Chapter 27
Noah
Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, mingling with the pulsing lights of the stage as I found rhythm in every thump of the bass.
I had just taken the biggest leap of my life, and not just because I was up here dancing like an idiot for the woman I love.
But the words I'd said to Rosa, they were out there now, hanging between us like a dare.
I had declared my love publicly, not just to her, but to an entire room full of strangers who cheered on as if they were watching their favorite rom-com scene unfold in real time.
I mean, sure to the strangers it was a given that we were in love, since we were married and all. But between us? This was new information.
"Come on, Rosa! It's your turn!" Hazel shouted from the crowd, egging her on.
God bless that woman. Even when I’m the biggest fuck-up in existence, I can always count on her to have my back. Especially when she knew I had the best interest of her friend in mind.
With the spotlight heating my back, I watched, heart hammering, as Rosa’s best friend—my accomplice in this surprise—ushered her onto the stage.
There she was, looking every bit the star that stole the night sky, her dark eyes wide with a cocktail of shock and delight.
Her smile, hesitant at first, grew as the opening notes of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" crooned through the speakers.
A classic move, sure, but when you're grasping at something as slippery as love, sometimes you gotta throw it back to the '80s.
One of the dancers handed me a microphone and I pressed my mouth to it, starting to sing. Shockingly, my singing voice was more confident than I felt, as I locked eyes with Rosa. I’d been out of the musical theater game for years, even though it was how I got my start when I was younger.
Then, slowly, one by one, the other dancers started to join us on stage, singing. A chorus of off-key but enthusiastic singers, and I stepped closer, drawn by the magnetic pull of her gaze.
She buried her face in her hands, laughing and peeked at me through the cracks of her fingers.
Wrapping my hands around her waist, I lifted her so she could sit on the piano at the back of the stage and as soon as she was up there, the other dancers descended up on us, lowering to their knees in front of her as it coincided with the lyrics.
"Bring it home, man!" one of the male dancers hollered from behind me, and I couldn't help but grin, even as my palms started to sweat. There I was, channeling my inner Maverick, serenading the woman who I was hoping to be my Kelly McGillis… and not just as a PR stunt.
"We’ve got a love," I crooned, on cue, the room echoing each word.
But before I could finish the line, the male dancers lifted me up and placed me on the piano with Rosa, both of us laughing.
I offered her my hand, a silent invitation to join me in dancing while standing on the piano.
Rosa hesitated, a brief flicker of uncertainty crossing her stunning features before her hand slipped into mine, warm and tentative and she stood up with me on top of the piano, swaying carefully to the music.
Cheers erupted around us, a wave of encouragement that sent adrenaline pumping through my veins. Together, we swayed to the rhythm of the song, our movements awkward yet somehow fitting, a perfect match to the heart-skipping madness of this moment.
“We’re going to break this piano,” she said, laughing. “I don’t think it’s meant to bear the weight of two adults!”
“Fuck it,” I said. “What’s a grand piano even doing in a strip club?”
“They have dueling piano night every Tuesday.”
I pulled back to gape at her. “How the hell do you know that?”
“How the hell don’t you know that? This is your state, Tripp.”
I shook my head. “Believe it or not, I didn't exactly frequent the nudie bars when I lived here.”
“I don’t believe you,” Rosa laughed.
I clutched my heart, mocking pain. “Have you met my mother? She would have kicked my ass if she ever found me in a place like this!”
“And what about now?”
“Now I have you to whup my ass.” I teased in a whisper meant only for her ears, leaning close enough to see the flecks of gold in her eyes.
"Maybe," she whispered back, the corner of her mouth quirking up in a challenge. "I didn’t realize you were into that sort of kink, Noah Tripp.”
“When it comes to you, I’m into everything.”
“That’s a dangerous statement to make.”
“A little danger never scared me.”
Rosa's laughter was a melody that nearly matched the last note that hung in the air. I cut off her laugh, pressing my lips to hers, claiming her mouth, claiming her as mine in front of everyone.
Our lips met, and the world—its noise, its relentless pace—all of it just faded to a soft murmur in the background.
It was one of those kisses that said everything words couldn't. It spoke of shared dreams, whispered promises, and a future brimming with color and light.
Her lips were soft, certain, and when they parted from mine, I felt like I was gasping for air after being submerged in the most beautiful ocean.
"Wow," she breathed, her voice a tender echo of my pounding heart.
"I’m sorry about earlier today," I managed to say. “My costars, when they come around I just, I don’t know. I lose sight of what’s important.”
Her jaw ticked, the humor and happiness from before flicking away in a blink. “So what happens when we go back to reality and you’re around them all day, every day on set?”
I didn’t have an answer to that. “I don’t want to do this tv series forever.
Or even much longer. But I do love the world of acting.
And I want to do more film work. Be taken seriously.
I’m working on finding the balance, I swear to you.
But if my career costs me you, then I don’t know if I want it anymore. ”
A smile breaks through her frown and she rolls her eyes. “Well that’s a load of horseshit.”
“It’s not.” I squeezed her hand and brought it up to press against my heart. “I would give it all up to keep you.”
She searched my face, examining my expression for the truth in my words. “I don’t want you to give up acting. I just don’t want to be around that version of Noah. He’s kind of a douche.”
“Kind of? He’s the king of douches. I don’t want to be around him either.”
“Great,” she said. “So we both agree. Actor Noah is a douche. I guess I’m looking forward to seeing this Noah more often. Even when he’s around those guys.” She pressed her palm flat against my chest and my heart raced, thrumming, hitting her palm with each heavy pulse.
“So… we’re going to do this? You and me. For real.”
With a quick lick of her lips, she nodded. “Let’s do this.”
I kissed her again, hard, as more cheering erupted around us and we both laughed as a bunch of male strippers celebrated our love and helped us down from the piano.
As I helped Rosa down from the stage Morgan was there, two glasses of champagne in her outstretched hands. “Cheers, you two,” she said with a flick of her scarlet hair over her shoulder.
I narrowed my eyes at her. I didn’t trust her. Not for a second.
“Here,” she said again, thrusting the champagne flutes at us. “Toast. To a lifetime of happiness.”
Rosa looked at me, challenge arching in her dark eyebrows. It was already my first test to see if I fell back into the king of douches.
“Well?” Rosa said. “Are we drinking to a lifetime of love or not?”
I tapped the edge of my glass to hers. “I will always drink to a lifetime of loving you, Dr. Rosa Alvarez.”
Smiling, we both took a sip of our champagne.
“No, no,” Morgan said, tilting the edges of the glasses. “Drink up.”
I finished my champagne in a few swallows, but Rosa only took a couple of sips before she set it down on a passing tray.
Reality has this annoying habit of crashing the party. I glanced around; the crowd was still cheering, but my time was up.
West was leading Reid through the sea of people, with Hazel behind holding her husband’s hand. "Alright, lovebirds,” Reid said, bending to give Rosa a quick kiss to the cheek. “You both have nights of debauchery to finish.”
“Do we have to?” I groaned.
“Yes!” Hazel says, giving my shoulders a little push toward the door.
“My best friend only gets married once! And since we both eloped, we’re all going to do tonight right!
All of you, go look at some boobies and then you’ll realize how good you two have it with us. ” Hazel gave Reid a little shimmy.
I broke away from her to lean in to give Rosa another kiss. “I love you,” I whispered.
Her cheeks went pink as she smiled up at me. “Go,” she said, covering her smile. “Go enjoy the night.”
“Are you sure? Fuck all them. I don’t have to. I can go back to the hotel and watch a movie with West, Reid, and Birdie.”
She shook her head. “No. I feel better now. Besides, your mom was very excited to dog-sit Birdie tonight. We can’t take that from her.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “I love you, Noah.”
I grinned. “I love you, too.” I swallowed hard, my eyes searching hers. “I’m glad we’re doing this.” Then, leaning in, I whispered, “ Really doing this.”
“Me, too.”
Before we could say anything more, Hazel and Callie tugged Rosa away and West and Reid led me back upstairs.
The stairs seemed steeper going back up to the gentleman’s area of the club, each step heavier, each laugh from the room above grating against the memory of Rosa's smile.
As I emerged into the chaos of my own celebration, there was Morgan, already upstairs, leaning casually against the wall like some femme fatale out of a film noir.
"Noah, we need to talk," she said.
"About what?" I asked, stepping past her to make my way to the bar.
"Us," she insisted, her gaze piercing and determined.
“There is no us.”
"You can't be serious about marrying Rosa. Noah, this is crazy.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck where tension had decided to make its home.
With a glance back at West and Reid, I gestured for them to give us a moment.
With a nod, they shifted across the bar to place an order with the bartender as I turned back to Morgan.
"Can’t be serious? Morgan, It’s already done.
Whether you like it or not, I’m married?—"
"Think about it," she interrupted, stepping closer. "We'd be unstoppable together. Hollywood's it couple. We could have it all."
There was an earnestness to her plea that almost—almost—made me believe she actually cared about me.
But even if that were the case, it wouldn’t be enough to make me waver.
Rosa's kiss still lingered on my lips, a silent vow that anchored me. She loves me. And I love her. I wasn’t going to fuck that up. Not for anything.
"No,” I said firmly. “You and I are over. I choose Rosa. I will always choose Rosa.”
Morgan didn't flinch, didn't falter. Instead, she stood there, blocking my path to the bar to order another drink. "Choices can be changed, Noah," she countered, her phone already in her hand. Before I could protest, I felt my pocket buzz with the notification of an airdrop. "Just take a look."
I stared down at the pdf she just sent me and opened it to reveal a meticulously crafted five-year plan like some kind of twisted fairy tale roadmap.
It detailed a saga of public appearances, strategically timed dates, and headlines that would catapult Morgan and me to the zenith of Hollywood royalty.
And there at the end was a movie deal. An actual offer for a tumultuous film about the heartache of two rockstars that ends in an overdose.
My lips parted, jaw dropping as I read through the offer.
We’d start filming immediately. Then six months after filming, the timeline shows a public divorce with Rosa that would pin it all on her.
Staged infidelity. And there, at the climax—after all the created buzz public relations would fuel that mine and Morgan’s chemistry was off the charts, our whirlwind affair culminating would end with an engagement announcement at the Golden Globes, the crescendo to coincide with the buzz of our new movie.
My heart hammered at the thought; this movie deal was the opportunity I'd been sweating blood for. But I didn’t want it like this .
"Six months, Noah. Six months, and then you and I take center stage. Think about it—your name in lights, the roles you've always wanted," she pressed. “No more crappy teen dramas.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t real. There isn’t an actual movie offer on the table?—”
“There is,” Morgan said. “Call your agent. The offer came in right before your party. They want you and me… but only if we’re together.”
I stared at the phone screen, feeling a dangerous pull towards the glitz painted in pixels before me. The promise of what I'd worked for so long, dangled just within reach. But Rosa's laughter echoed in my mind, a soothing balm against the siren call of fame.
"There will be other offers," I muttered, locking my phone and shoving it back into my pocket. As painful as it was to turn down my first big movie role, nothing would be more painful than losing Rosa.
"Don’t make a decision now,” Morgan said. “Just think about it, Noah. Your future is one little divorce away," she whispered, her voice a velvet caress that somehow made the stale air of the seedy bar feel charged.
Reid appeared at my side, a reminder of where my loyalties lie. “Is everything okay over here?” he asked.
“Everything’s fine.” I answered tightly.
"Yep, everything’s just fine," Morgan conceded, a tight smile playing on her lips.
Morgan slid the drink she'd been holding into my hand, her touch lingering just a second too long.
"For the road," she said, her tone light but eyes sharp.
"And just remember. Offers like mine don't come around every day. "
"Thanks," I mumbled, more out of reflex than gratitude. The cold glass felt heavy, weighted with implications I couldn't afford to entertain. But despite the weight, I lifted the drink to my lips and took a long pull of bitter liquor.
As Reid clamped a hand on my shoulder, he and West steered me into the back room and the cheers and catcalls of my friends filled the space.
A dancer moved towards me, her smile practiced, her moves smooth as silk.
I tried to focus, to push away the fog of confusion and the unexpected weight of temptation Morgan had left me with.
But the room began to tilt, the edges blurring, and the faces of my friends started to merge with the pulsating lights.
I looked over my shoulder one last time, holding onto Reid and West, steadying myself on my best friends. But the last thing I saw was Morgan's smile, promising and dangerous, like the glint of a knife in the dark.