I attempt a chuckle and drop his hand.
His gaze flits to Mia. “Mia, right?”
She nods, her eyes wider than usual as she takes his hand.
“You were amazing out there,” Noah says, dripping with the sort of charm that’s gotten countless women into his bed—including the woman I was dating after I first signed with Fusion. She came to watch one night in the studio, and that’s where she met Noah. It took her a full two more days to cheat on me with him.
“Oh,” Mia says, looking away modestly, “thanks.”
I look at her, my nose wrinkling. Oh my gosh. She’s starstruck right now.
“No, I’m serious,” Noah says. “It’s not easy to hold down the fort by yourself, but you made it lookandsound easy.”
He’s still holding her hand. Can I punch him right now? What are assault laws like in Italy?
“Is this your first tour?” Noah asks her.
She clenches her teeth. “Is it that obvious?”
Whatis going on with her? Where’s the feisty Mia I know? Why do I get shoved in a pool while Noah gets blushes and eyelash flutters?
“Not at all,” he replies. “I’ddefinitelyhave heard of you if you weren’t new on the scene.” He glances at me, with that subtle glint in his eye that has my hands clenching, then looks back at Mia. “I’ll be going on tour myself pretty soon. We’re still in the planning stages, but are you booked up all year?”
Mia can’t even respond. She’s so surprised, and suddenly,I’m wondering if I can extend this tour another twelve months. We could do a U.S. leg. And an Antarctic leg. Space travel is making long strides, I hear. I wouldn’t say no to the moon as a concert venue. Might be hard to kiss the hiccups out of Mia in a space helmet, though.
“Are you serious?” she finally asks Noah. “That would be a dream come true. I’m ahugefan.”
“Likewise,” he replies, making me want to shove chopsticks in my ears. “Do you have your phone?”
Mia’s excitement flickers, and she looks at me. “It’s in the dressing room. Would you grab it for me?”
“No.”
Noah’s eyes snap to me, and Mia frowns.
“What I mean,” I say, “is that I have my phone right here.” I stride over to the bin with my stuff in it and grab my phone. “You can put your number in there, and I’ll make sure Mia gets it.”
Noah takes the phone from my hands. He puts his number in, and I’m already having an internal ethical debate over whether I can delete it in five minutes. Or provide it to every aggressive car warranty call center in existence.
“Thanks,” I say, taking it with a wide smile as a text comes in from Rose.
“What?” Mia asks.
I shake my head. “Rose is feeling better, but Kelly’s still sick.”
“I should go check on them.” Mia looks at Noah. “It was really good to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he says with a smolder that promises it won’t be the last time they talk.
I watch Mia hurry off, then glance at Noah, who’salsowatching her walk off. I hate it.
She turns a corner.
“Great team you’ve got,” Noah says.
I clench my teeth. “Thanks.”
He grasps my bare shoulder, squeezing extra hard. “Well, Sheppard. Be seeing you around.”
