Page 104 of Aria

But we were different now.

Instead, I shot off a brief, noncommittal text:“Ok.”

My response was stony, but it had to be. I couldn’t let myself go back to that place offeeling, or I would break all over again. I’d be carried away to the night she was mine—when I fell asleep counting her breaths with the taste of her honey still on my lips.

I couldn’t do that.

“I gotta go.”

My head shot up when Devon’s voice traveled over to me. He was staring at his phone, furiously texting something as he put out his cigarette.

“What the hell, man, this is our last practice,” Miles argued.

Devon threw on his coat. “I have to take care of something.”

“Shit,” Tad muttered under his breath.

“I guess that’s a wrap for tonight,” Sean lamented. “Let’s try to squeeze in an early-morning practice. I’m still not feeling confident.”

I packed up my guitar with indifference. “Sounds good. See you assholes tomorrow.”

I wasn’t much for conversation these days. All I wanted was to do my job and get out, all while hating that music had become ajob.

That’s how I knew it was time to step away.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

CHELSIE

I’d awoken that morning with a bounce in my step.

I was going to the Grammy’s.

The only thing that would make the day better was if I received a phone call telling me that Ian was in custody. Until then, his shadow loomed over me like an ominous rain cloud.

Devon had been up first that morning, and I wondered if he had slept at all that night. I recalled his pacing feet around our bed and the glow of his cell phone brightening the room for hours. He was fidgety and restless.

I hadn’t tried to initiate intimacy at all since our tentative reunion, and neither had he.

All I felt was…relief.

Maybe after the stress of the Grammy’s passed, we would be able to talk and repair the damage in our relationship.

Devon left early, as soon as the sun came up, and I’d given him a quick peck on the lips before he disappeared out the door. He had a lot to take care of before the big show, and I had a date with Lisa.

My friend and I sat in our respective salon chairs, while Lilah and another employee primped our hair and applied makeup.

“This is such a cute place,” Lisa exclaimed as the curling iron wrapped around her thick curls.

“The people are even better,” Lilah said with a wink.

I was deeply grateful for Lilah’s hospitality at my last visit. The haircut had turned out perfect; so perfect that I didn’t want it styled too much for the awards. I just wanted it blow-dried straight with a little teasing on top. The bangs framed my face nicely and brought attention to my jade-colored eyes.

I was excited to bring Lisa to the salon for our award makeovers. After the appointment, we were picking up our dresses and heading over to meet the guys for the pre-party. The Grammy Awards were taking place at Madison Square Garden this year, which made the travel arrangements convenient.

“I can’t wait to watch you guys tonight,” Lilah gushed as she applied a rosy rouge to my cheekbones. “I’ve never had a famous person in my chair before.”

I chuckled at the assessment. “I’m only famous by association,” I teased.

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