Chapter Twenty-five
It’s way past midnight by the time I’m pulling into the underground parking lot beneath my apartment building. Sid stopped replying to my texts three hours ago, likely fallen asleep by now, and I can’t help but feel guilty for leaving her the way I did.
We got the breach sorted, but it took all afternoon and half the night to do it.
I am bone-tired.
My fucking fingers hurt from all the coding I had to do and all I want is to curl up with my girl.
Hitting the button on the elevator, the cart travels through the floors and stops on the very top, opening into my penthouse. The lamp in the living room is still on, the blanket left thrown across the cushions, but there’s no Sidney in sight.
Dropping my keys on the counter and toeing off my shoes, I head straight for the bedroom, finding her curled up on the bed, my pillow hugged close to her chest. She’s sound asleep, the lamp on my side left on.
Keeping my moves quiet, I get ready for bed and join her, removing the cushion from her grip so she can cuddle into me instead. She stirs only for a moment, mumbling incoherently in her sleep before she settles again, resting in the soft spot between my shoulder and neck.
Sleep finds me quickly, but when I wake up, Sidney isn’t beside me.
I bolt upright, panic setting in when I realize that side of the bed is cold, her phone gone from the bedside unit. “Sid?” I call, throwing back the covers. Only silence greets me in response.
I check the ensuite before I leave the bedroom, checking all the rooms, but she isn’t here.
A cold sweat breaks out on my skin, my stomach twisting until I see a note on the counter.
Gone to get coffee and breakfast.
Be back soon!
Love, Sid xo
Shaking my head, I let it hang between my shoulders, wondering where the fuck that panic just came from. The dread is still swirling when she returns, two coffees and a brown paper bag in tow. She sees me standing in front of her note and frowns, placing down the coffee and bag.
“What’s wrong?” Her head cocks.
Swallowing thickly, I push away that unease. “Nothing. It’s fine.”
“You look like you’re sweating.” She points out.
She stops in front of me and places her hand on my chest, so I seize the moment and kiss her, making sure none of this is a dream.
At the back of my head, I’ve had this dread since she brought up Isaac before our date.
It’s the feeling of knowing you’ve done something wrong, and you’re terrified you’re about to be caught out.
She melts into me before I pull away and kiss her forehead.
“Well, good morning to you too,” she smiles, reaching for one of the coffees to hand to me. “I can’t stay long; I have to collect my dress from the cleaners and then get ready for tonight. You’re picking me up at six, right?”
She plucks her coffee from the counter and then wanders to the couch, dropping down onto it before she turns to me and rests her chin on the back.
I nod, “Yeah, I’m driving though.”
“Okay,” she smiles. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Long night,” I rub the back of my neck. It’s not so much a lie, but it tastes sour, nonetheless.
She softens, “Did you fix it?”
“Yeah, we did,” I take a sip of my coffee and lean back on the counter, “Just a mess. I’m sorry I left you.”
She waves a hand and smiles, “Don’t be. I ate popcorn and watched a movie.”
I tug at the bow around my neck, even though it isn’t too tight.
After she left this morning, I toyed with the idea of just coming clean, so I don’t have to deal with this panic.
Telling myself it’s no big deal, that she’d probably just laugh it off and shake her head. Maybe she’ll only be a bit annoyed.
But then there’s the what if.
What if she leaves me?
What if she never talks to me again?
What if she would have chosen differently if she was given the option I took away from her?
Round and around I go.
Putting the car in park, I turn off the engine and climb out, looking up the building even though I know her window is on the other side.
Straightening the already straight lapels of my jacket, I push into the building and take the stairs up to her floor before I pull out the keys and let myself inside.
Music is playing loudly through her sound system, and a half-drunk glass of wine with a red lipstick stain is sitting on the counter, but I don’t see her.
Following the trail of destruction, clothes and shoes left lying on the floor, I find her applying more lipstick in the bathroom mirror, my breath halting in my throat when I catch the full picture of her.
Gold shimmers in the lighting of the bathroom, and her hair has been pinned up, showing off the delicate column of her throat.
The shock of red lipstick draws attention to her pouty lips, but the rest of her face is more of a natural look, with neutral tones around her eyes.
She catches my reflection in the mirror and smiles, not stopping with the application to her mouth until she’s happy with the coverage.
“Hey baby,” she says, and if my heart didn’t stop before, it does now with the use of that endearment and the soft way she spoke it.
“Hi cricket,” I croak before I clear my throat.
Dropping the lipstick into her purse, she clips it closed and turns to me, leaning her hip on the counter.
The gold dress, much like the red, clings to the shape of her, but it flows more freely around her legs with a small trail that drags behind her.
The neckline is high, collaring her throat, and the material shimmers like liquid gold.
The last time she wore it, every head turned her way, and there’s no doubt it will be the same this time.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be,” she closes the short distance between us, “I would kiss you, but I don’t want to get lipstick on your face.”
“Put a kiss right here,” I point to the space between the collar of my shirt and the lobe of my ear, “Anyone who sees it will know I’m yours.”
Her eyes flare for a moment, but then she lifts onto her toes and adjusts the fabric of my black shirt before I feel the press of her lips on my skin.
She’s firm and delicate all in the same breath, and when she pulls away, I look at my reflection, seeing the perfect imprint of her mouth left behind.
“Perfect,” she beams.
She slips her feet into her gold heels, and I keep a tight hold on her as we descend the stairs, heading for my car parked at the sidewalk.
Once I open her door, she slips into the passenger side and gets buckled up.
It’s a warm night thankfully, cloudless, and the stars are shining against the sea of black.
Summer is hanging on, keeping us locked in this little bubble of ours, though I can’t say I’m not looking forward to the snow and the cozy nights spent under blankets.
We drive across the city toward the Convention Center where the Gala is being held.
The attendance will be high, with it being a fundraiser for the local children’s hospital; every big name will be there.
I attend several of these a year with Sidney, so we both know what to expect.
Both our social batteries will be depleted by the time the night is over.
I join the queue of traffic toward the valet, looking over to Sidney who’s already wincing at the amount of people on the steps outside and the press with their cameras flashing, capturing every moment.
We make it to the front, and both get out when our doors are opened, and I hand the keys over, rounding the hood to where Sidney waits for me.
Cameras immediately flash; it doesn’t matter if they know who we are or not; every moment is an opportunity.
“Want to give them something to talk about?” I say low to Sid’s ear, offering her my hand.
“Go big or go home, right?” She laughs.
I take her hand in mine and lean toward her face, “Just a soft one. I don’t want to ruin your makeup.”
Her hand slides around the nape of my neck, and she reaches up, pressing her mouth to mine, keeping it chaste and closed lipped but it shows the point.
Cameras go off like crazy, capturing the moment, and I already know we will have a spread in the local paper.
My dating life is apparently a topic people find interesting around here, though I’ve no idea why.
She pulls away and immediately swipes her thumb over my bottom lip, removing any stain her makeup may have left behind.
Dragging my attention away from her, I begin to guide us toward the steps, but my eyes snag on a couple standing there, a frown pulling on my brows.
Lauren stands with Isaac Shaw, his hand on her waist while he talks with the local Chief of Police.
“Calahan,” Isaac greets me as we pass, finishing his conversation. “Sidney, good to see you again.”
Sid shuffles from foot to foot uncomfortably, offering only a smile in response.
“I believe you both know my date.”
But Lauren doesn’t answer; her eyes are on the red lipstick stain on my neck. I don’t give a shit that she’s here or with him, but I am confused since they’ve only met once at the office.
It’s not my business, and I intend to keep it that way, although it may be a conflict of interest since she works so closely with me and Isaac is a direct competitor.
“How does it feel to finally be public?” Isaac asks.
“It's been a long time coming,” I reply, pulling Sidney closer.
He grins, “Sure has. No one stood a chance, did they?” I can’t tell who he is asking, but Sidney is the one who replies.
“No.”
He chuckles, “Have a good evening.” He turns Lauren away and toward another couple, so we continue up the stairs and into the building, accepting the champagne as we enter.
“That doesn’t feel right,” Sidney shivers at my side.
“I’ll deal with it on Monday.”
Sid rolls her lips and looks away, but I don’t get a chance to ask her what’s going on when a loud, feminine voice calls her name.
We both whip our heads toward the sound, seeing a blonde in a flowing white dress rush toward us.
Behind her, a towering guy follows, hot on her heels with his eyes trained on the back of her head.
“Thea?!” Sidney’s shocked voice rushes out of her when Thea hugs her tightly, squeezing all the air out of her lungs.
“I am so happy you’re here. I don’t know anyone else!”
Thea looks at me, “You must be Noah. Hi! I’m Thea or Stella, whichever you prefer.”
“Stella’s a stage name, right?” I shake her hand.
“Right,” she nods as the guy who had been following stops behind her, standing at least a foot and a half above her. He’s huge.
I’ve had plenty of scraps in my life, from a kid to college and later in clubs and bars I went to with Sid and wouldn’t shy away from one now, but maybe I’d consider walking in the opposite direction if it came to this guy.
“Thea it is then,” I smile.
“This is Tripp,” she hikes her thumb over her shoulder, “He mostly communicates in grunts and growls, so don’t expect too much from him.”
Tripp rolls his eyes and offers his hand to shake. The grip is enough to confirm that I would definitely walk in the other direction.
“I didn’t realize you’d be here,” Sidney says as Thea links her arm with hers, pulling her out of my reach. I fall into step behind the two of them with Tripp beside me.
“Manager wanted me to attend since we were in the city. Since Isaac was here, I figured it wouldn’t be so bad, but he’s off schmoozing and Jared disappeared the moment we stepped inside, so I’ve just kind of been loitering.”
“Well, you have Tripp,” Sid says.
“Grunts and growls.” Thea looks back toward him, her eyes dipping down his body once before her cheeks turn a little red and she returns her attention to Sid, who laughs and pats her hand.
They head for the bar at the back of the venue, weaving through the crowd, but I get collared by an investor, stopping me in my tracks. Shit.
They speak at me, but my eyes are on the crowd where she disappeared, though I can’t see her anymore. I look for the big guy, but I don’t see him either.
She’s not alone, I tell myself. She’s safe.
I entertain the guy for ten or so minutes but excuse myself halfway through the conversation. When we first started coming to these things, we vowed to never leave the other alone for too long, knowing some people here aren’t the safest to be around. I’m not about to throw her to the sharks now.
I find Thea with Tripp standing close at the bar, probably too close for a bodyguard and charge, but I keep that to myself, though Sidney isn’t with them.
That dread is back. Swirling. A rope around my neck that’s tightening by the second.
Stopping beside them, Thea turns to me.
“Where is she?” I ask, tone slightly harsher than I intended.
“Restroom,” Thea replies, not picking up on it, but I know Tripp did by the scowl he’s throwing my way. “She’ll be back in a minute.”
I look toward the area where the bathrooms are as if she’ll appear any second now.
“Calm down, caveman,” Thea laughs, but no part of me is amused.
Something is wrong.
I feel it.
Sidney finally appears, and her eyes find mine from across the room, but there isn’t any warmth looking back at me.
It’s just pain.