Page 6 of Aria

Julia had snuck up behind me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and inciting my drawn-out groan. "Julia, I don't want to go."

She ignored me, grinning brightly at the security guard. "Tell him we'll be there. Our shift is up at eleven."

Julia’s hand snatched mine, dragging me away before I could protest further.

"Jules, that wasn't cool. I have zero interest in being a musician’s one-night stand,” I huffed, yanking my arm away.

"You'll thank me for it one day,” Julia said with a shrug.

Julia was one of those fortunate females who could reel any guy in with her long, obsidian hair, bedroom eyes, and ample cleavage. I was perfectly willing to pass off Devon Sawyer to my more experienced friend.

I think.

Exhaling the doubt, I held firm.

Yes… Devon would only find disappointment and bloody battle wounds beneath the layers of Chelsie Combs.

I was headed home for the night.

CHAPTERTWO

CHELSIE

Iwasn’t headed home for the night.

"You are such a mirror hog, Lis," Julia snapped, pushing the redhead out of the way with her hip.

"Hey, straightening this mop takes time.Not all of us were blessed with shampoo-commercial hair."

"Are you two almost ready?” I tapped my foot against the laminate flooring as we freshened up in the lounge bathroom. "I'm exhausted."

Marley’s was not my scene.I was the kind of girl who liked to curl up with my cat and a good book after a long night of work, and then call it a night. Julia and Lisa were constantly trying to get me to party more often, but I’d always decline, the nightlife far from enticing.What was so appealing about getting drunk and trying to impress unworthy men?

Sure, I enjoyed a cocktail every now and then, but overall, booze and bad boys were not my thing.

“Ready,” Julia said, popping the cap back on her cherry lipstick. “How do I look?”

“You know how you look,” I smiled sincerely.

Five minutes later, we were piled into Lisa’s Jeep, on our way to Marley’s.It was a popular bar in New York City, down the street from The Pit Stop with a dance floor and a V.I.P. lounge upstairs. It was often occupied with beautiful and recognizable people.

I wouldn’t know from experience, though—I’d only been there once for Lisa’s mandatory twenty-fourth birthday party two years ago, and I’d been wildly unimpressed.

"This is unbelievable," Julia said. She bounced up and down in the backseat. "We're seriously going to hang out with Freeze Frame!"

Lisa nudged me in the ribcage as she drove through town. “And hopefully do more than hang out with them. Right, Chelsie?"

I scoffed at Lisa’s statement from the passenger’s seat. "We all know that's not happening. I'm sure the moment Devon sees you two, I'll be a blip on his ever-growing radar."

Julia leaned forward with a melodramatic roll of her onyx eyes. "Stop selling yourself short, Chelsie.You’re gorgeous. Men are completely enamored with you, and you refuse to believe it."

The compliment made me itchy as I shifted in my seat.I’d believed that once. "You're sweet, Jules, but it's usually just the scary ones who hit on me."

"Or… hot lead singers,” Lisa said.

Julia threw her hands up. "Thank you!"

I buried my insecurities as Lisa pulled the car into a parking garage, slinging my purse over my shoulder and gripping the strap with a tinge of nervous excitement. My heart was lub-dubbing against its normally peaceful confinements, pulling my expression into a frown.

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