His jaw clenched. “I just asked if she was there. Do you want to spend time analyzing it or enjoying the night with your boyfriend who isn't me? It's not your business what I do or don't do with Arial!”
“Wow, someone is edgy! I guess I can trust a few rumors I hear after all.” She paused. He could hear the swish of liquid, so he assumed she was taking a drink. “Yeah, she's here. I saw her sauntering around in a little red dress by the bar with Marcus not too long ago. The guy is playing her like a fiddle. It's so classic. You better get here fast, or she might not be a good sweet little girl the next time you see her.”
Bryce rolled his eyes. Arial is smarter than you. She wouldn't fall for his game. I wonder if Katie did, though. He took a deep breath to keep himself from snapping something off at her in reply. Her blatant disrespect for Arial was grinding on his last nerve. “Thanks for the help.”
“Anytime. I always knew you two were gonna get together. I should have bet on it.” Her tone was bitter, but he didn't care. She didn't have room to talk. He wasn't the one who’d left her for someone else, and she'd made it clear she didn't want to have a future with him either. He knew where Arial was, though, so he couldn't be completely ungrateful.
Glancing down at his outfit, he tried to decide if he should change or not. He had on jeans and the ugly brown and green button-down he'd worn at the fair — his lucky shirt.
“Screw being trendy,” he muttered. Sentimental would go a lot further with Arial than style.
****
Arial was having a better time at the party than she wanted to admit. Dancing the night away, and having an occasional drink, she was the most relaxed she'd been in months, possibly even years.
“Do you want another one?” Marcus shouted over the music. He'd been at her side for most of the night. Only every so often did he leave to go greet some guests. His proximity to her was respectful as well, so she couldn't wait to tell Lisa 'I told you so' later on.
Shaking her head, Arial stepped off the dance floor to find a spot to sit. “I'm good, thank you.” Marcus did ask her that question a lot, and that kind of made her wonder. She sat down and pulled off her heels. All of the dancing was killing her feet.
“Need a break?” Marcus laughed. “Come on, let's go chill over this way. It's a lot quieter, and I won't have to yell to talk to you.”
She nodded and stood, using him momentarily to support herself as she did so. The sudden change in height and angle on her feet messed with her equilibrium. “Thank you,” she said quietly and followed him toward the side of the club. There was a staircase leading up to another floor with private rooms. They weaved their way through the crowd and made their way up.
Marcus unlocked the door with a small key and held the door open for her. “Come on in.”
Arial stepped into the dark room. There was a couch, a private bar, and perfect mood lighting. “Wow.”
“I know the guy who owns the club. We go way back, so I got my own key. It's handy for when I need to get away from the headache-inducing bass.”
“I can see that,” she said.
“Go ahead and have a seat.” He pointed to the couch.
Slowly, Arial walked over and sat down, staying close to the end. “You really know how to throw a party.”
He laughed. “You sure you don't want another drink?”
“I'm sure.”
Smiling, he sat down at the other end of the couch, keeping a comfortable distance from her that helped her to breathe easier. “So how was going back home again? As fun as it looks?”
She detected a hint of sarcasm.
“It was, actually. Sometimes it's nice to get away somewhere quiet for a breather. It's what we're doing now,” she said.
“Wise. I guess it's better to go home and get all that family socializing done as soon as possible instead of heading off to an exotic island out of the country.”
She nodded slowly. “It started as an obligation, but there is something really nice getting out into the fresh air and remembering where you come from. I like to stay real. It helps keep me grounded. Being back there helped me get in touch with a lot of things I thought I'd lost.”
“When I want to get in touch with my feelings, I go up into the mountains. That's some nice fresh air,” Marcus said. He smiled and scratched at his chin. “I'm from a small town, too, you know. It's not quite in the middle of nowhere like where you're from. I don't go back too often, though, because it's not my world anymore. My family and I go on adventures together and bond over seeing the world.”
“That sounds like fun.” But not something her family would go for. Her family wasn't interested in seeing the world the same way she was. They only wanted to spend intimate time with each other, and they were not as enticed by exotic locations.
“Mm-hmm.” He moved closer to her. “You want to know what else would be fun?”
Not so sure I do, she thought, noticing the way his eyes were glued to her and how his smirk seemed to widen. “I don't know. What else would be fun?”
He laughed. “I think we could be fun. At first I thought that whole being a sweet innocent virgin thing was a gimmick. How many celebrities of the past have tried that angle? I did some digging, and I found it's true. Gotta say, it's pretty hot.”
Her body tensed as he moved even closer. “Thank you, I think.”
“I could teach you things,” he said, picking up her hand and giving it a kiss. “Things about love and adventures and being a woman.”
“You love me? Really? Because we've barely spoken ever since we last worked together,” she said, studying his face.
Marcus laughed. “I haven't been in love for a long time. It'd be a lie to say that I do, but you're exciting to me. You're the adventure.”
“Basically, you're trying to seduce me, aren't you?”
“Basically.”
“You know I'm not interested,” she said. “If you've been doing your digging, you know why I'm waiting. You just said you didn't love me, and I'm not going to be another of your conquests. I'm sure that'll look really nice on your playboy resume. The one guy who was able to take my v-card.”
He shrugged. “You're amazing, smart, and sexy. You can't blame me for wanting to try. Maybe you're a little too smart since you figured me out so easily, but again, the adventure makes it fun. Don't you think? It'd be good for both of us, you know. You're not going to be able to get any serious acting roles if everyone thinks you're a stickler for purity. Producers want talent who are willing to take risks.”
She rolled her eyes and stood up. “I can't believe you went there. Wow, you'll say anything to get in my pants, won't you?”
“What can I say? They're a very nice pair of pants.”
“Thank you for the chat,” she said. “I should get going. It's late back in Ohio, and I haven't quite adjusted.”
****
Bryce arrived at the club. He gave his keys to the valet and walked up the sidewalk to the entrance. The paparazzi were there in full force, snapping his picture and shouting his name. A number of them were asking him questions about what had happened in Ohio between him and Arial. He smiled and waved every so often, but for the most part he kept his head down as he walked through the crowd. Security was keeping the photographers at bay, or he would have been completely swarmed by them.
Inside, the club was just as chaotic. People were everywhere. Marcus threw big parties, apparently. Bryce had no idea how he was going to find Arial in the sea of people, but he would figure it out. Katie said Arial was wearing red, so that's helpful.
Pushing his way through the crowd, Bryce tried to stay as low-key as possible. There were a number of his peers that he recognized, co-stars and acquaintances that he wouldn't mind catching up with. Overall, they would be nothing but a distraction to him and his quest.
“Hey, Bryce,” Katie's voice said from behind him. Her words were slightly slurred, and he dreaded turning around and talking with her. He did so anyway, determined to be polite
.
“Hello,” he said. He swallowed when he saw the tight, low-cut, lime-green dress she wore. And she had the nerve to talk about Arial looking like a skank? He had to force a polite smile onto his face.
She had a drink in her hand that she swirled casually. “Good to see you again. Surprising, but good. Didn't I tell you to stay on the other side of the room from me?”
“You're the one who came to talk to me,” he said with more calm than he felt. “I didn't even notice you were over this way.”
Katie pouted and placed a hand on her hip. “How could you not notice me? Whatever. I think I also told you to look a little more hip. What are you wearing? It's so… disgusting!”
So is what you have on, but you don't hear me complaining. He raked his lower lip between his teeth. “Is there something I can help you with?”
She leaned in toward him, her free hand moving from her hip to his hair. “I thought I'd say hi and see if you could help me. My boyfriend seems to be lost in tequila and some blonde twin models. Maybe if he sees me with —”
“Sorry, I can't help you out there. Why don't you just talk to him? Pull him away? Make a scene? You're pretty good at doing all of those things,” Bryce said, stepping back.
“Oh, come on! No one is going to think anything of it if they see us dancing and being sweet to one another. After all, most of the fans want us to be together anyway. It would make for some fun rumors if nothing else.”
“You know I'm not interested in doing that kind of thing. I never have been,” he said tersely. “If you'll excuse me, I need to find Arial.”
“Arial, Arial, Arial!” Katie shouted. “That's all you ever cared about! All you ever wanted! What happened to the love you felt for me?”
Bryce glared at her. “You lost that love and trust when you cheated on me, several times. I might not have known about it, but I can tell you the moment you checked out of our relationship. I was an idiot to think I could make you love me when I knew you didn't care. That was my fault. You're right, I should have just ended it sooner, but I stuck around because you meant everything to me. Whether you want to believe me or not, you were my priority. You've lost that, and I'm not stupid or blind anymore. Arial actually loves me and she wants the same things. We're…”
“Perfect for one another?” Katie scoffed. “She's no better than anyone else here. There's a reason love doesn't last in these parts. We're all selfish. You are, I am, and so is she.”
He shook his head. “She's different. Maybe you're right about me, but not her.”
“If that was the case, then why did I see her go up to the VIP room with Marcus? Hmm?” She nodded and took a swig from her drink. What did he ever see in this woman? This was the kind of behavior that turned him away from the party scene when they were dating. “Arial went up there, and I bet she's just going to use him to advance her career. I bet that's all she was doing with you, too, when you had your magical adventure out in cow land!”
Bryce's gaze darted towards the upstairs where the VIP room was located. He could tell the lights were on by the faint light showing through the cracks in the blinds. Beyond that, he couldn't see much else. If she was up there, it couldn't be for something scandalous, could it?
“I don't believe you,” he said.
“It's true!”
“You'll say anything to —”
A hand rested on his shoulder, and he turned to see Lisa. She gave him a sad smile. “She's not lying. I saw her go up with him. They've been together all night, and she's been letting him get kind of close. You know, for her. It could just be friendly, but she did say she was going to do whatever she could to forget about what happened for a night.”
Katie pursed her lips together triumphantly. “Told you. Maybe now you'll change your mind about helping me out. I think I've done two favors for you already.”
He shook his head. “I'll help you out by going home, so I'm not so much of an embarrassment.”
****
Arial descended the stairs, tears in her eyes. How could she have been so stupid to think that Marcus was interested in actually being her friend? She should have known better, and now all she wanted to do was call a cab and go home. No, what she wanted to do was talk to Bryce, but she was even more embarrassed than ever. He would be disappointed when he heard. Maybe he'd change his mind about wanting to be with her.
From the stairs she caught sight of a brown and neon green plaid. The sandy blond hair on the guy matched Bryce. Who else would wear such a horrible shirt in public? He turned his face and she caught a good look at his profile. It was Bryce, and the sadness in his expression said it all. He knew about Marcus already. What was he doing there? She had to stop him from leaving, but there was no way she could get to the entrance in time. If I can at least catch him before he gets to his car…
****
As Bryce stepped out into the night, again the cameras started to go crazy. This time, he didn't smile or wave. He pulled the collar up on his shirt, kept his head down, and walked to where the valet would be bringing his car. Normally, he'd have waited inside and away from all the chaos, but he couldn't stand being in the club any longer. What if Arial left the room with Marcus and they looked happy? He wouldn't have been able to stand seeing that.
Arial. He shook his head. And I can't escape her out here either. It's like someone keeps saying her name in my ear. And that's when he realized the paparazzi were saying her name. Behind him, toward the front, he could hear the shouts, the cameras clicks going crazy all around. Arial stood in the doorway. Their gazes locked on one another, and the next thing he knew she was running down the sidewalk toward him. She flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips tight against his.
****
Arial poured all of her love into the kiss, and she felt him open his mouth to her slightly. That was the moment she knew everything would be okay. She didn't care about the cameras capturing the whole thing. All she cared about was him. Let the world see how we feel about each other.
He stared down into her eyes. “We need to talk,” he said softly. She could barely hear him, but she understood what he was saying just by the soft look on his face alone.
“We do,” she said. His sports car pulled up in front of the sidewalk. Moving one of his hands to the small of her back, he guided her toward the passenger side, helped her in, and then went around to drive. Once they were both buckled in, he began to get them away from the crowd. It took a moment, since the photographers were still going nuts over their little show, but soon they were cruising through the city.
“It took me a moment to figure out what was wrong,” he said. “I mean, I thought you were just hung up on the fact that Katie and I dated. Yes, we were together for a long time, and we haven't been broken up for long. At the same time, I don't think it takes rocket science to know that you and I have a bond. This isn't a rebound because I wouldn't risk a rebound with you. You're too important to me. Everything I feel for you is real.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I —”
He put a hand on hers. “Let me finish, please.” He inhaled slowly. “I had an interesting conversation with my brother. He opened my eyes to a few things, and I need to apologize. I pushed you into singing with me at the fair. I guess I was so caught up in the atmosphere, I didn't stop to think about how you might be feeling. We should have talked about it more. Really talked about it. And we should have really talked about us, before I started spouting off all of my ideas. Don't get me wrong, I still feel the same way as I did when I first told you. I do want to grow old with you. I do want to have our own private piece of land to enjoy and have some quiet. But I should have talked to you about it all first instead of just spouting it off like it was going to happen. At the end of the day, I don't care where I am as long as I'm with you.”
Arial closed her eyes as she listened to him talk. She had to absorb the whole moment, as well as his words.
“I shouldn't have accused you of still being hung up
on her. Not after seeing how much she broke you down after all these years. You never treated me like a rebound. You've been nothing but respectful of me.” She laughed, thinking about Marcus and how he had not been. “When you said you wanted to stay in Ohio, it scared me because this is my life. I may not completely fit the scene, but I love what I do. Performing, telling a story, even being in the center of the buzz, is kind of a high for me. Which is why singing with you didn't bother me as much as it could have. I did need the experience and the push. You're good at doing that, encouraging me to go to new places with my work. Acting, singing, they’re the only thing in my life that feels like… like it's what I'm supposed to be doing. My calling. The only other thing that feels so right to me is being with you. Remember when I said I didn't have a home? That's because I only feel like I'm safe and secure and whole when I'm with you. Home doesn't have to be a place, does it? It can be a person, too.”
He nodded. “It can be, yes. I wouldn't ask you to give up what you want to do with your life. Trust me, I'm not in any kind of a hurry to quit acting either. My new projects are exciting, and there are a lot of stories to tell and a lot of people I can still help. I don't know if I'm as involved in it as you are, but I love it all the same. When I said I wanted to grow old on a farm, I was thinking we'd be long retired by then with kids of our own.”
“You want to have children with me?” She laughed.
“I want everything with you. If you'll have me, I mean. We don't have to rush anything, but that's my ultimate goal. To be with you forever. To have you as my wife.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I want those same things. Well, maybe not the farm, but we can talk about that later. If you're thinking after retirement, that gives me a lot of time to figure out where I want to be.”
He nodded. “Lots of time. So you still want to be with me?”
“Of course I do. I'm sorry I freaked out.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. “It's all water under the bridge now. We're going to say and do a lot of stupid things. There will be other freak-outs. That was nothing compared to a number of others I've been through.”
A Slow Burning Fire Page 20