah ignored the well-deserved barb and reached into his back pocket. He hesitated for just a moment before opening his wallet. He pulled out a small photo and handed it to her. “No,” he said. “She gave me Sam.”