Aria (Duet Series Book 1)

by Jennifer Hartmann

  Noah tried to pinpoint when his life had changed, and he was brought back to a hotel room in Manhattan with a girl who had unknowingly spilled her guts to him.

  “Those were some good times,” Devon agreed. “I had a lot of big moments there.”

  Noah recalled how Chelsie had stormed out on them that first night after he’d pushed her to her limits. Ballsy. She didn’t care how famous they were – she’d demanded respect. Maybe Noah had started falling for her right there in that V.I.P. lounge.

  The limo rolled up to the side entrance where dozens of fans were already waiting. Word traveled fast. Two bouncers exited the building and assisted the group inside, quickly dodging screaming women and frantic requests for autographs.

  “I love you, Devon!”

  “Noah Hayes is my soulmate!”

  “Please have my children!”

  “I hope you die, Chelsie!”

  Noah hesitated as he ducked inside, straining his head to see who had threatened Chelsie. There were too many fans to pinpoint the culprit. He glanced over at Chelsie who looked shaken.

  “They’re just crazy fans,” he said.

  She rubbed her hands against her upper arms. “I know, but it’s not something I’ll ever get used to.”

  “Fuck ‘em,” Devon said. “Jealous ass bitches.”

  Chelsie gave him a weak smile. “Yeah.”

  They retreated up to their private V.I.P. quarters above the bar. Two cocktail waitresses were mulling around, pouring glasses of water and stocking the fridge with beer and champagne. The only thing lower than their neckline was their IQ.

  “I’m Tiffany,” one of the waitresses greeted. Her face was painted in thick makeup, and a bleached blonde ponytail sat high on her head. Her eyes were undressing Noah as she scrutinized him up and down. “Let me know if you need… anything at all.”

  Noah raised an eyebrow in amusement. He recalled a time when he would have eaten this shit up. It wasn’t that long ago. “Sure,” he said flatly.

  “Check this place out.”

  Noah’s gaze traveled to Beth as she perused the lush suite. “Pretty cool, huh?”

  She shrugged with indifference. “I guess if you’re into this sort of thing.”

  Noah studied her in bewilderment. Beth was a mystery to him. She never acted like she was dating a celebrity, and that was part of why he found her so charming. Her nonchalance to his notoriety was genuine, unlike most of the females he had pursued. “Are you implying you’re not into this sort of thing?”

  He was half joking, but Beth hesitated and turned to face him, a rueful smile on her lips. “Noah… this isn’t for me.”

  Noah’s heart sank. He liked Beth. He had been enjoying her company over the last couple of weeks. He’d be lying if her admission didn’t disappoint him. “Do you want to talk?” he asked, feeling the eyes of his bandmates lingering in his direction.

  “Sure.”

  Noah took her by the arm and led her outside the private lounge. Beth looked down at her hands folded in front of her. She looked wistful, yet resolute.

  “Noah, I’m not trying to put a damper on your night,” Beth began, pressing her thumbs together. “I’m honored you invited me to such an iconic event. But… I don’t feel like I fit in here. I’m just a single mom who fell for a superstar. I’m in over my head.”

  “I’d like you to stay,” Noah replied. “Screw fitting in. I don’t even fit in here.”

  She smiled again, her eyes softening. “That’s why I like you,” she admitted. Then her smile faded, and she let out a deep sigh. “But your heart is with someone else.”

  Noah’s jaw tightened and he looked up at the ceiling. “Beth, the thing with Chelsie… it’s not going anywhere.”

  “Whether it is or not, you can’t change how you feel, Noah. The heart wants what the heart wants. It wasn’t in the cards for us, and that’s okay. I just need to move on.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “I’m glad I met you, Noah Hayes. No regrets.”

  Noah opened his mouth to protest, but he couldn’t seem to find the words. He hated that Beth was right. He was angry at Chelsie for creeping her way into his world and clinging on for dear life. He couldn’t shake her. He felt ambushed. “I’ll have my driver bring you home,” Noah said.

  There were no long goodbyes or mournful embraces. Noah walked back into the suite, called the driver, and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. Beth was no longer a part of his life.

  Five beers and a shot of whiskey later, Noah was feeling buzzed as he sat alone on the red couch. He watched as his friends mingled and laughed. Waitresses filtered in and out of the room, their hips swaying dramatically as they entered and exited. Most men would do anything to have buxom blondes throwing themselves at them, but not Noah. Not anymore. The only blonde he wanted was curled up in a loveseat with his lead singer.

  “I want to make an announcement,” Noah said, taking his own self by surprise. He hadn’t intended on making any announcements tonight.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and gave Noah their attention. Chelsie sat up straight, looking at him with cautious anticipation.

  Noah cleared his throat and stood up. “After much deliberation, I’ve decided to take a break from the band.”

  Their silence was deafening. He took a swig of his beer while he awaited a response.

  “Are you fucking joking?” Devon exclaimed.

  “No, I’m not.” Noah shuffled his feet and glanced around the rest of the room. Chelsie’s mouth was agape, her eyes wide and incredulous. “I’m burned out. I need to find my muse again.”

  Devon let out a scathing laugh and rose to his feet. “Don’t give me that hippie-dippie bullshit. We’re all burned out. Every motherfucker with a nine-to-five is burned out. You keep going.”

  “Is this… temporary?” Chelsie asked.

  Noah shrugged. “Maybe. Probably.”

  “How can you leave after the show we did tonight?” Miles asked, stepping towards him. “It was like old times again. We killed it.”

  “They’re right, man,” Tad added. “We’re in our prime right now. We can’t stop.”

  “I never said you needed to stop,” Noah said. He tossed his empty beer can into the trash. It clanked against another glass bottle and he flinched at the sound. “I’m sure you can find a fill-in.”

  Chelsie approached him. “Noah… are you sure you’ve thought this through? The music means everything to you.”

  Noah could see the distress reflecting in her green eyes. He softened his stance and let out a weary breath. “I need a goddamn break,” he told her. “Everything’s a mess. Devon and Tad are always high as a kite. You almost got killed. I rarely see my son. We’ve lost our way.”

  Devon appeared at Chelsie’s side and glared daggers at him. “Go fuck yourself.”

  “Devon,” Chelsie scolded, turning her head sharply in her boyfriend’s direction.

  “What?” Devon threw his hands up in the air. “What do you want me to say? Noah knows all. Noah thinks he’s better than all of us. I say let him go. He’s replaceable.”

  “Come on, dude,” Miles said.

  Noah bit down on the inside of his cheek. He felt the anger prickling at the back of his neck. “I’m the reason this band even exists,” he reminded Devon. “You’d still be fixing brake pads if it wasn’t for me.”

  “And now I’ll be just fine without you. Replaceable.”

  Noah felt the whiskey coursing through him. He tensed his fists at his sides. “Out with it, man. What else do you want to say to me? Don’t hold back now.”

  “Stop. Both of you,” Chelsie said, stepping between them. “This is so unnecessary. You two are friends.”

  “We stopped being friends a long time ago,” Noah muttered. He reached for the open bottle of Jameson and drank it straight from the spout. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and eyed Devon with a bitter resentment. “Right around the time he screwed Ruby in the front seat of my car.”

  Chels
ie looked as if she’d been slapped. “What?”

  Devon curled his lips into a snarl, his eyes narrowing. “It eats you up, doesn’t it?” he jeered. “I’ve always had everything you wanted. The center spotlight. The recognition. The women. Hell, even Ruby.” Years-worth of harbored grudges encompassed the room. Devon took another step towards Noah and cocked his head to the side. “And now, Chelsie.”

  Noah felt something inside him snap. He lunged at Devon and tackled him to the floor, throwing punches in his direction. He’d barely begun his assault before Miles and Tad were pulling them apart.

  “Jesus Christ,” Tad said. He held Noah’s arms behind his back while Miles stood in front of him, blocking Devon from any further attack.

  Chelsie stood frozen in place, her one hand clutching her elbow and the other resting against her chest.

  Noah freed himself from Tad’s grasp and turned around, running his hands through his hair. Tad started to reach for him again, but Noah threw his arms up. “I’m good. I’m good,” Noah said, breathing in through gritted teeth.

  Miles helped Devon to his feet. Devon wiped a smear of blood from his lip as a result of the one solid punch Noah had managed to get in.

  “We’re done here.” Devon grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the loveseat. He nodded at Chelsie as he put his arms into the sleeves. “Are you coming?”

  Chelsie stood there quietly, her eyes darting between Devon, Noah, and Lisa. “I – um…”

  “Suit yourself,” Devon cut her off. He glanced at Tad and the two men left the lounge.

  Chelsie’s eyes widened as she stared at Devon’s retreating form. Noah fished through his pockets for his cigarettes. “I need some air,” he said.

  Noah pulled out one of his smokes and headed out of the private suite. He snuck outside through a side door, away from the crowds. He noticed his hand was shaking as he lit the butt. As soon as he inhaled, the door creaked open beside him and he cursed whoever had seen him slip out. To his surprise, Chelsie poked her head out.

  She closed the door behind her. “Sorry. Did you want privacy?”

  She was still in her designer gown. The gems sewn into the bodice were reflecting shades of indigo from the overhead streetlamp. “Nah. You can stay.”

  Chelsie wrapped her arms around herself, shivering against the frosty January air.

  “You’re going to freeze,” he noted. He watched as the skin on her arms began to pimple with goosebumps. “Where’s your coat?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t bring one. It didn’t go with my dress.”

  Noah raised an eyebrow as he flicked the embers from his cigarette. “Typical woman. How about we get a drink at the bar down the street?”

  It was a daring proposal, but the whiskey running through him didn’t seem to care. They hadn’t been alone together since their intimate sleepover. They hadn’t even talked about it. Noah was anticipating a firm rejection, but to his surprise, she conceded with a quick nod. Maybe it was the bitter cold shocking her into submission, or maybe it was the fact that Devon had left, and she was lonely.

  That’s always what it was, right? That was her way – running into his arms anytime she needed comforting. And he ate it right up. He always would.

  Chump.

  Noah snuffed out his cigarette and reached for her hand. “Let’s go.”

  19 Chapter Nineteen

  Chelsie could see her breath as they walked briskly down the city sidewalk. Noah’s hand was her only source of warmth, so she clung to him. She used her other hand to hold up the bustle of her dress. She felt out of place as they entered a more dive side of town. The people they passed stopped to offer curious glances. Some even shouted back at them.

  “You folks lost?”

  “Drinks on those two tonight!”

  Chelsie ignored them and kept her eyes facing forward. She wondered if anybody recognized who they were.

  “We’re here,” Noah said, pulling her towards a little hole in the wall pub called ‘Ernie’s’.

  As soon as they entered, they garnered the attention of everyone in the room. Chelsie tried to slink behind Noah as she absorbed the newfound heat. “Think we stand out a little?”

  “Don’t worry about them. Let’s grab a table.”

  Chelsie followed Noah to a high-top table in the corner of the small bar, tripping on her dress three times along the way. Color crept into her cheeks as patrons chuckled at her clumsiness. “I swear I’m not cut out for this glamorous crap,” she mumbled. She hopped onto a bar stool and cringed as the heel of her stiletto caught on the inner layer of her dress, tearing the fabric. “I would do anything to be in jeans and a t-shirt right now.”

  Noah smiled at her from across the table and she swore it was the first genuine smile she’d seen from him in weeks.

  “I’ve missed seeing that,” she said. She hadn’t meant to voice her thoughts out loud. “Your smile.”

  His smile faded as he waved over a waitress. “Haven’t had much to smile about, I guess.”

  Guilt flooded through her. She knew she had contributed to it. “Noah… I can’t help but feel like all of this is my fault.”

  His eyes studied her for a moment before shifting to just over her shoulder. “All of what?”

  “Everything,” Chelsie said. “You and Devon fighting. The band falling apart. Beth… leaving.”

  Noah’s mouth twitched. “You give yourself too much credit. Sometimes life just sucks.”

  A waitress appeared at their table and jotted down their drink orders.

  “Don’t pretend the thought hasn’t crossed your mind. I’m bad luck,” Chelsie said. When her Captain and Coke arrived, she sipped on the small straw and lowered her eyes. “I feel responsible.”

  Noah downed his shot in one fell swoop, clunking the glass onto the table when he was finished. “Don’t do that,” he told her. “You and Sam have been the only ray of fucking sunshine I’ve had in a long time.”

  Chelsie folded her hands around the cold glass and gazed down at the disappearing ice cubes. She knew what Noah claimed wasn’t true. She had brought hellfire into his life. It burned, but it wasn’t sunshine. Part of her wished she could turn back time and call in sick that fateful night at the Pit.

  Then she remembered Noah’s earlier confession about Ruby. “Is it true?” she wondered. Their eyes met. “Is it true what you said about Devon and Ruby?”

  Noah leaned back in his chair. Saying Ruby’s name always seemed to accrue a physical reaction out of him. Sometimes it was a wince or a flinch. Sometimes he pressed his tongue against his cheek and tightened his jaw. This time he creased his lips together in a thin line and tapped his foot against the leg of his chair.

  “Yeah,” he finally answered. “I hated them both for a long time.”

  Chelsie could feel Noah’s pain radiating through her. She could only imagine what it would feel like to find the person you love with your best friend… like that. Ruby was clearly a narcissistic wench, but Devon? How could he do that?

  “I’m so sorry, Noah. That’s awful.” Her words sounded trivial. What she had really wanted to do was take him in her arms and hold him tight, just like he had done for her so many times before. She wanted to press her cheek against his chest and breathe in his sandalwood scent. She wanted him to confide in her like he used to.

  But things were different now. They were different – ever since she had crossed that barrier and stuck her tongue in his mouth.

  Stupid.

  The memories plagued her. There hadn’t been a day she didn’t think about the way his lips felt pressed against hers, or how natural it felt to be entwined with him in his bed. The thoughts warmed her up from the inside out and she wondered if Noah noticed her squirming in her seat.

  “Yeah, it was pretty shitty. But I got over it. Just like I get over everything.”

  Noah’s eyes were biting into her like the edge of a dagger. She swallowed back a thousand responses and raised her cocktail to her mouth, suck
ing up the rest of the liquid with frenzied gulps.

  “Want another?” he asked, watching as she inhaled her drink.

  “Yes, please.”

  Chelsie’s insides felt tingly as she studied him. His striking good looks had not resonated with her at first. He was just Noah the Asshole. Then he was Noah the Friend. Now… well, she wasn’t exactly sure. “Noah, can we talk about what happened?” she asked him.

  Noah straightened in his chair and reached for his beer. “Oh, about when you kissed me and then said you were just lonely?”

  Noah took a few swigs of his beer and set it back down on the table with more fervor than Chelsie had been expecting. She winced at the sound of it. “Noah…”

  “I mean, I don’t know what there is to talk about. You made yourself pretty clear.”

  Chelsie closed her eyes, begging some higher power to give her the right words to make this better. “I panicked,” she told him. “I was freaked out and scared. I never meant to imply you were merely a cure for my loneliness. You’re so much more than that. You…”

  She trailed off, her tongue tying in knots. Noah was staring at her with anticipation. A spark of life had returned to his eyes. Chelsie was about to continue when she noticed Noah’s gaze shift to over her shoulder. The spark twisted into apprehension.

  “What? What is it?” she asked.

  “I know those guys,” Noah said, nodding his head at a group of men on the opposite side of the room. “They were with Ian the night I beat the shit out of him at this bar.”

  Chelsie swiveled in her seat, looking back at the three men laughing with each other. She froze. “I know one of them,” she said. “That’s Brad – Ian’s brother. He’s bad news.”

  “Well, it looks like Brad just spotted you.”

  Brad locked eyes with her and stood up from his chair, almost knocking it backwards.

  “Shit,” she whispered. Dread simmered beneath the surface of her skin. If Brad and his cronies were here, Ian couldn’t be far.

  Brad sauntered over to their table with his hands in his pockets. “Well, well, well. What are you fine people doing in a place like this?”