Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(40)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Shalan and I looked at one another, and I think we were both wondering the same thing. Was this really happening. Were we being approached by a record producer after two nights of filling in at a hotel lounge?

“Yes,” I answered, feeling protective of Shalan. The music business could be harsh and I felt a strong pull to protect her.

“We sing together, and are just friends, is what he means. We aren’t a couple.” It was a low blow to my ego and punch to my balls, but I understood why she’d said it. Shalan wanted to be able to have a future, with or without me. It was only natural for her to let them know that she had no ties to me, but for some reason it hurt hearing it.

The gentleman replied, “I think what my wife is trying to ask is if you’d be interested in coming in and letting us work with those voices. I can’t make any promises, but I’ve got some big clients that would love to have you on their team, even if things didn’t work out with the two of you together, which I’m pretty positive that I can make something happen.” They both had New York accents, wore lots of jewelry, and had styled their hair with a ton of hairspray. I wanted to laugh when I took in their fancy appearances, and then thought about what I wore to work everyday.

Shalan started jumping up and down, forgetting the dress that she’d pulled off wearing up until that moment. She put her hands over her mouth, as if she was at a loss for words, but then started speaking. “We’ll do it, won’t we, Noah?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I reckon we can check it out.” I grabbed her and started pulling her to the side. “Darlin’, can I talk to you for a minute?”

I motioned to the couple as I pulled Shalan away enough to talk without them hearing. “I know this is a big break for you, but I can’t commit to somethin’ like that, not when all hell is about to reign down on me at home. This could be the answer to all your prayers. If it’s legitimate, I think you should go for it without me. You and I both know you can sing your heart out whether I’m around or not. Go in there and sing them that song you wrote for your mom. They’ll have you on the radio before you know it.”

“Will you at least go with me? Come on, Noah. Say you will. Please.” She put her hands up like she was praying.

I kissed the top of her head, knowing that I wasn’t about to leave her side. “Yeah, I’ll be there, darlin’.”

She ran over and started talking to the couple again herself, setting up a good time to meet at their studio. While she was busy I turned on my phone and checked for a signal before dialing my cousin, Bella’s number. I’d tried to call her when I was out getting the dress and food for Shalan, but she still wasn’t answering. I got that she was mad at me, but she would usually send me a text letting me know I was an ass**le, and that we could talk once she was over it. This time felt different and I didn’t like it. When her voicemail answered I hung up without leaving a message.

That’s when I noticed I had missed text messages that were starting to come through.

Call me when you can. Dad said you talked today. I just want to know when you’ll be home. – Mom

I stopped by your house today, but you weren’t there. I miss you. We need to talk. – Perry

I heard you were in New York. Can you stop by Tiffany’s and get me this pair of sunglasses? I will pay you when you get home. – Addy (There was a picture attached)

I rolled my eyes and laughed, knowing how my sister was.

Noah, please call me. I have to tell you something. – Perry

Shalan had come up on me without me realizing. I quickly turned off my phone without replying to anyone and stuck it back in my pocket. The first thing I noticed was that the couple had already gone back inside, leaving the two of us alone in the alley. “So, what did they say?”

“They want us to come in at one tomorrow afternoon. I don’t know why you walked away. They were asking if you weren’t interested at all.”

One of the band guys opened the back door and peeked out. “It’s time to start again, you two.”

“Alright, we’re coming.”

Shalan shot me another look. “We’ll talk about this after the show.”

I grabbed her arm before she could go inside. “You and I both know I’ve got to go home, Shalan. I’m goin’ to be there for you tomorrow, but it will also be because I’m tellin’ them that I’m not interested. This is all for you, not me. This is your dream.”

She shoved me. “You say you want to find your own way, but you’re running right back home, Noah. I thought you were a brave man when I met you, but now all I see is a coward with a bunch of issues. Just go home to your family where you obviously belong. There’s nothing here for you anyway.”

That was a low blow. More than anything I wanted to make my own future. Now I had this chick, that not only drove me crazy, but seemed to know me better than I was able to know myself at the moment.

She left me outside for a few seconds alone, before I walked back in to join her. As much as I wanted to say she was wrong, I knew she wasn’t.

Noah

It would have been nice if my night turned out like the one before it, with Shalan in my bed and not a care in the world. The crowd may not have noticed it, but Shalan was rushing through her performance. Her excitement for the next day was quite apparent. After we were done, she hugged the band members for giving her the opportunity, even though she knew she’d see them again the next day. Surprisingly enough she waited for me to walk back up to our room.

I’d been so focused on the chance for her to be able to make her dream come true that I forgot to think about how f**king sexy she looked in her dress. It wasn’t until we were back in the elevator that I took in her slender, but yet curvy body. I clenched my jaw and remembered the way her skin felt to touch, and the way she tasted when I was between her legs.

Shalan checked her phone and looked up at me. “What’s wrong with you, tonight? You’ve been weird ever since we met that couple.”

I ran my hands through my hair and thought about what I should say to her. “You’re lucky. You don’t have nothin’ holdin’ you back, Shalan. I do. I can stand here and tell you that my family doesn’t matter, but it would be a lie.” The doors opened to our floor and we started walking toward the room. “I can go with you tomorrow, but there ain’t no way I’m puttin’ myself out there for somethin’ else.”