Temptation

Before we even reached the limo, I was crashing hard. My concentration slipped in and out, and I fought to keep my eyes open. I’d developed a talent for not passing out when I wanted to, but whatever conversation Ariel had planned, I was already half a step behind.

I slid into the back seat, taking the spot by the driver’s side door. Ariel followed, sitting directly across from me. Her manager took the seat at her left, silent, but watching.

“Wes, how was your homecoming show?” she asked once the door shut.

“It was fine, nothing too crazy.” My voice came out flatter than I meant.

She let the pause linger. “For nothing too crazy, it was nothing like New York. To be fair, none of your shows have been consistent this tour. Not that I mind.”

I couldn’t read her expression; half-amused, half-suspicious.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Just experimenting. Trying to figure out the right way to play the material.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I noticed you’ve been on some uppers lately.”

My stomach knotted. Bait.

“It’s helped you be more entertaining, so thanks for that,” she added with a faint smile. “But you could’ve come to my team instead of R&R if you needed something. Feels a little… impersonal.”

Was that a warning? Or a flirt? I couldn’t tell.

“Sorry,” I said, softer than I meant. “I’m still new to this side of the world.”

She let silence hang between us before brushing it aside. “It’s alright. What’s your plan for the rest of the night?”

“Sleep, if I’m lucky.” I swallowed. “But if there’s a way to make amends, I’d change that plan.”

Even as I said it, I knew I wasn’t steering the words anymore.

“Well,” Ariel said, her voice low, “I’m tired of spending every night by myself. I could use some company.”

Her eyes held mine just long enough for me to forget the manager was still sitting beside her.

***

Arriving at the hotel, her manager and security steered us through a throng of fans.

I hated how it looked; like some post-show fling between Ariel Sanchez and her too-young opener. Phones were already up, ready to turn this into Instagram gossip. Seven years younger. Grooming lingered unspoken in the air.

Ariel didn’t flinch. She smirked at them, daring the tabloids to do their worst. She was hardened by a decade in the spotlight. I wasn’t. My head stayed high, but my eyes darted toward the floor, toward security. I didn’t deserve to drag her reputation down. There was no universe where the world’s biggest pop star was dating me.

Near the elevators, she tugged the hem of my shirt, subtle, a signal we were almost clear.

Inside, the silence was jarring. My reflection in the mirrored walls was pale, sweat streaking my temple.

“First time in a crowd like that?” she jabbed.

“No. Just… not a situation I wanted,” I exhaled.

The ride to the sixteenth floor was short. Two guards trailed us to her suite, then peeled off.

“What rattled you so much?” she asked as the door closed.

“The gap in how we’re seen,” I muttered. “I felt like I made you look less… impressive.”

Her brow arched. “You almost passed out because it embarrassed you to be seen with me?”

I stared at the carpet. “Yeah. You’ve released five multi-platinum albums since you were sixteen. Your life’s under constant scrutiny. And I’m just some kid from Massachusetts who writes emo pop rock. What good can come of that?”

She laughed, light and dismissive. “None of that matters. People say what they want, but it’s noise. This isn’t a scandal. It’s not illegal, not unethical. Just another headline that makes us both more famous.” Her smile was sharp. “You know you’ve made it when people post pictures of you walking back from a show with your tour opener.”

At some point, she let her hair down. When I looked up, she was standing over me. Almost six feet tall, her presence filled the room.

“I’m going to take a shower. I really hope you’re still here when I get out.” Her voice was confident, taunting.

I forced a smile. “I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

The bathroom door closed. Water roared.

I checked my phone. Three hundred notifications. Instagram was already plastered with shots of us together. I didn’t read the captions.

Courtney had sent a flood of texts, including one accusing me of cheating on Skye. I ignored it. Skye was my world. I needed to hear her voice. So, I called her.

She answered groggily. “Hey, Wes. What’s up?”

“Not much. Just wanted to check in. How are you?”

“I’m okay. Finishing up at the apartment. I saw you and Ariel are trending.”

“Yeah.”

“Is she with you?”

“She’s in the shower.”

“Too bad. I was going to thank her for looking out for you.”

That was… not what I expected.

“I’ll pass it along,” I managed.

“No, I’ll tell her when I see you next week.” She paused. “You thought I was going to yell at you, didn’t you?”

“Maybe.” I laughed nervously.

“Wes, she’s not your type. And it’s obvious you’re not hers either.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“You’re welcome. It’s nice to hear your voice. I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“I should go before I fall asleep on the phone. I love you, goodnight.”

“I love you too, Skye. Goodnight.”

After we hung up, the only sound in the room was the shower.
What was I doing?

A couple minutes later, Ariel emerged wrapped in a towel. I prayed she was wearing something underneath.

“I heard you talking. Was that your girlfriend?” she asked casually.

“Yeah. I just wanted to hear her voice.”

“…and clear up whatever’s trending online?”

“Didn’t have to. She’s sharper than most.”

Ariel laughed. “My friend Erika said the same. They were in the studio together last week. I got a barrage of questions about you.”

I groaned. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. Erika just wanted to know what kind of man Skye’s in love with. She made an impression.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “Yeah, Skye’s a natural disaster in human form.” My throat caught, emotions flooding too fast to finish.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you genuinely happy,” Ariel cut in. “She really must be special.”

Then she dropped the towel. Beneath was a crop top and underwear that barely counted as coverage.

“Yeah,” I said, eyes fixed elsewhere. “She and I are… one of one. I couldn’t be with anyone else.”

Irritation flashed in her voice. “I give you a view men would pay millions for, and you’re still talking about her?”

“Yeah.”

Silence. Heavy, uncomfortable.

“Ariel, you’re stunning. But I wasn’t exaggerating. What Skye and I have, it’s not replaceable.”

She lay down, pulling the sheet over herself, still facing me. “Maybe it’s for the best. I wasn’t sure what I wanted tonight.” Her voice wavered. I couldn’t tell if she was lying.

“I’m sorry the decision wasn’t yours to make.”

She shook her head. “Why apologize? If anything, thank you. Otherwise, the next eight weeks would’ve been awkward.”

I studied the carpet. “How do I get to your level of toughness?”

She hesitated, then sighed. “Experience. Age. I wasn’t this strong as a teenager. Back then, if a guy like you turned me down, I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer.” She caught herself. “Now? It’s whatever.”

Her answer barely scratched the surface, but it was all she gave.

“Is your relationship really that strong?” she pressed.

“It’s not about strength. We’re both damaged goods, but we fit. I trust her with my life. That’s the core of it.”

Ariel studied me for a beat, unreadable. “I don’t get it. But I guess I’ll see when she joins the tour.”

I nodded, but my focus was already slipping. I was disassociating. At some point I passed out on the couch.