Page 153 of Aria

Their story continues with Coda, the final installment of this duet.

Keep reading to get a glimpse into Chelsie and Noah’s second chance romance.

CODA

CHAPTER ONE

Noah

I hated New York City.

It was vapid and uninspiring. I didn’t feel like I was either of those things, and yet, here I was—one of them.

Clutching the newest iPhone in my hand, I rummaged through the pockets of my overpriced jeans for the keys to my Corvette.

Damn.

Sometimes it made me laugh. Sometimes it made me teeter on the verge of a mental breakdown.

I propped my sunglasses over my eyes as the sun singed the tops of the skyline buildings. I was in a hurry, as usual. Rushing was simply a way of life in this city. My recording session had run late, and Beth was waiting for me to relieve her of parental duties so she could get to a showing. Sam had a baseball game; Caden had karate. Dinner would likely be McDonald’s Happy Meals as we raced home to squeeze in homework, baths, and bedtime stories.

I glanced at the time on my phone, picking up my pace as I turned into the parking garage. “Shit,” I muttered.

Late as fuck.

“Noah Hayes?”

My name echoed into the sea of sports cars and luxury SUVs. Pausing, I slipped my sunglasses back onto my head as I pivoted toward the voice.

Sometimes I really loathed the sound of my own name. I tried to hide my sour expression as I faced the pair of teenagers who had cornered me.

“We love you, Noah! Can we get your autograph?”

The brunette snapped her bubblegum, while the blonde held out a gel-tipped pen, along with her forearm.

I forced my smile to stay put as the muscles in my jaw twitched with rebellion. “Sure.”

“I’m Sara,” said the brunette.

“I’m Chelsea,” the blonde added.

I faltered, my hand freezing mid-reach for the pen. The familiar name sucked a breath out of me, and my tongue felt like a wad of cotton balls in my mouth.

The blonde jabbed the pen into my hand and continued to wave her arm in front of my face. “I don’t have any paper with me. You can sign right here.”

I blinked at the young girl in a crop top and high-waist leggings. “Yeah. Okay,” I murmured, managing to scribble my signature onto the arms of both girls. “Thanks for listening to my music.”

Thanks for making me ridiculously later,my brain silently added.

“Thanks! Toodles!” The sound of bubblegum popping and sticky sneakers could be heard as they skipped down the sidewalk.

I sighed, tossing my car keys into the air and catching them with my opposite hand. I fidgeted in place for another moment, scratching the back of my neck, my mouth still stale and parched.

It had been three years since I’d heard that name.

My phone buzzed inside my pocket as I scrambled to fetch it.

Beth:You on the way yet?

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