Private Show (The Private Series) (25 page)

By the time we land in New York City, I have officially joined the Mile High Club with Ben, which he admitted was another first for him as well. I love that I can give him a few firsts, considering he is giving me all of mine.

We check into our hotel and I of course want to go sightseeing. We only have tonight and all day tomorrow, and of course the Cilver show.

“So what would you like to do about dinner?” Ben asks as we leave our hotel room.

“Okay, this may sound weird, but can I surprise you?”

He looks confused. “I thought you have never been to New York?”

“I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know the address. And are you kidding! I have been studying the maps for years, because I have always wanted to come here.”

Ben holds the hotel door open. “Lead the way.”

“The Shake Shack?” Ben is stunned. “I would have thought that you would want to go to a nice sit-down dinner and not walk ten blocks to wait in line to get dinner. Not on your first night in the city.”

“I have been wanting to come here since I saw it in one of my favorite movies,
Something Borrowed
.”

He grabs my hand, “All right, lets hop in line before it gets any longer.”

We look at the menu. “Do you want to share fries?” Ben asks.

“Heck no! Get your own fries, Bond!”

He puts his hands up and laughs. “Okay, okay killer! Take it easy, I won’t touch your fries.”

When we sit to eat the sun has gone down quite a bit and the strung lights over the eating area are glowing. The air is crisp and cool, New York is definitely beautiful in the fall. I can’t even believe I am really here, and here with Ben. I am glad I brought my camera out with us, because I am about to become a full-on tourist.

It’s the night of the Cilver show and I am a bundle of nerves and excitement. When we arrive at Webster Hall, we flash our passes and breeze in.

“The dressing room is back here,” Ben says. “Let me introduce you to the band.”

“Do you know Cilver?” I ask, with a grin.

“No, not yet.”

We walk through the dressing room door which is open and that’s when Uliana jumps up and rushes me at the door and gives me a big hug. Ben looks like he is lost.

“Tess! It is so nice to finally see you again!”

“I know it has been too long! Almost over a year now, right?” I ask my Romanian friend. She is gorgeous, tall black hair and bright red lips. Her accent is adorable and I just love her.

Leon walks up to me and gives me a massive hug, “How are you doing, Tess? Want a coffee?” Leon knows me all too well, caffeine addiction and all.

“Maybe later Leon, I want to introduce you guys to your interviewer from
Tones
Magazine. Uliana and Leon, this is Ben Mitchell. Ben Uliana and Leon. Ben is also my boyfriend.”

They all shake hands and Uliana asks me, “So are you with the magazine now, Tess?”

“I am! I just started about a week ago and this is my second show.” I tell her.

“So how did you all meet?” Ben jumps in.

“A little over a year ago the group came to Seattle and me, being a fan already knew about them performing in town, so I followed them on Facebook and they were having a little contest and the winner gets the chance to interview the band. So of course I entered and I was the lucky winner. We all hung out for a bit and we stayed in touch.”

“Now back then we were known as Me Talk Pretty.” Uliana adds.

Ben nods, “I knew about you guys, but never had a chance to make it to a show. You are all amazing musicians.” The group thanks Ben. A man comes in the door and tells the band that they go on in five, so I take a few photos before the show.

The set is going amazing and their new material kicks ass. I am able to snap some killer shots and also step back a little to enjoy the show. When I decide to get an eagle-eye view and head up to the balcony, that’s when I can see Ben on the side stage reviewing the show. Normally on the floor I can’t see him, because of the equipment.

I am focusing on the center stage and I see a woman approach Ben. Then I see the woman put her hands around his neck and kiss his neck.

What the fuck?

I use my camera lens to get a better look at this woman and then my stomach sinks.

Nicole.

I feel my knees weaken my stomach curls. Her hands are all over him. At first they are around his neck, and then down his chest, his hips, then she reaches down with one hand to grab his ass and the other she gropes his crotch.

I can’t stop looking. It’s like watching a train wreck happen in front of my eyes. I feel my world fall apart. Just as I don’t think it can get any worse I see Ben grab her arm and lead her back stage.

I lean into the corner, vomiting my guts out. How? Why? I don’t get it.

Oh.

It comes back to me. That night I confronted Ben about the calls and texts on his phone. Nicole. The whole time it was her. I must have gotten too hammered on the wine that night, because I didn’t remember the confrontation. But now…

I can’t do this. I can’t stay around. I can’t see them together and I don’t want to see them after they have hooked up, that’s for sure. I head out of the balcony area and head for the back exit stairs. Fuck! I need my bag. It has my wallet.

Then it hits me, when I was on my way over to his place after work and I saw his car in a drive way… it was probably hers!

Fuckity fuck fuck shit!

I make my way to the backstage area, by holding up my press badge and peeking around every corner and doorway. The last thing I need is to see Ben with her. All I can see in my head is her on her knees blowing him and begging him to come back.

I swallow down bile.

I try to blend into the crowd as I rush to Uliana’s dressing room to fetch my bag. Thank god for my friend letting me stash my gear in her room. I swiftly turn into her room and close the door behind me. I am greeted by Uli’s little dog Sage, and bend to pet and show her some love. Maybe it’s the affection I need from her instead.

“Can you believe this, Sage? He takes her back here somewhere to do God knows what? And to forget about me out there.” I sit on a small chair and hold the little cutie. She curls up in my lap and I can’t help but let her.

I hear the roar of the crowd, which must mean the show, is over and any minute the band will be coming back here. I can’t see anyone right now. But at the same time I don’t want to leave this peaceful moment.

I know as soon as I walk out of that door, things are going to change.

I take a taxi right back to the hotel to grab my stuff. When I walk in I just throw it all back into my suitcase, thankful that I am not like most girls that I know, because I packed very little.

I need to get out of here before Ben shows up. He has been trying to call me and text. I don’t want to talk to him, I just need space. I need to get out of this city right now. I have a credit card for emergencies and I have never had to really use it, but I think tonight counts as an emotional emergency.

I fly outside and hail another taxi, and tell him to take me to JFK airport.

I was able to get the next flight out to Seattle, but I am stuck here for a couple of hours. I decide to hit up the airport bar. I need something to hit me hard and fast; a shot it is. I throw it back and order another. After the second shot I am warm in my seat and decide that since I am in a public place I should stop there, but at least it took the edge off.

I head to my gate and pop in my headphones, thankful that I have a book in my bag with me. I could use some Kellan Kyle right now. Two play lists and a few chapters later I am being called for my flight.

As I settle into my seat, I reach for my phone to turn it off. When I do I see that I have twenty-eight missed calls and seventeen texts… all from Ben. I open one out of curiosity and because of my vodka buzz from the shots.

Where are you? I am fucking losing my mind! Tess!

And another:

You are scaring me Tess. Where are you? I don’t know if you’re dead in a back alley somewhere. Oh my god Tess! Please call me if you are ok!

I power it off and drop it into my bag.

As soon as I land, I call Erin to come pick me up.

“Where is Ben?” she asks.

“With Nicole still, I assume.” I know I have a dead look on my face right now. Hell, I am probably in a state of shock. All I know is that I need my best friend to get me drunk.

Her eyes bug out. “What do you mean with Nicole? His ex-fiancé?”

I nod.

She grabs one of my bags and leads me to her car. “Tell me everything.” I tell her.

“You sound too calm right now, are you okay?”

We are sitting in her car, which is freezing, because it’s the middle of November and all I can seem to focus on is the sound of her heater roaring to push the heat in the sporty BMW.

“Tess!”

“What?”

“God, let’s get you home.”

Back at my place, Erin pours me a big glass of wine and I change into my pajamas. Grabbing my pillow and blanket from my bed, I curl up on my couch while Erin throws in
The Breakfast Club
.