Page 128 of Aria

That had been it.

My whirlwind romance with Devon Sawyer had come to an end.

Even though I knew it was for the best, I couldn’t help but reflect on our fonder memories together. It had all felt so right in the beginning; there had been so much infatuation and high hopes. I’d known our relationship wouldn’t be easy due to Devon’s notoriety, but…

I’d never expected Noah Hayes.

And I’d never expected that fame and fortune would lead Devon down such a destructive path, turning him into a completely different person.

My thoughts were interrupted when Lisa strolled back into the room.

“Do you think Miles is cheating on me?” Lisa wondered.

I blinked. “What? Cheating on you?”

Lisa crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips together. “There have been signs. He’s always flirting with other women and checking them out in front of me. Then he’ll go days without texting me back. Sometimes he’s vague about where he’s been or what he’s been doing.”

My face flushed with shame. I had suspected Miles was cheating on Lisa for months and I hadn’t said a word to my friend. “Lisa, I should probably tell you something…”

Her eyes widened, her fiery red curls bouncing as she stormed over to the couch. “Tell me what?” she asked in a panic.

“I mean, I don’t have any concrete evidence, but there was something… suspicious,” I said. “It was my last day at The Pit. I had just told Jerry I quit, and when I went to leave, I ran into Miles. He was there with another woman.”

Lisa looked as if she’d been slapped.

I rambled on, flustered and guilty. “You were so happy, Lis. I didn’t see anything sexual going on between them. A-And then the Grammy’s happened, and I didn’t want you to miss out on such an iconic event. You deserved to be there… you know?”

Swallowing, she looked down at the llama slippers on her feet. “I’m such a fool,” Lisa whispered, shaking her head. When she returned her gaze to me, her eyes narrowed with indignation. “I trusted you to have my back.”

My cheeks grew hot as I stood to face her. I reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “Lisa, please. I never meant to hurt you. It was the opposite… I was trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need your protection. I need your friendship and loyalty.” Her expression morphed into hurt.

No.

Could I ever do anything right? How could one person make such a mess of everything?

“I’m so sorry. I screwed up.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, stepping away from me and muttering under her breath, “You’re good at that.”

I flinched as the bedroom door slammed shut before collapsing back onto the couch, burying my face into my hands.

It was true. I was a bona fide genius when it came to dissolution and disappointment. I had a magical way of sabotaging relationships and bringing chaos down upon everyone I loved.

Noah’s face popped into my mind. He had received the shittiest end of my destruction stick. I’d managed to exacerbate his friendship with Devon, triggering Noah’s departure from the band and thriving musical career. I had ruined any possible romance between him and Beth.

Above all, he’d been shot—twice—by my psychotic ex-boyfriend.

Someone frommypast.

I was poison.

No wonder Noah couldn’t admit to his love confession.

How could anyone possiblyloveme?

“No one will ever love you, Chelly Bean. You’re a disaster—people run from disasters.”

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