Page 106 of Aria

As our transport came to a stop, Devon finally put his phone away and slipped his Tom Ford sunglasses over his eyes, hiding how jaded they looked. He held his hand out to me. “Ready?”

I nodded through a gulp. The driver came around to open the side door, and we were instantly greeted with security guards and flashing camera lights. I stepped onto the concrete, holding up the heavy fabric of my designer gown with Devon’s hand firmly linked with mine.

A newscaster stood behind the rope, his back to us as he introduced our arrival.

“Devon Sawyer of Freeze Frame and infamous girlfriend, Chelsie Combs, make their way out of the next vehicle. Freeze Frame is performing tonight, up for two separate awards…”

Infamous.

I plastered a dazzling smile across my face as I followed Devon onto the red carpet. My heart was racing. Glancing behind my shoulder, I spotted Lisa waving madly to the masses and my smile broadened.

When we entered the venue, swarms of media with microphones in hand were waiting to get an interview. Devon and I posed for photos, shaking hands with superstars.

One of the reporters pulled me away from Devon while a camera followed. “Miss Combs, a word?”

Smiling, I hoped my nerves wouldn’t get the best of me.

“Miss Combs, your name has been in a lot of people’s mouths lately. How does it feel to go from a struggling waitress to a household name?” the woman asked.

“I count my blessings every day,” I answered simply.

“You don’t do many interviews, so you’re kind of a mystery to Freeze Frame fans. Is there anything we should know about you?”

I froze as my mind scuttled with hundreds of fun facts about myself. I was an only child. I hated flying. I could curl my tongue. I was a hula-hoop champion when I was twelve. I liked mushrooms. I wanted to visit Ireland someday. But I hated flying…

“I’m honestly not that interesting,” I concluded. “I’m probably no different than you. I’m obsessed with my cat, and I spend most of my time reading or watchingBuffy the Vampire Slayerreruns. And I can rock a messy bun like nobody’s business.”

The reporter laughed, so I relaxed, suspecting I hadn’t completely flopped.

“Well, we’re rooting for Devon tonight. Thanks for stopping by to chat.”

I gave an appreciative nod and continued walking.

“Love your new hair, Chelsie!” someone shouted from behind the ropes.

Waving, I shot off another smile.

Where did Devon go?I wasn’t good at this celebrity thing. I needed someone to, quite literally, hold my hand.

As I surveyed my surroundings looking for a familiar face, I stalled in my tracks.

There he was, only a few feet away.

Noah.

He was chatting with one of the reporters with Beth by his side.

He brought Beth to the Grammy’s?

My stiletto heels felt stuck to the carpet as my eyes examined him. He was wearing a slate-gray suit with a baby blue bowtie. His hair was still grown out, styled and tamed with gel. A week or two worth of stubble adorned his handsome face.

Beth stood next to him, smiling softly, with a hand clamped around his upper arm. A striking purple dress kissed her ankles as she absorbed the scene, her sunny blonde hair pulled back into a sharp, elegant bun.

Noah was mid-sentence when his eyes broke away and fell in my direction.

My heartbeats thundered beneath my ribcage when our gazes locked. It felt like a forest fire had been lit underneath my skin.

He’s never looked at me like this before.

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