Page 26 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Noah

Listen to Good Girl Era

by UPSAHL

“ N oah, I’m sorry. I can’t make it tonight.”

I gripped the phone. Daisy’s usually happy voice came out exhausted. “What happened? I thought you got coverage?”

“I did, but Lemony got some stomach bug going around and called out. Now, I have to work a double shift and we have a car accident coming in with casualties. I can’t talk—just wanted you to know.”

“I’m sorry, Dais. Everyone will miss you.”

“Me, too. Good luck to you and Elle—you’ll slay! Lov—bye.”

We clicked off and a deep unease stirred my gut.

This wasn’t the first time she’d almost slipped and tried to say I love you.

Each time we got closer, I did something deliberately to blow the moment, terrified once she said the words I’d feel pressured to return them.

I probably did love Daisy. All the signs were there.

But when I imagined myself saying it back, I went into panic mode.

Now, she wanted to move in together. I’d been able to push back on her question by citing my music, my schedule, and how I really wanted to focus on my career.

Daisy was sweet enough to tell me she understood, and that we’d talk about it when things calmed down.

Maybe after her graduation. Or next summer. I latched onto the excuse and agreed.

But the love thing wasn’t going away.

Cursing under my breath, I tried to clear my head.

Everyone was meeting at the club tonight to hear us perform except Coop and Daisy.

The irony of their absence was something I couldn’t dwell on.

It was bad enough after our last rehearsal, Elle and I had gotten dinner afterward, ending up staying too late talking and laughing, brainstorming and tweaking some lyrics, and enjoying each other’s company.

I should’ve been happy Elle felt the same way about catching feelings for each other, but instead, it made things worse. Much better for it to be only me pining in tortured silence. I convinced myself I could push through and get over my crush without hurting anyone.

But knowing she wanted me, too?

It was agony and fucking ecstasy. I was buzzed all day thinking about our time together, and waiting to see her again.

It was like my soul took a deep sigh when I was in her presence.

Watching her beautiful dark eyes light up when she caught sight of me made me weak with need. Things were getting uncomfortable.

I walked into the club early, planning to grab a bite to eat and feel out the vibes.

The place catered to a young, celebrity type crowd so I had to be sharp.

I’d gone over my mixes and playlist, allowing space for organic impulse depending on the mood tonight, but the big moment would be when Elle sang.

I loved Call It Fire and JJ thought it was going to blow up, especially after he listened to our revisions.

First, I needed to check in with the manager, get prepped, and settle in. I expected Elle closer to show-time.

The hours flew as I grabbed a burger and got pumped for my set. The crowd was already jacked up, dancing their asses off and partying hard. I knew it would only get better as the night fell. All the good stuff happened after midnight.

I had a small space in one of the back rooms to hang out. I opened the door, ready to hit the stage, and froze.

“Hi. Hope I’m not too late.”

I stared like a dumbass. My head felt like it’d been slammed with a brick and little birdies were circling around me. I tried to curb the hunger in my gaze, failing miserably at the sight of Elle standing in front of me.

God, she was gorgeous. Her long dark hair had been left loose but tiny braids fell around her temples, threaded with some sparkly ribbon thing that shimmered boldly.

Her barely-there leather skirt was paired with a ripped, casual crop top, sporting a ragged hem.

A short leather jacket and thigh high heeled boots in deep chocolate gave an edgy bad-girl effect.

She wore no jewelry and had gone minimal with makeup, leaving only cocoa lined full lips and a hint of brown shimmer on her cheekbones.

Elle was a male fantasy—the perfect good girl being bad—from her outfit to her face. Right now, her dark eyes were wide and wary, locking on mine as if she was about to bolt if I didn’t reassure her. I swallowed hard, trying to find spit so I could speak.

“Not late at all. Just going to start the set—you’ll come in at the beginning of the second if that works?”

She blinked. Nibbled at her lip. “Yeah. Sounds good. You good?”

“I’m great. We’re gonna kill it.”

Elle nodded. A flash of something that looked like disappointment lit her gaze but quickly disappeared. “Great. I’ll grab a table. I need a shot bad.” Her laugh sounded sick.

I told myself to walk past her and comfort her later, when the music and sweat and adrenalin released some of this pent-up sexual tension between us. Right now, I’d be a friend and supporter. I wouldn’t say anything that could be misinterpreted because Daisy and Coop weren’t here.

“See you out there.” Our shoulders brushed and I heard her breath catch and it was all over.

I stopped. Turned my head. Caught her scent of spice and musk; the exact scent that reminded me of sex. “Elle?”

Her voice was a wisp of sound. “Yeah?”

“You look gorgeous. There won’t be anyone out there who won’t want you when they hear you sing.”

I fell into those brown eyes like drowning, never wanting to surface. The pulsing chemistry seethed between us. If I could touch it, I swore I’d be electrocuted and die happy. My entire body throbbed with the need to touch her; kiss her.

Just once.

“You sure about that?”

Oh, hell, what were we doing? Her response didn’t sound practiced or flirty. It was filled with a primal need that demanded an answer. And I couldn’t hold back. Not with her.

“Yes. I’d have to be dead not to want you, Elle.”

I registered her shock, then pleasure. I ripped myself from her spell and left without another word.

I knew I’d crossed the line with my confession, and we hadn’t even performed.

As I made my way to the stage to begin playing the music that would give hundreds of people a safe outlet to escape their messy emotion, I swore I’d control the situation.

But I didn’t regret what I told her.

Headphones on, I stood on the upper glass deck hanging in the center of the dance floor and spoke into the mic.

“I’m DJ Noah. How are we doing tonight?”

The roar was enthusiastic. I lifted my hand. “Good. Then let’s fuck things up in here!”

A wave of noise rolled over me, through me, at the same time I hit the track.

Music screamed and mixed with the voice of the crowd and then I wasn’t in reality any longer.

I was part of something bigger—the place where sound took over and eased the ragged parts inside of me.

I was part of the sweating, writhing groups below and I’d never felt more alive.

The rest dropped away and I flew.

My set did its job for the latter half of the night. Space and air shrunk as people pressed in together, dancing and drinking and laughing. I guzzled water, hit the bathroom, and texted Elle.

Corner of the bar. Gabby and Max are here , she texted back.

I noticed a heart emoji from Daisy and a text that said: good luck, see you in the morning!

I quickly sent her a heart back and headed toward the bar.

Max and Gabby were hanging with Elle, and there was a row of empty shots on the bar amidst a bunch of bottles.

Oh, yeah, they were partying hard. I checked Elle to make sure she wasn’t drinking too much—I didn’t want her singing to be affected—but the wariness was gone and she seemed more confident and at ease.

“Hey!” I hugged Gabby and high fived Max, who handed me a seltzer. He knew I never drank during my sets. “Glad you guys made it!”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Gabby said, bumping Elle’s hip playfully. “Tonight’s a game changer for both of you.”

Max laughed. “Don’t freak them out. It’s their first song.”

I looked at Max, expecting a flare of jealousy from all the attention we were getting. He was still sensitive about Adam’s mega success. But he seemed genuinely amused, and not worried about our potential fame. Max was hard to read and I learned to tread carefully with his moods.

“Thanks for the confidence, but Max is right. We just want to have fun,” Elle cut in.

Gabby shrugged. “Okay, but I’m right. Look what happened with Adam after I filmed him.”

“Gabs, don’t do that,” Elle pleaded. “Seriously, I just want to sing the song without pressure. If I know you’re gonna post, I’ll mess up.”

“Elle!”

“I mean it, Gabs. Please.”

Gabby blew out a breath but finally nodded. “Fine. I’ll just be an observer.”

They killed some shots and fell into easy conversation.

I glanced back and forth between Max and Gabby, wondering what was going on.

I caught some serious vibes in the air when they looked at each other.

Were they sleeping together? With Max, I never knew.

I hoped Gabby was careful, especially still being friends with Landon.

But who was I to question if they were having fun?

As long as Gabby didn’t expect much from Max, hopefully she’d be okay. I made a note to ask Elle later if she knew anything.

“Time to go. Ready?” I asked Elle.

She gave a nervous laugh. “Let’s do this.”

Gabby shrieked and gave Elle a big hug. “You’re gonna kill it!”

We headed back to the stage. I checked in with the manager and prepped while Elle fiddled with the mic and took long, deep breaths.

Before I took my position, I caught her gaze and smiled.

My hands itched to touch her; pull her in close for comfort; press a kiss to those trembling lips and assure her she was about to be the star I always imagined.

But I couldn’t.

She smiled back. I had a few seconds of worry that she was about to get stage fright, or have her voice freeze, but I believed in her. So, I gave her the signal and began to speak.

“DJ Noah’s back, motherfuckers!”

The crowd roared.

“I’m kicking this off with a special surprise because I happen to love all of you, assholes.”

More screams.

“My partner Elle and I are releasing an album and this is the first song off the track. You’re the first ones to hear it, so count yourselves lucky. Hashtag—blessed.”

I nodded to Elle and she took center stage, the flashing lights bathing her body like a worshipping admirer.

Whistles and catcalls rose, and I played a few bars of music to tease them more.

Elle gave a husky laugh into her mic. “Glad to be here. Got a question for you. Has anyone here ever seen someone you really, really want to fuck?”

I jerked back in surprise, then grinned. Yeah, she was bringing it. The club loved it, and began shouting at her.

“You, baby!” someone screamed.

She laughed again, walking back and forth, shaking her braids. “Thanks,” she purred. “Well, this song is about all those dirty things you dream about doing to a person who doesn’t know. Call it WANT. Call it HUNGER.” She leaned forward as if telling everyone a secret. “Call it FIRE.”

I keyed in the music immediately, in tune to her every move even though we hadn’t planned it this way.

Elle began to sing, and I supported her with every lyric, building to a momentum, grinding out rhythm, then easing back so she could really let loose.

It was a natural high, reminding me of when I took Ecstasy and soared with all the hard edges blurring.

My dick got hard, sweat poured from my body, and I watched Elle come alive like I’d never seen her before.

No talk, just tension—skin on spark,

Pull me closer, light up the dark.

Call it fire, call it wrong ? —

Call it burning all night long.

Bodies talk, no need for names,

You and me, just play the flames.

Call it fire… yeah, call it mine

Boy, you walk in like a problem I want to solve,

Heat in your eyes, and I’m already involved.

Your hands say sin, your mouth says "come,"

Heartbeat's dirty and the night just begun.

She owned them. People danced and others filmed. For those precious moments, we were both in another dimension, part of something bigger and deeper than our daily lives. It was an addiction I always experienced when I spun tracks but with Elle singing beside me?

I was invincible.

When she finished, the place erupted. Elle laughed and blew kisses, then walked off the stage without saying a word.

I spun right into the next song and kept the vibe high so everyone didn’t crash, knowing I had to hold the momentum or I’d lose people too early. I focused on finishing the set, but all I could think about was Elle.