Page 112 of Aria

“What?” He threw his hands up in the air. “What do you want me to say? Noah knows everything. Noah thinks he’s better than all of us. I say let him go. He’s replaceable.”

“Come on, dude,” Miles spoke up.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek as the anger prickled the back of my neck. “I’m the reason this band even exists. You’d still be fixing brake pads if it weren’t for me.”

“And now, I’ll be just fine without you,” Devon sniffed. “Replaceable.”

The whiskey coursed through me, and my fists clenched to stones. “Out with it, Devon. What else do you want to say to me? Don’t hold back now.”

“Stop. Both of you,” Chelsie chided, stepping between us. “This is so unnecessary. You two are friends.”

“We stopped being friends a long time ago,” I muttered, reaching for the open bottle of Jameson and drinking straight from the spout. I wiped my mouth with my shirt sleeve and eyed Devon with resentment. “Right around the time he screwed Ruby in the front seat of my car.”

Chelsie blinked, then faltered. She looked like she’d been slapped. “What?”

Devon curled his lips into a sneer, his eyes narrowing. “It eats you up, doesn’t it?” he said. “I’ve always had everything you wanted. The center spotlight. The recognition. The women. Hell, even Ruby.” Years-worth of harbored grudges encompassed the room. Devon took another step toward me and cocked his head to the side. “And now… Chelsie.”

Something inside of me snapped. I lunged at Devon, getting in one solid punch to his face before Miles and Tad grabbed me.

“Jesus Christ,” Tad cursed. He held my arms behind my back, while Miles stood in front of me, blocking Devon from any further attack.

Chelsie stood frozen in place, one hand clutching her elbow, the other resting against her chest.

Freeing myself from Tad’s grip, I spun around, running both hands through my hair. Tad started to reach for me again, but I threw my arms up. “I’m good… I’m good,” I spit out through gritted teeth.

Miles helped Devon to his feet while Devon wiped a smear of blood from his lip as a result of the single blow I’d managed to get in.

“We’re done here.” Devon grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the loveseat, nodding at Chelsie as he put his arms through the sleeves. “Are you coming?”

She stood there quietly, her eyes darting between me, Devon, and Lisa. Indecision pinched her brows. “I—um…”

“Suit yourself,” Devon cut her off. He glanced at Tad, and the two men left the lounge.

Chelsie’s eyes widened with disbelief as she stared at Devon’s retreating form. He hadn’t even given her a chance.

I fished through my pockets for a pack of cigarettes. “I need some air.”

Pulling one from the box, I headed out of the private suite and snuck outside through a side door, away from the crowds. My hand was shaking as I lit the butt.

As soon as I inhaled, the door creaked open beside me, and I silently cursed whoever had witnessed my getaway.

To my surprise, Chelsie poked her head out, closing the door behind her as she joined me. “Sorry. Did you want privacy?”

She was still in her designer gown. The gems sewn into the bodice were reflecting shades of indigo from the overhead streetlamp. “Nah,” I muttered softly. “You can stay.”

Chelsie wrapped her arms around herself, shivering against the frosty January air.

“You’re going to freeze,” I noted, my eyes skating over her. I watched as the skin on her arms began to pimple with goosebumps. “Where’s your coat?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t bring one. It didn’t go with my dress.”

I arched an eyebrow as I flicked the embers from my cigarette. “Typical woman. How about we get a drink at the bar down the street?”

It was a daring proposal, but the whiskey running through my veins didn’t seem to care.

We hadn’t been alone together since our intimate sleepover—we hadn’t even talked about it. I was anticipating a firm rejection, but was surprised when she conceded with a quick nod. Maybe it was the bitter cold shocking her into submission, or maybe it was the fact that Devon had left, and she was lonely and upset.

That was always what it was, right? That was her way—running into my arms anytime she needed comforting. And I ate it right up.

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