Page 4 of Aria

The water bottles nearly slipped from my arms when I spun around to find Jerry glaring daggers at me. "S-Sorry, I'm coming," I called back.

I turned to Julia and held up a water bottle in playful victory.

She flipped me the bird in response. "I hope you fall on your ass up there," she said with a laugh.

"Chelsie!"

I jolted into action. "I'm coming!”

"You're really starting to piss me off," Jerry said, shaking his head with disapproval.

My chin dipped to my chest, cheeks heating as I rushed past him, my eyes fixed straight ahead. I resituated my grip on the water bottles when I sauntered toward the staircase leading up to the stage.The security guards moved aside to let me pass, and I couldn't help but succumb to the faint buzz that shot through me, while my sweaty palms betrayed my proclaimed indifference. I could feel the crowd's eyes on me as I neared the band, and I knew every person in that room wanted to be me.

Don’t fall on your ass. Don’t fall on your ass.

What I didn't expect were the eyes of one incredibly good-looking lead singer to be boring holes into me as I approached.My stomach fluttered in response.

What was that all about?

Swallowing, I held out a bottle of water to the shaggy-haired rock star and offered him a warm smile. "Here you go," I said. I was trying to ooze confidence, but my trembling hand portrayed otherwise.

He smiled back.

Andoh, did he smile back.I could almost feel my eyeballs turn into animated cartoon hearts, and hey, was that a cupid flying over my head with an arrow pointing at one unsuspecting Devon Sawyer?

Get a grip!I pried my eyes away from the lead singer and passed out the remaining water bottles.The drummer and bassist nodded their thanks, but the guitarist snatched the water out of my hand with a sneer, refusing to look at me.I frowned but said nothing, then turned to walk off the stage. That’s when a silky, strangely titillating voice made me stop in my tracks.

"Hey… thanks again, uh..."

I twisted around, my heart beating comically out of my chest. Lead Singer Guy was staring right at me, another melt-worthy smile on his face. "M-My name's Chelsie," I replied, cursing myself for stuttering like a lovestruck fool.

"Thanks, Chelsie.”

Another smile, then a wink.

A wink.

Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I returned Devon’s smile with far less charm and bewitchery and almost tripped on one of the steps leading off the stage. I could practically hear Julia laughing at my plight as I pulled myself together and continued the trek back down to the lounge.

Sure enough, Julia was peering through the kitchen doors with a smirk on her face.

"You slut!" Julia shouted when I approached.

"What?How am I a slut?"

"You were totally eye-fucking Devon up there.Look, you're even blushing.”

My cheeks burned hotter than Death Valley in the middle of July. I raised my hands to my face to hide the evidence. "I was not. He's not even my type."

Julia laughed, her raven ponytail swaying back and forth as she shook her head with pity."Chels, you just found your type, and apparently it's the most lusted-after male in the country."

Crap.I bowed my head with equal parts mortification and infatuation. "He was... attractive, maybe, but it takes a lot more for me to—”

"Melt into a pile of girly-goo and almost trip over your own two feet in front of hundreds of people?"

"So, youdidsee that?" I asked with dismay, lifting a hand to my neck as the heat from my cheeks traveled south.

"Every minute of your wanton flirting," Julia admitted.

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