Chelsie Combs was so much more than she believed. She was a field of wildflowers. She was children playing on a sunny day. She was lightening bugs at dusk. She was lemonade. She was magic.
She was exactly what he needed, but could never have.
“What?”
Noah blinked at her question. He had completely zoned out.
“Is it my hair?” Chelsie toyed with a brilliant, blonde strand. “Is something in my hair?”
Noah grinned. “Your hair looks great.”
“You were staring,” she said.
“You assume it was a bad thing. I was just thinking you look really pretty today.”
Color flooded her cheeks and she lowered her eyes, digging the tip of her pointed shoe into the area rug. “Oh.”
Noah’s grin widened. He found a strange satisfaction in the crimson rouge that stained her skin. She had never been good at taking compliments.
Chelsie cleared her throat. “I need to get the lasagna in the oven.”
Noah stared after her in amusement as she bolted back into the kitchen.
Rosa approached his side. “Oh, Noah. You’ve got it bad, muchacho.”
He scoffed at her, glancing around the room to make sure no one had heard her. “I don’t pay you to analyze my personal life, Rosa.”
“No, I do that for free.” She jabbed a firm finger into his ribcage. “Tell her, señor. You must!”
“This is not a conversation I want to have right now.”
“Life is too short, mi amigo. There is only now.” Rosa gave him a pointed look before following Chelsie into the kitchen.
Noah sighed. He pushed Rosa’s words out of his mind as he surveyed his friends and family. Miles and Lisa were munching on appetizers. A group of his cousins were mingling by the dessert table. His parents had joined Sam upstairs to fetch his arts and crafts bin.
Where were Devon and Tad?
Noah migrated into the kitchen where the smell of fresh herbs enveloped him. He watched as Chelsie and Rosa carried two large pans of homemade lasagna over to the oven. “Chelsie, where is Devon? You two didn’t come together?”
She faltered and set the dish on top of the stove. “He, uh… never came home last night,” she said. She swiped a lock of hair out of her eyes. “I haven’t been able to get ahold of him all day. His phone is turned off.”
Noah frowned in concern. “Really?” he replied. “Do you know where he went yesterday?”
Chelsie looked flustered. “He said he was getting drinks with Tad around eight last night. That was the last I heard from him.”
Noah glanced at the clock, noting it was a little after 11 A.M. It was possible they had drunk too much and were still passed out. “I wouldn’t worry,” he told her. “He’ll turn up.”
Noah was not happy. This was Sam’s coming home celebration after almost dying. And Sam was Devon’s Godson for fuck’s sake. Sometimes he really hated that bastard.
Chelsie smiled faintly. “I’m sure he will.”
There was a knock on the door. Noah headed towards the front of the house, wondering why they didn’t let themselves in. He pulled open the door and was startled by the figure standing before him. He had forgotten he’d invited her.
“Beth.”
***
Chelsie puttered around the kitchen island, mixing pasta salads together and slicing up French bread. Rosa was taking an apple strudel out of the oven.
“Deliciosa!” Rosa exclaimed, lowering her nose to the strudel.
Chelsie pulled a stack of party plates out of the cupboard. “That smells incredible,” she said.
“Muy,” Rosa agreed. She turned to Chelsie and wiped her hands on a decorative dish towel. “Señorita, forgive me if it’s not my place, but I must ask. Señor Noah… you enjoy his company, no?”
Chelsie stopped in her tracks, caught off guard by the question. “Um… yes, I do. He’s a wonderful friend.”
“Si. He’s a good man. An honest man.”
Chelsie tucked her lips between her teeth. “I agree.”
Rosa leaned over the kitchen island and took Chelsie’s hands into her own. “My child. I see the way he looks at you. I see how happy you make him. You are an angel sent from Heaven, mi dulce chica.” She squeezed Chelsie’s hands, shaking them vigorously. “Noah is a different man since you came into his life. You’ve put light back in his eyes. You must see it.”
Chelsie stood frozen in place as she processed Rosa’s words. Rosa had it all wrong. It wasn’t like that with Noah. “I appreciate your perspective, but Noah and I are just friends. Maybe you’ve misinterpreted something.”
“I see what I see,” she said with conviction. “And I will say this: I had a man like Noah once. His name was Paco. Back when I was a jovencita – a very young girl. But I did not follow my heart.” Rosa held a hand firmly over her chest. “I thought a better life was waiting for me in the United States. Mi madre took me from my home in Mexico to start fresh here in New York. I married a man all wrong for me. He did not speak to my heart the way mi amor did back in Mexico.”
Chelsie was wrought with emotion as she watched the tears well up in Rosa’s eyes.
“I wonder every day if he’s waiting for me. But I cannot go back now. Too much time has passed. I failed my heart.” Rosa reached for Chelsie’s hands again. “You are a smart muchacha. Do not make the same mistakes I did. Listen to the song in your heart. It only plays for one.”
Rosa let go of her hands and Chelsie blinked back tears. Her feet were secured to the floor, and her head felt like it was spinning. “I’m with Devon,” she said, her voice cracking.
Rosa smiled knowingly. “I see what I see.” She turned back to the stove and began cutting into the strudel, serenading herself with Spanish melodies.
Chelsie swallowed. She looked down at her hands and noticed they were holding onto the edge of the island so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
“Chelsie?”
Noah appeared behind her. She whipped around, startled, and knocked a serving dish onto the floor. It cracked in half. “Crap.”
“Here, let me help,” said an unfamiliar female voice.
Chelsie glanced up at the pretty blonde bending over with her to help pick up the dish. “Thanks,” she said.
They stood back up and the woman extended her hand. “I’m Beth.”
Chelsie shook her hand. “How do you know Sam?” she asked guardedly.
Noah cleared his throat. “I actually met Beth a few minutes before Sam’s accident. We ran into each other at the playground. I followed up with her when I was in the hospital to tell her about the fall.”
Chelsie pursed her lips together. Noah met a random stranger at the park and invited her to his son’s welcome home party two days later?
Beth tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a golden hoop earring. “It’s weird. I get it. But I’ve heard a lot about you already, Chelsie. Maybe we can get to know each other better.”
Chelsie didn’t make new friends easily. She was a private person with years of pent up trust issues. She appreciated the sentiment, but she did not foresee going on picnics and coffee dates with this woman. Beth was a stranger. “Sure. Sounds great.”
Beth smiled and bobbed her head up and down in satisfaction. “I look forward to it.”
More pleasantries. More forced smiles and awkward tension. Chelsie’s eyes roamed over the length of the young blonde in front of her. She was standing so close to Noah their shoulders were touching. Beth was beautiful. Her skin looked like it had never seen a day of sun, and her features were feminine and delicate. She had chocolate brown eyes and perfect, white teeth. Her smile was her finest attribute, and she was currently flashing it in Noah’s direction. Noah was looking at her with a distinctive twinkle in his eye.
Chelsie’s jaw began to ache, and she realized she had been grinding her teeth together. She was also still holding onto the broken dish, and the sharp edges were slicing into her hand.
“Let me officially introduce you to Sam,” Noah said, placing his hand on the small of Beth’s back.
Chelsie’s eyes narrowed and she bit down on her bottom lip. She was surprised Noah felt inclined to introduce this woman to his son already. She could be a crazed, delusional fan.
Beth nodded. “I’d love that.” She offered Chelsie a grand smile. “It was so nice to meet you, Chelsie. Noah is lucky to have such a trusted babysitter for his son.”
Babysitter? Chelsie couldn’t help the queasy flutter in her stomach and the rush of anger that made her skin flush. She responded with a tight-lipped smile and looked sharply at Noah. “Right. I feel honored to be his… babysitter.”
Noah’s face flashed with guilt as he turned and guided Beth out of the kitchen. Chelsie’s heartbeat was racing.
“She is muy bonita.” Rosa glanced over to the spot where Noah and Beth had been standing.
Chelsie shrugged nonchalantly and changed the subject. “I guess. Do you think these will be enough brownies?”
Rosa smiled. “Si. Now, go enjoy the party. You help too much.”
“Chelsie?”
Chelsie’s head shot up at the familiar sound of her name.
Devon.
“Pardon me, Rosa.” She ran out of the kitchen and into the living room. She came face-to-face with Tad and Devon. “Devon, you look…”
Awful. Terrible.
Drunk?
Chelsie approached him. She did not smell alcohol on him. Was he sick?
“I made it,” Devon grinned. He raised an accomplished arm in the air. His eyes were sunken in and his hair looked like it hadn’t been combed in a week.
“Devon, what happened? Where were you? We were worried.”
He fidgeted. “Just having a little fun, eh, Tad?”
Tad stuffed his hands into his pockets, rocking back and forth between both feet. He also looked disheveled.
Chelsie stepped closer to the two men. “Are you… on drugs?”
Devon burst out laughing. “You’re the only drug I need, baby,” he said, leaning down and picking her up. He spun her in a clumsy circle as she pushed at his chest.
“Devon, put me down. You’re making a scene,” she demanded.
Noah and Beth appeared from the stairs.
“You’re alive.” Noah approached his bandmates and then frowned, narrowing his eyes at Devon. “Dude, are you strung out?”
Devon set Chelsie down, almost dropping her to the floor. She smoothed out her blouse and crossed her arms over her chest. She was shocked by the display. Chelsie had never known Devon to take drugs. She had been concerned about his increased drinking habits, but drugs had never crossed her mind.
Devon stepped over to one of the food tables and grabbed a large handful of potato chips. He shoved them into his mouth, dispersing crumbs all over the floor. Guests began to quiet their conversations to take in the scene.
“You’ve got to go, man,” Noah said. He stepped over to his front man and grabbed him by the arm. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Devon yanked his arm free. “I’m here for the party, bro. You invited me, remember?”
“Go home and fucking sleep it off. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Tad nodded his head and signaled Devon to follow. Devon rolled his eyes. “Whatever, dude. Fuck this shit.”
Chelsie’s was in shock. “Devon, what is going on?”
“Let him go, Chelsie,” Noah urged.
“Don’t tell my girlfriend what to do.” Devon stepped forward, getting in Noah’s face.
Miles interrupted. “Knock it off. Go get some air. Both of you.”
“Fuck you,” Devon said to the bassist. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“You want to do this, man?” Noah challenged. “In my goddamn living room with my entire family watching?”
Chelsie placed her hand on Devon’s elbow. He swung it back without looking, forcing Chelsie to go unsteady on her feet.
Noah shot him a death glare. “Don’t you fucking lay a hand on her.”
Devon stepped closer to Noah until their noses were almost touching. “Are you saying that because you care? Or because you’re bitter you never will?”
Noah shoved him away. “Get out of my house.”
“Fine. But I’m taking my girlfriend with me.” Devon looked over Noah’s shoulder at Beth. “Enjoy your Chelsie clone.”
“Get the fuck out,” Noah repeated.
Chelsie backed away from Devon. She had seen this look in a man’s eyes before and it scared her to death. “I’m going to stay here. Noah’s right… sleep it off.”
Devon stared at her in silence, sniffing and wiping at his nose. “You know what? We’re done. I’m going to Tad’s to cool down. Enjoy your last night in my million-dollar condo.”
He grabbed another fistful of chips and followed Tad out the front door. The pictures on the walls rattled when he slammed it shut. A stunned silence enveloped the crowd and nausea swept over Chelsie like a monsoon. What in the world had just happened? Did Devon just break up with her?
That wasn’t Devon. That wasn’t her Devon. Her Devon was kind, and patient, and loving. The person she’d just witnessed did not hold a candle to the man she knew. “I – I’m so sorry,” Chelsie stuttered. “I don’t know what that was all about.”
Rosa was quietly praying in the corner. “The Devil got inside that boy,” she said.
Noah’s hands were balled into fists at his side. “Can I have a word, Combs?”
She nodded and pushed back her tears. Chelsie followed him downstairs into the finished basement, away from the crowd. She was about to speak when he pulled her into a strong hug. She hadn’t realized how tense she was until her body instinctively relaxed in his arms. He smelled like sandalwood and soap.
“Shit.” His chest vibrated as he spoke, his voice low and raspy. “Are you okay?”
Chelsie nodded against his chest. “I think so. Did he really just break up with me?”
Noah sighed, tickling the hairs on the top of her head. “He just needs to cool off. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. You can stay here tonight if you want.”
She was tempted – very tempted. “I’ll be okay. Apparently, I need to start packing.”
Chelsie wasn’t certain Devon had meant it either, but what if he had? Where would she go? She had foolishly quit her job without a second thought. She had no backup plan. Chelsie would be starting back from square one – she was no better off than when she’d walked out on Ian Masterson five years ago. How had she allowed herself to become dependent all over again? Had she learned nothing? The realization made her feel ill.
“I can’t believe he’s using.”
Noah’s words broke through her self-deprecation. He pulled back but was still close enough she could feel his breath against her face. “What do you think he was on?” Chelsie asked, looking up at him through watery eyes.
“Coke.”
A chill ran down her spine. “I can’t believe it.” Chelsie had never anticipated this – she never expected Devon Sawyer to fall down such a dark path. Had her friendship with Noah triggered it? Was she responsible for his poor decisions? She shook her head. “This seems so out of character.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “Tad used for over a year. It almost broke up the band. Drugs were never Devon’s scene, but money and fame can be powerful things. He’s never satisfied – he’s always needed more.”
“What do we do?” she wondered. “We have to help him.”
“Only he can help himself,” Noah said gravely. “And I sure fucking hope he does. And fast.”
Chelsie ran both hands through her hair. Part of her couldn’t accept that. She needed to help him – she needed to try. It was in her bones. “He seems to really have it out for you,” she said with a gulp. “Do you think he honestly believes…?” Her voice trailed off, her eyes finishing the question.
“That we’re sleeping together?”
Chelsie couldn’t help the blu
sh that tinged her cheeks.
“I think he thinks I want to,” Noah said.
Do you? It was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t have the guts to say it. “Rosa… she was talking to me earlier. She also thinks there’s something going on between us,” she confessed. “Or that there should be, anyway. She was talking crazy talk.”
Noah’s mouth curved upward. “We’re an enigma. We’re something people can’t understand.”
That made so much sense and no sense at all. “What are we exactly?”
That was the million-dollar question. As if her relationship with Noah could be explained away in a simple word or phrase. As if there was an appropriate title they could bestow upon themselves.
There wasn’t. There couldn’t be. They simply just were.
“We’re whatever you want us to be.”
Chelsie sucked in a mouthful of air and almost choked on its density. Was that an invitation? A starting point? It felt as if Noah had handed her a box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper and told her to get to work. Oh, the things she could create. “I like us the way we are,” Chelsie said.
Noah’s face was unreadable. “Me, too.”
What did Rosa see? What did Devon see? What kind of grand artistry unfolded on their pieces of paper?
What did Noah see?
Chelsie was too afraid to ask. She was scared to give life to any of their illustrations.
“Beth seems nice.” She wasn’t sure why she said that – to change the subject? Or redirect the conversation? To hear from Noah what he really thought of the mysterious blonde upstairs?
“She is,” he said.
He did not indulge her. He did not elaborate. He did not give into her passive aggressive attempt at questioning his intentions.
“Let’s get back to the party,” Noah told her. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Chelsie nodded. Something was tugging at her – a vague emptiness. A sense of regret. It felt as if she had missed an opportunity or passed up a critical moment.
Whatever it was, it was over. Noah swept past her without another word and disappeared upstairs.
The party got back on track, despite Devon’s dramatic exit. The food was delicious, and she had never seen Sam happier. That was all that had mattered. Despite the break-up looming over her like a black cloud, Chelsie tried her best to enjoy herself. She said her goodbyes a few hours later and headed back to the condo. She flipped on the lights as she entered through the front door in futile hopes that Devon would be inside waiting for her. He was not.
Aria (Duet Series Book 1) Page 18