Starbright

by Richland, Alexandra

  The ballroom was adorned with standard New Year’s decorations, such as festive banners, ribbons, and streamers. A quartet played a pleasant tune in the corner, and waiters walked around with trays of hors d’oeuvres and champagne. Party favors were also provided.

  Upon their reunion, Matthew kissed Connie like they had been separated for years, and a crowd of well-wishers quickly surrounded them. Beth, Aidan, Nathan, and Olivia parted with the couple on the promise of meeting up with them again later that night.

  Beth watched with envy as Nathan put his arm around Olivia while they spoke with a famous actor and his wife, who were equally affectionate with each other. It seemed like everyone at the party was paired off except her and Aidan.

  With his hands unfairly planted in his pockets, Aidan leaned into her ear. “Would you like anything to drink, baby?”

  Beth’s irritation melted under his warm gaze. “Champagne, please.”

  A party guest brushed past her and she stumbled, finding it difficult to maintain her balance. A flush stole across her cheeks as Aidan grabbed her upper arm and stepped against her, using his strong body to steady her.

  He regarded her with concern. “Maybe water is a better idea. I think they have some at the bar.”

  “You better let go of me.” Beth giggled, unable to help herself. “We wouldn’t want to give people the wrong idea.”

  The corners of Aidan’s mouth turned downward. He removed his hand from her arm and slipped it back in his pocket. “I’ll get some water, too. That way we can toast at midnight.”

  Beth’s gaiety took a nosedive.

  “It’s the least we can do,” she muttered.

  Aidan brushed his hand against hers, his gaze a tragic mix of compassion and sorrow. “Hey, I don’t like this any more than you do, you know.”

  Beth’s expression sobered. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  His face softened. “I’ll be right back, okay? Stay close to Nate and Olivia ’til I return.”

  Beth glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. Only seven minutes remained until midnight. She thought about suggesting they return to their suite and ring in the New Year with a proper kiss, but it would be rude to leave their friends.

  The nod she gave him made her head spin unpleasantly. “All right. See you in a few minutes.”

  “You can count on it.” With a dazzling grin, Aidan left for the bar.

  Beth was alone for only a moment before Jack approached.

  “Did you enjoy Matthew’s show? That was some proposal, huh? Constance must be over the moon.”

  Beth touched her angel pendent, fighting against the temptation to watch Aidan from afar. “Yes, it was wonderful.”

  “What are you doing standing all by yourself?”

  The champagne gave her the courage to admit the truth. “I’m not completely alone. I was talking to Aidan Evans prior to your arrival.”

  “It’s too bad you got stuck with him because you’re the only two single people in your group.” Jack crinkled his nose. “I’m still surprised Matthew and Nathan like the guy.”

  Despite her efforts, Beth’s gaze floated to the bar, where Aidan stood in queue.

  “He’s not so bad,” she said quietly.

  “Ryan and I tried to give you break by sitting between the two of you before the concert.”

  Beth frowned at the memory. She decided to change the subject before she said something she shouldn’t. “Where is Ryan, anyway?”

  “Restroom.” Jack perused the crowd. “I hope he gets back before midnight.”

  Beth offered a tiny smile. “It’s nice you two came together. Just because you don’t have dates doesn’t mean you need to be alone on New Year’s Eve.”

  A blush tinted Jack’s cheeks. “That’s what we thought, too.”

  Beth peeked at the clock and then focused back on the bar. Aidan was no longer in line. She scanned the ballroom. He moved through the crowd in her direction. His hands were empty. She didn’t mind there wasn’t time for him to get their drinks. In fact, her snarky comments to him earlier about their unjust situation now seemed petty. She would be happy as long as she was in his company at midnight.

  The emcee tapped on his microphone, earning the guests’ attention. He stood at a podium situated near the door.

  “Ladies and gentleman, let the countdown to 1954 commence… ten!”

  Beth anxiously sought out Aidan again and found him fighting his way toward her.

  “Nine!” the crowd hollered.

  Jack’s expression brightened as he waved to someone over the crowd.

  “Eight!”

  Jack placed his hand to Beth’s shoulder. “Ryan’s back. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Seven!”

  Beth gave a distracted nod. Jack was already gone.

  “Six!”

  Desperate for a reunion with her beau, she left her manners behind and pushed her way through the excited crowd, clutching her purse to her body.

  “Five!”

  Beth halted in her tracks as Lydia moved in front of Aidan and said something to him that made him shake his head and grin. He sidestepped her, but she blocked his way again.

  “Four!”

  The rowdy crowd jostled Beth to her senses. With renewed determination, she continued her frenzied trek in Aidan’s direction, despite her wobbly gait and spinning head.

  “Three!”

  Lydia grabbed Aidan’s arm and offered a sultry smile.

  “Two!”

  With a heavy heart, Beth accepted that the distance between them was too far to cross in the time they had left.

  “One!”

  Lydia yanked on Aidan’s tie and brought their lips together.

  “Happy New Year!”

  Beth covered her mouth and turned away. Confetti rained down from the ceiling. Music blared, people sang loudly, and party favors sounded off in her ear. Her stomach heaved as if she had ingested poison.

  As Beth rushed through the merry crowd, she struggled to make sense of what she had witnessed. Brushing the confetti from her face, she resigned to the dreadful reality that she was starting off 1954 completely alone.

  Beth ran until she got to a set of double doors and shoved them open. They guarded another ballroom, but this one was vacant of people and furniture. Upon her entry, a dam inside her broke, flooding her with a tsunami of emotions. She dropped her purse to the floor and doubled over, clutching her stomach.

  Jack rushed into the room. “Beth, what’s wrong?”

  Sobs ripped from her throat instead of a coherent response.

  “Hey, relax.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay.” She choked on another sob. “In fact, it couldn’t be worse!”

  Concern cloaked Jack’s face. “I don’t understand. What happened? All I saw was you running off after the countdown.”

  “Oh, Jack!” Beth wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest, wishing she were in Aidan’s arms instead. The thought only made her cry harder.

  Jack didn’t return her embrace.

  “Listen, Beth…” He sighed.

  She pulled back from him. “What is it?”

  He winced. “I know we grew close during the Venus Rising shoot, but I think I may have given you the wrong impression…”

  Beth’s eyebrows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Look, it’s not something I typically broadcast, but in this particular case… you’re my friend… I trust you…” He exhaled a deep breath. “Beth, I’m gay.”

  She sniffled. “Well, of course you are, Jack. It’s New Year’s. I would be happy, too, if it wasn’t for—” The vision of Lydia throwing herself at Aidan exploded in her brain like a land mine. The detonation was so great it blasted through her numbness. More crying ensued.

  Jack shook his head. “When I say gay, I don’t mean happy…”

  The noise from the party escalated as Ryan entered the
room. He closed the doors and hurried over to them, placing his hand to Jack’s back. “What on earth is going on?”

  Recognizing the affectionate way they stood together, Beth now understood what Jack meant by gay.

  Ryan surveyed her frazzled appearance. “What happened?”

  Beth submerged into a cold river of grief at the memory of Lydia and Aidan kissing at midnight. Her hands flew to her face and she hunched over, sobbing loudly.

  Strong arms wrapped around her. They belonged to Jack. “Beth, I’m so sorry. I think you’re a great girl and everything… I didn’t mean to lead you on.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Beth looked up at him tearfully. “I don’t like you any more than a friend—I never have—and I have absolutely no problem with the fact you’re with Ryan. It’s… it’s…”

  Jack pulled her in for a hug.

  “It’s okay,” he said, stroking her hair. “We’ll talk when you’re ready.”

  Beth’s tears soaked his suit jacket as she let out all the hurt, rejection, and shock that had accumulated over the last several hours since her argument with Aidan in their suite. Ryan patted her shoulder, lending support as well, but nothing brought her solace.

  A loud bang made her jump. Her eyes flew open and she turned toward the door, her bearings unsteady from her exhaustive crying bouts and the champagne she drank earlier.

  Aidan stormed toward her, his hair and suit jacket speckled with confetti.

  Jack tightened his arms around her protectively. “Everything’s fine. There’s nothing to see here.”

  Aidan’s eyes softened as he focused on Beth. His lips looked red and puffy. With a violent sob, Beth buried her face in Jack’s chest, fighting the urge to run out of the room. Given her emotional and physical instability, she didn’t trust herself to make a successful departure.

  “Beth, look at me.” A tremor was evident in Aidan’s plea. “I’ve been searching all over for you. You have no idea—”

  “Seriously, get out of here,” Jack said. “She’ll be fine. I’m handling this.”

  “How about you get your hands off my fucking girl? This doesn’t concern you.”

  Jack went rigid. “Your girl?”

  “No way,” Ryan murmured.

  “Let go of her, or I’ll haul you away from her myself.” Aidan growled more than spoke his threat. “You’re lucky I’m even giving you a choice.”

  Jack released Beth immediately and took a good couple of steps back. She wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to keep it together.

  Aidan rushed toward her, his complexion stark white, as if he wore stage makeup. “Baby, please let me explain.” He extended his hand. “Come with me back to our room.”

  Beth’s love for him encouraged her to accept his offer. The alcohol gave her the courage to stand her ground.

  “Leave me alone.”

  “Beth, you’re romantically involved with this guy?” Jack’s pupils dilated with revulsion.

  “Yeah, that’s right.” Aidan tossed a glare over his shoulder. “Now, why don’t you and Sawyer get the hell out of here?”

  Jack gave him a matching look of disdain. “I’m not leaving her with you. I don’t know what you did to her, but—”

  Aidan marched up to Jack, his hands balled into fists, his green eyes dark and vicious. Ryan took an aggressive stance beside his beau. Aidan was muscular from boxing and slightly taller than both men, but Jack and Ryan were stockier from years of dancing. None of them looked the least bit intimidated.

  “You’re Beth’s friend, so I’m gonna try not to clock you,” Aidan said. “But if you ever insinuate again that I don’t treat my girl right, I won’t be so lenient next time.”

  “Your girl, huh?” Jack rolled his eyes. “So, what, she’s your property? Like a house or a car?”

  Aidan drew himself up to full height, his body taut and wound like a spring. “I already told you, this doesn’t concern you.”

  “Like hell it doesn’t. I’m trying to make her feel better while you’re only making her feel worse.”

  “Please, stop it!” Beth hastily wiped away her tears. “Both of you!”

  Aidan turned to her, but Jack grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from taking a step. He let out a curse and swung around, his fist flying toward Jack’s face.

  Beth screamed. “Aidan, don’t!”

  Aidan dropped his arm so fast it was as though she had jumped in front of Jack to take the hit instead. But the rage in his eyes was inexorable. “You touch me again, Peters, and you’re on the fucking floor, got it?”

  Jack squared his shoulders. “You know, you make a lot of threats, but you’re not too good at following through on them.”

  Beth sniffled. “Please, Jack, don’t bait him.”

  Jack regarded her in disbelief. “How can you put up with this guy?”

  Her tears began again. “Please.”

  Jack and Ryan exchanged glances and retreated a few steps from Aidan.

  “Fine.” Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “But we’re staying here. There’s no way we’re leaving you alone with him.”

  Aidan turned to Beth again, all signs of aggression gone. “Baby, I know what it looked like—”

  She put up her hand to stop him.

  “I want you to leave.” The words were said in a heartbreaking whisper, as if her voice refused to go along with what her anger and distress influenced her to command.

  “Lydia and I—”

  “Stop!”

  Aidan grimaced. “Please, I’ll do anything you want. Just don’t ask me to leave.”

  Her chin quivered with the arrival of more tears. “I don’t want you here.”

  “Baby, you gotta let me explain.”

  Beth closed her eyes for a moment and said a prayer for an emotion, any emotion, other than the urge to run into his arms and forgive him. “I also don’t want to hear your explanation.”

  “Beth, I love you, only you.”

  Jack and Ryan gasped.

  “Lydia came at me. She was drunk… she caught me off guard.”

  Beth scoffed. “So you can stand up to Jack and Ryan, but not a petite female dancer?”

  Aidan bowed his head. Confetti floated from his hair to the floor. “I’m telling the truth. I swear.”

  “You know, I bet Mr. Mertz would love it if you two were an item! Just think—you wouldn’t have to hide your relationship. You could announce your love to the world and shower Lydia with as much affection as you wish in public.”

  “What are you talking about?” Aidan’s features coiled with bewilderment. “I despise Lydia. How could you ever think—?”

  “I bet you’d let her do whatever she wanted to do to you… that type of woman.”

  Aidan stared at her as if she was speaking a foreign language.

  “Oh, poor little innocent Beth. Let’s not corrupt her.” She regarded him scornfully. “I bet you’d let Lydia pleasure you orally, wouldn’t you?”

  Ryan and Jack gaped at her. Normally, she wouldn’t speak such vulgar comments, especially in the company of friends, but she felt furious and oddly intrepid.

  Aidan raked his hand through his hair. “Christ, Beth, is that what this is all about?”

  “Answer me.” Her voice cracked.

  “Look, you’ve had a few glasses of champagne—”

  “Don’t discount my words because you think I’ve had too much to drink!” Beth pointed at him and stumbled to the side. He reached out to steady her, but she regained her footing on her own and glared at him. He took the hint and pulled away.

  She placed her hand to her throbbing head, hoping to resume her train of thought, refusing to admit that maybe, just maybe, she was a bit tipsy. “I saw you smiling at her.”

  “Smiling!” Aidan threw his hands up in the air. “She was rambling nonsense. I was laughing at her, not smiling.”

  “Well, she was still able to snare you in her web of seduction.”

  Aidan rubbed his eyes, his e
xpression radiating exhaustion and loss. “Beth, please stop this.”

  “Why are your rules for intimacy different with me than the women from your past?”

  He shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “You put all these restrictions on our physical relationship because you want to keep me in a bubble, but it makes me feel like I’m not good enough. You wouldn’t put those same restrictions on a more experienced woman like Lydia. I know it!”

  The creases in Aidan’s forehead deepened. “Beth, explain to me exactly what you’re upset about so I can make it right. You’re jumping all over the place.”

  She narrowed her eyes accusingly. “Are you attracted to Lydia?”

  “What? No!”

  “Is she the type of woman you want instead of someone like me?” Fear escorted the question from her lips.

  Aidan sighed. “How could you ever think that?”

  Beth looked away and didn’t answer. Jack and Ryan exchanged uncomfortable glances. They probably regretted not leaving when they had the chance.

  Aidan brought his hand to her cheek. Despite her devastation, she didn’t pull away.

  “I’m not sure what you think happened out there between me and Lydia,” he said gently. “But I swear all I could think about was getting back to you in time for midnight. She caught me by surprise, that’s all. Trust me, the kiss—if you can even call it that because I didn’t reciprocate—wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I pushed her away immediately.”

  Beth closed her eyes, basking in his tender touch. She wanted to commit the remarkable feeling to memory because what she was about to do pretty much ensured it wouldn’t happen again any time soon, if ever.

  She curled her fingers around his and pried his hand from her cheek. Her expression must have said it all because Aidan’s face warped with panic.

  “Beth, please don’t do this. I love you.”

  Her tears came hard and fast. “I need you to go.”

  “Beth, don’t do this. Please don’t do this.” With heart-wrenching swiftness, Aidan sank to his knees before her, his head down and palms to his thighs.

  “Jesus,” Jack murmured alongside a wide-eyed Ryan.