Page 113 of Aria

I always would.

Chump.

But I knew that if the opportunity arose and I found myself entangled with her warm body again, our lips fused together, tongues hungry, my fingers inside of her while she begged me to make love to her… well, I wouldn’t say no.

Snuffing out my cigarette, I reached for her hand. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

CHELSIE

Icould see my breath as we walked briskly down the city sidewalk. Noah’s hand was my only source of warmth, so I clung to him, using my other hand to hold up the bustle of my dress. I felt out of place as we entered a grungier side of town.

People stopped to offer curious glances, some even shouting at us.

“You folks lost?”

“Drinks on those two tonight!”

I ignored them and kept my eyes forward, wondering if anybody recognized who we were—or why Devon Sawyer’s proclaimed girlfriend was holding hands with another man, clinging to him for more than just warmth.

He felt safe. He felt good. He felt like…

“We’re here,” Noah said, pulling me into a little hole-in-the-wall pub called Ernie’s.

As soon as we entered, we garnered the attention of everyone in the room. I tried to slink behind Noah, still holding his hand. “Think we stand out a little?”

“Don’t worry about them.” He spared me a quick glance over his shoulder, his eyes dipping to our still-interlocked hands. “Let’s grab a table.”

I followed him to a high-top table in the corner of the small bar, tripping on my dress three times along the way. Color crept into my cheeks as patrons chuckled at my clumsiness. “I swear I’m not cut out for this glamorous stuff,” I mumbled, finally letting go of Noah and instantly feeling a chill race down my neck at the loss of contact. Nibbling my lip, I hopped onto a bar stool and cringed as the heel of my stiletto caught on the inner layer of my dress, tearing the fabric. “I would give anything to be in jeans and a t-shirt right now.”

Noah smiled at me from across the table, and I swore it was the first genuine smile I’d seen from him in weeks.

“I’ve missed seeing that,” I whispered. Clearing my throat, I dipped my chin. “Your smile.”

The smile faded as he waved over a waitress. “Haven’t had much to smile about, I guess.”

Guilt flooded me because I knew I’d contributed. “Noah… I can’t help but feel like all of this is my fault.”

His eyes narrowed, studying me for a moment before shifting to just over my shoulder. “All of what?”

“Everything,” I swallowed. “You and Devon fighting. The band falling apart. Beth leaving.”

Noah’s mouth twitched. “You give yourself too much credit, Combs. Sometimes life just sucks.”

A waitress appeared at our table and jotted down our drink orders.

“Don’t pretend the thought hasn’t crossed your mind. I’m bad luck,” I told him. When my rum and Coke arrived, I sipped on the small straw and lowered my eyes. “I feel responsible.”

Noah downed his shot in one swallow, clinking the glass onto the table when he finished. “Don’t do that,” he murmured after a beat. “You and Sam have been the only ray of fucking sunshine I’ve had in a long time.”

My hands folded around the cold glass as I gazed down at the disappearing ice cubes. As much as his statement drenched me in warmth, I knew it couldn’t be true. All I’d brought was hellfire into his life.

It burned, yes, but it wasn’t sunshine.

Part of me wished I could turn back time and call in sick that fateful night at The Pit.

Then I remembered Noah’s earlier confession about Ruby. “Is it true?” I suddenly wondered aloud. Our eyes met. “Is it true what you said about Devon and Ruby?”

---