Page 75 of Aria

As for me? Well… I was indifferent. I didn’t care what the world thought of me, and I didn’t regret beating the crap out of that scumbag. The only thing I regretted was putting negative attention on the rest of the guys. While I didn’t give a damn about my reputation, the music mattered. When our reputation suffered, the music suffered.

Sean was trying to put a positive spin on everything.

“Negative attention is attention. Your names are on people’s lips. You’re trending on Google. I’ll take it,” Sean had said at our most recent band meeting.

Sighing, I pulled my sunglasses off and set them on top of my head. I assessed my surroundings before letting Sam out of the car and chasing him toward the playground. It was a rare, quiet Sunday. Today I wasn’t a Freeze Frame member. I wasn’t the topic all over Facebook newsfeeds.

I was just Sam’s dad.

“Look at me! I’m swinging so high.”

I smiled with affection, watching as Sam used all of his strength to push his legs back and forth, gaining more momentum with each effort. “Great job, buddy.”

I took a seat on a nearby bench, soaking up the sun and the crisp New York air. Woodchips crunched beneath my sneakers as I pulled a cigarette out of my pocket.

“I’m so sorry to bother you, but can I get an autograph?”

Inhaling sharply, I glanced to my left. I hadn’t even noticed the soccer mom walking by with a baby stroller. “Of course,” I said, hoping my tone sounded cheerier than I felt. I scribbled my chicken-scratch onto a notebook she’d pulled out of her diaper bag.

Just another day in the life of a music celebrity.

“It’s for my cousin,” the woman continued, boldly sitting beside me on the wooden bench. “I don’t even like your music. No offense. But my cousin is a huge fan. She’s even got tickets to see you guys on tour next spring.”

I finally looked at the woman, truly noticing her. So many fans came in and out of my life, I couldn’t recall a single face or name. It wasn’t something I was proud of, considering these people paid my bills, but it was necessary for my sanity.

“Your honesty is refreshing,” I replied.

She smiled up at me as I handed back the pen. “I’m Beth.”

“Noah.” It was a stupid response. She already knew that.

Her smile broadened. “Is that your little guy?”

Sam was climbing up the slide the wrong way, making funny sounds that mimicked a train or machinery. “That’s him. That’s my Sam.”

Beth nodded to the stroller by her side. “This is Caden. I can’t wait for him to be old enough to play here. I grew up at this park.”

My gaze rolled over the small infant in the carriage. He couldn’t have been more than two or three months old. “Enjoy it while you can,” I told her. “They don’t talk back at that age.”

Beth chuckled, and I couldn’t help but notice her resemblance to Chelsie. The long blonde hair, slender physique, and a dainty nose that curved slightly upward.

“I’m not used to people acting so normal around me anymore,” I said curiously, glancing back and forth between Beth and my son.

She shrugged. “My cousin says it’s my super-power. I ran into Lady Gaga last year and we still text each other to this day.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Impressive.”

“Yep. Super-power,” she laughed. A moment of silence passed between us before she stood from the bench. “Well, we were just passing through. Here’s my number if you want to be added into my contact group of cool famous people I randomly meet.”

She jotted down her number on another piece of notebook paper and placed it in my hand.

“Thanks,” I nodded.

“Enjoy.” Beth gestured toward Sam with a smile, then took off down the sidewalk.

I studied the wrinkled piece of paper in my hand. Every other phone number I’d been given by a fan over the years had gone straight into the trash. Yet, for some reason, this one I folded up and placed into my back pocket.

Twenty minutes went by, and I was texting back and forth with Sean when I heard a scream.

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