Chapter 16
Nina
“Though I know you’re the kind of boy, who only wants to run around, I’ll keep waiting, and, someday darling you’ll come to me when you want to settle down, Oh! One fine day, You’re gonna want me for your girl…” I had my eyes closed as I sang the song. We did the Natalie Merchant version of the song because of how soft and slow it sounded. Perfect for dancing and swaying gently to the lyrics.
A couple of hours’ singing was complete, and in front of the stage, when I opened my eyes, I saw several couples already on the dance floor. They were dancing to the song, in each others arms, with their foreheads knocked together, smiling and looking into each others eyes as my voice filled the room.
As I ended the song, I realized that I had goosebumps on my arms and at the back of my neck. I couldn’t sing this song anymore, without thinking about Cole and how foolish I’d been.
I placed the mic back into the stand and stepped away from it, taking in a deep breath as the lights in the club were brightened again. The night was dwindling to a close. Our sets were over, and it was time for me to make use of the open bar again. I couldn’t get through a night of singing these days without having a few drinks. That was the only way I could sleep anymore.
“Hey, Nina. Mr Emery wants to congratulate you personally,” I heard Jake say behind me, while he was bent towards the floor, packing up his guitar and things.
“What?” I whipped around to look at him, convinced that I’d heard him wrong.
“What?” Jake asked, looking up at me with his brows crossed and confused.
“You said someone wants to congratulate me?” I asked him, holding my hand to my heart. I was afraid now that I was going crazy. That I was hearing things.
“Yeah. Mr Emery. The guy who booked us for the event,” he said, straightening up. My mouth fell open and my nostrils were flared in fright.
“Cole Emery? He booked us?” I was speaking in a shaky voice and I could see that Jake looked even more concerned and confused now. There was no appropriate explanation for my reaction.
“Yeah. Didn’t I tell you? He reached out to me and booked us for the night. He’d apparently seen us perform somewhere else, and while he was organizing this event he thought of us. Very decent of him actually, wouldn’t you say?” I could hear Jake’s words but they weren’t registering in my mind anymore. Why would Cole do this? On the evening of the finalization of the annulment? What game was he playing now?
“Shouldn’t you go and talk to him, Nina?” Jake was saying and when he touched my shoulder, he snapped me out of my thoughts rudely.
“Yeah, of course. I’ll talk to him. I’ll go find him now,” I said, faking a nervous smile. Lifting the sides of my flowing gown up with pinched fingers, I rushed off stage, taking two steps at a time as I ran. I didn’t care how ridiculous I looked anymore, I just wanted to get out of there before Cole found me.
I was weaving through the crowds, excusing myself as I charged with heavy breaths towards the exit of the club. I looked nowhere else other than forward, forging ahead to make a quick exit. Cole had tricked me again. How many times was he going to do this? Did he have something to prove? That he could dance me around like a finger-puppet for as long as he wanted? That I was foolish enough to fall for it every time? Would I have to leave Las Vegas now? Is that what it had come to? Was that the only way I could successfully get rid of the man?
I couldn’t even imagine what he wanted from me any more. What more did I have to give to him? I was panicking. I was running like a mad person through the crowd and towards the open doors of the venue. I could feel a film of sweat forming on my forehead. I was anxious and trying to control a heavy beating heart. I wasn’t even thinking straight. All I knew was that I had to get out of there.
One step outside, and the cool night air hit me in the face, quickly drying the perspiration on my forehead. I let out a huge sigh of relief. But that relief wasn’t long lasted. Cameras went wild, the paparazzi was in a frenzy to get photographs of anybody. Even a nobody. And my eyes squinted instinctually against the maddening lights and flashes.
“Behave yourselves!” I heard a loud bellow behind me, as I raised an arm to shield my face against the flashing harsh lights.
“Stop it before I bash your faces in. Get out of here,” it was Cole’s voice behind me and before I could do anything, as immobilized by the frenzy as I was, he had caught me by my arm and whipped me around to him. I buried my face in his chest, my mind swimming in confusion.
“Leave her alone, guys. She’s unwell!” Cole was yelling at the cameras, none of whom had stopped.
“Hey, you okay? Come away, come with me,” his voice had dropped to a soft whisper near my ear and I allowed him to gently lead me away from the clicking cameras. I was disoriented and dizzy, but also starkly aware of Cole’s hand on my back, his beating heart pressed against my cheek. His masculine scent filling my nostrils.