We waited for the waitress to come back and get the check. I watched her fidgeting with her fingers. “What’s taking her so long?”
“Havin’ second thoughts?”
“Are you?” She cocked her brow. “Honestly, I’m trying not think about it.”
I could tell from the way she wouldn’t look at me that she was full of shit. She was nervous. “How about we grab a couple more shots?” I waved and signaled to the waitress for another round. She obliged and brought the final bill at the same time.
We shoved everything into one box and down the shots at the same time.
I watched her watching me. The food wasn’t going to get eaten as long as my hunger was for something completely different.
I’d be given the go-ahead and nothing could stop me.
So I thought.
Before we could make it out of the restaurant the waitress came running toward us, with a man who looked to be her boss. The man held out his hand. “I’m Jerrod Adkins, manager here. Listen, I don’t normally do this, but my band for tomorrow night is in a bind, on account of the singer getting his tonsils out. I’ve made calls all day and nobody can do it on such short notice. We all heard how amazing the two of you were tonight. I don’t know how long you’re staying, or if you’ve ever sang together, but we could use someone to fill in, if you’re interested.”
I looked at Shalan, knowing she had stage fright before her performance earlier. “Can you give us a minute to talk about it?” I was trying to not ruin my chances of getting laid. If I said yes without discussing it, all of my efforts would have been for nothing.
“We don’t need to talk about it. We’ll be honored to do it?”
“The band we use leaves their stuff here. It’s my brother-in-law’s group. They usually perform here three nights a week,” he explained. “He went to the doctor this morning for a sore throat and ended up having surgery. It’s crazy. But anyway, I can see if one of the guys can provide you with a song list. They mostly do covers, and all are popular songs, both new and old.”
“Sounds good to me,” she announced.
I raised my brow, still wondering where her courage was coming from. “Yeah, sounds easy enough.”
“Just leave me your information, so I can get you that playlist. You can pick and choose whatever songs you want. I’m sure they’ll play just about anything.”
We shook hands and he handed me his card. I gave him my number and let him know the room we were staying in, before we walked out of the restaurant.
Shalan made it to the elevator before she started jumping up and down, talking like a crazy person. To say she was excited was an understatement. “Oh my god. Do you have any idea how long I’ve dreamed of something like this happening to me? This is terrific, Noah. I can’t believe it. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening?”
I smiled and looked down at the floor realizing that she’d forgotten all about our plans to end up in bed. “It’s real. We’re performin’ tomorrow night in front of a shit ton of people. I think we might even get paid.”
She put her hands in the air and screamed loudly, causing my ears to hurt. Then she walked up and hugged me before realizing she’d done it. I watched her back away from me but never take those blue eyes off of mine. “Do you know that this is all I’ve ever wanted to do? This is my dream, Noah.”
I laughed. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Seriously, isn’t this an opportunity of a lifetime?”
I couldn’t tell her how I’d been against the music industry for a long time. My uncle Zeke, the leader of a very popular rock band had used me for a publicity scam and never talked to me again. I had hard feelings when it came to him and other singers in the business. It was wrong to judge them all, but it was all I’d ever known. The man had humiliated my family and caused me to lose the last link I had to ever knowing more about my birth mother.
I’d read somewhere that he owned a record label . I had a feeling if Shalan found out about it, she’d use me as her ticket to fame.
I didn’t leave my family to get tangled up with my uncle. I was doing this for myself. If I could have some fun and make a little bit of money while trying to find my way I was going to do it.
Knowing how excited she was, I decided to not damper the mood with my concerns. If Shalan wanted to be a singer I couldn’t talk her out of it. It wasn’t my place, and with the talent she carried, she could make it really far. “Looks like we got ourselves a reason to celebrate.”
She pressed her lips together and smiled. “Hold on, cowboy. I know what I said earlier, but this gig is WAY more important than a romp in the sheets. I need to prepare song choices and we should work on harmonization. We’ve got less than a day to get this perfect.”
I wiped my face and tried to relax enough to be kind. It wasn’t like I could convince my dick to calm down. It was ready for action, which clearly wasn’t happening now.
“It’s just sex. We’re two adults seeking pleasure from each other. I’m attracted to you, and you’re obviously attracted to me. We don’t have to make this more than it is.”
Her quirky reaction gave me hope, for maybe a second. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen. You should probably take a cold shower before we start working.”
“You’re definitely goin’ to want to put that old ball cap back on your head, and maybe even some dirty clothes. I can’t look at you for another minute with what you’ve got on.”
The look of disgust was apparent. Seemingly annoyed, she shook her head and walked into the room without replying. The cold shower wouldn’t have helped my balls recover, so I decided to ignore the need and take care of other things. While Shalan stood in front of the bathroom mirror, I sat in a chair on the other side of the hotel room and turned on my cell phone. The vibration was constant as all of the messages loaded. It had been two days since I talked to anyone in my family, and I knew they were going to give me shit about it.
I started the text messages first.
I can’t believe how you’re acting! – Bella
Next time I see you, I’m fucking you up, you honky-tonk bitch! – Jake
Noah, you can’t run away from your problems. You and your dad need to sit down and talk about this. You have responsibilities to this family. – Mom
I forgot to tell you to be safe and that I love you. We all do. – Mom
Shutting off your phone doesn’t solve anything, Noah. Call me back or I’m going to hate you forever. – Bella
Baby, it’s me. I kicked my sister out of the house. She told me she seduced you. I want to talk about this. Please call me, Noah. I’m still in love with you. - Perry
Dad and I are getting worried. Please at least check in with us. – Mom
You’re freaking me out. Don’t do something stupid. Call me back. – Bella
This is your aunt. You need to call home. Your mother is a mess, kid. Your uncle and I know the boys provoked you. Christian came to us after you left. Call your mother. – Miranda
So this is your plan? Are you cutting all of us off from your life? – Bella
It’s Mom checking in. Please call me or Dad. Love you. – Mom
As pissed as I was at my family, my heart ached when I thought about my mother being upset. I knew I probably had thirty voicemails waiting, and certainly didn’t want to hear my ex calling over a dozen times, but decided to just call and let a certain someone know I was alive.
It rang twice before she answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, Gram, it’s me. I’m just callin’ to let you know I’m fine.”
“Noah, do you know what time it is?”
I hadn’t even noticed that it was after midnight. “Sorry. I just checked my messages.”
“Anyway, I know where you are.” I could hear her shuffling around, like she’d been up walking when she answered the phone. Then I realized that she’d been in bed and the phone wasn’t near her. “The hotel called and verified your stay with me.”
Shocke
d. I thought that they wouldn’t know where I’d been until the credit card bill came in, which I’d pay. “What? Since when do they do that?”
“Since people started stealing credit cards and banking information, smarty pants. Did you really think that running away was going to solve things with your dad?”
“No, but I needed some air, Grandma. He doesn’t let up.”
“Noah, if you two learned to communicate with each other life would be a lot easier. You wouldn’t have to go to such extremes to make your point.”
I looked toward the bathroom and saw Shalan spinning around, obviously planning some choreographed routine. She was going to every extreme for one little performance at a hotel lounge. “Listen, it is what it is. Can you just do me a favor and tell everyone I’m fine. Don’t tell Dad where I’m at.”
“I could cut off the card and force you to come home.”
“Come on, Grandma. Don’t do that. I just need a couple days to cool off. Besides, you can’t cut me off from the company account, when it’s all goin’ to be mine anyway, right?” I knew if I added that tidbit she’d be cool with my little vacation. My grandmother may have wanted me to take over the business even more than my father wanted me to.
“Be safe in that city, Noah. I’ll let your mother know you called. If you had any sense you’d call and tell her yourself.”
I made a face knowing she’d never see it. “Yeah, I don’t really feel like hearin’ her upset.”
“She’s your mother. Of course this upset her.”
“Well my call would only make it harder. Just tell her I’m fine. Please.”
“Okay.”
“Great. I’ll see you in a few days then.”
“Noah, hang on. Have you heard from your cousin? From Isabella? Her mother called last night asking if I’d seen her. I thought maybe she was with you.”
“I haven’t seen her, Gram, but I’ll definitely give her a call.”
“Love you, kiddo.”
“Yeah,” I smiled knowing damn well I wasn’t a child. “Love you too.”
When I hung up Shalan came walking up in front of me. “Are you ready to go over a couple songs? We need to make sure we know all the words. I’ve selected a couple older songs we could sing together. The people really liked your rendition of Johnny tonight, so maybe you could do that again.”
I rubbed my face and avoided looking up at her. “I need to sleep before I can deal with all that. You should rest too.”
“I can’t I’m too excited. We should go out to celebrate. Want to hit a bar or something?”
“No! I just told you that I’m beat. I’m hitting the sack. You want to go out and party, I ain’t goin’ to stop you.” Her hyper mood was annoying.
“I’m too wired to stay in.” She started pacing around.
I plopped down on the bed and watched her lurking. “I know a way to tire you out.”
A shoe. She tossed a shoe at me. “Stop it with that mess. It’s not happening.”
I put a pillow over my head. “Goodnight then.”
I waited until she walked out of the room before calling my cousin. I didn’t want her hearing the two of us get into it, if it came to that.
It rang five times before the voicemail picked up. “Hey, it’s me. I just turned my phone back on. Call me.”
With no success and a day’s worth of driving and then everything else I was too tired to do anything else. Sleep came easy.
Shalan
I was in the big city, a place I’d only dreamed of visiting. It was bright and busy, just like I’d always pictured it to be. Cabs lined the road, which was strange in itself. We didn’t have cabs in my town, and the sound of car horns after midnight was astounding to me.
It was a shame that Noah was being such a party-pooper. Obviously he didn’t appreciate what being in New York City meant to me. Not to mention the fact that we’d nail ourselves a gig without even trying.
It amazed me how easily I’d agreed to do it, almost like my mother was pushing the decision because she knew I was too scared. At any rate I knew it was my only chance. I had one shot to make an impression and it had to be the best one I’d ever make.
I still couldn’t believe it.
One day ago I’d been living with my cheating-piece-of-shit boyfriend, believing every word that came out of his mouth. One day ago I’d met Noah, the handsome man who’d come in for a meal and gotten so much more. I didn’t mean to be such a burden on him. He hadn’t told me much about himself, but I knew he was running from his family for some reason, and I wish he knew me enough to tell me why.
It was just like a man to want to sleep with me without expecting to get to know me first. I often wondered if I had some invisible sign that only men could see, offering them a free piece of ass.
Then again, Noah seemed different. All sexual innuendos aside, he’d saved my ass more than once, and also paid for my meals, and had given me a place to sleep. I had to be grateful, even if he was trying to get into my pants. It didn’t hurt that he was so damn fine. I mean, the guy was all country, born and bred to wear dungarees and boots. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he didn’t own a cowboy hat.
Still, if that manager hadn’t pulled us aside I don’t know what would have happened. In that moment I wanted him. I wanted to know what it felt like to have his lips on mine, and his hand touching parts of me that I reserved only for very few people. The invite to sing had been a wake-up call for me. I needed to stay focused. Noah and I were still strangers. In a few days he’d move on, and I’d be left with my piss-poor excuse for a life. Singing anywhere in New York was an opportunity. It was probably going to be the only one I ever got, so I was determined to make sure it was perfect.
After walking for only five minutes I’d been approached for loose change twice. The further I got from the hotel, the more shady people seemed.
Most of the businesses were closed, since it was so late. The ones that were open were filled to capacity with drunk and obnoxious people.
Since I had less than ten bucks left from Noah’s tip, I didn’t have many options as to where to go. What sealed my decision to head back to the hotel was a guy running out of a building, followed by three cops with batons out. I looked around at all of the people around me and they seemed to not even be fazed. It scared the hell out of me, so much so that I turned right around and walked back to the hotel.
I found Noah sleeping soundly on the bed next to mine. He’d taken off his shirt, and even one glance made me feel hot and bothered. I couldn’t stop looking at his sculpted chest and wondering what it would be like to crawl on top of him and start something.
From his advances earlier, and the way he’d picked on me, I knew he’d go for it. It was my conscience keeping it from happening. Even though I’d never have to tell anyone that I’d hooked up with a stranger, I’d still know it happened, and it wasn’t something I thought I could live with.
Then I thought about that word – stranger. Was he a stranger, or a new friend that I happened to meet at one of the lowest points in my life? That question intrigued me. I was certain of one particular fact about it. If our circumstances were different I would have been doing anything to be with him. Pickings were slim in my town, and he was unlike any other man I’d ever laid eyes on.
When he opened his eyes it startled me. I turned away even though I knew he’d caught me. “You still up?” He stood and walked into the bathroom, not even closing the door when he started to urinate.
“I went out.” I started removing my shoes and watched as he walked back to the bed.
“Guess you didn’t get mugged. That’s always a good thing.”
Right in front of me, in between the two beds, he dropped his jeans. Standing there in only his boxers, he let me take him in before smiling and climbing back into bed.
“Yeah, it was pretty scary. I’m not used to it.”
“Well, if you get scared again, you can always climb in here with me.” He chuckled and roll
ed over, letting me know he was going back to sleep, even without giving me a second to reply.
I wasn’t sure if I hated when he was cocky, or loved it. The sweet side of me wanted to feel violated when he made those comments. The other wanted to crawl under those covers and make him forget about every other woman he’d ever been with.
“Goodnight, Noah. Thanks again for this.”
I tugged down my jeans, since his back was turned to me. We were both adults and he’d obviously seen a woman before. Being in my underwear was exactly like wearing a bathing suit. I had nothing to feel ashamed of.
Well, that’s how I felt before he turned around and got an eyeful. “I wasn’t kiddin’ about sharin’ a bed.”
I climbed into the cold bed next to his. “You and I both know what will happen if I get into that bed with you.”
He sat up, leaning on his elbow. “What’s that exactly?”
“Oh, you’re funny. Like you don’t know already. Do you really think I’d just throw caution to the wind and sleep with you after one day?”
“You almost did a few hours ago.”
He was right and I hated that he knew it. “I would have stopped you.”
“Darlin’, after one kiss you’d be beggin’ me for more.”
His huge ego annoyed me, but it also made me hot between my legs. I could close my eyes and picture him being between them, satisfying the growing craving I had for him. “Have I mentioned how much I hate cocky men?”
“Maybe you just hate cock. Are you into cleanin’ carpets? Is that how you roll?” He must have thought his comment was funny, because he rolled on his back and cackled at himself. “You like the taste of pussy?”
I pulled a pillow over my face and screamed into it. The bantering between us was making me crazy. I finally removed the pillow, put my hand on the lamp switch, and spoke. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I shut off the light and rolled over promising myself that I wouldn’t listen to anything else he had to say.
The room stayed quiet and I finally fell fast asleep.
Noah Page 10
