Page 69 of Love is a Harmony
The crowd pushed toward him, held off by a line of security. Noah stepped up to them and pulled a marker out of his pocket. He always traveled with one because happy fans was a happy career.
Something Melanie once said to him.
He’d never realized how many of her PR lessons stuck with him and shaped how he went through his career. And how many he’d ignored each time he did something the press considered a scandal.
“Evening, love.” He looked down at a little girl, meeting her gaze. “What’s your name?”
“Tina.” She grinned up at him.
He took the paper she’d obviously printed at home with a photo of him and scribbled a note to her before handing it back.
He moved down the line, signing pictures, bare arms, t-shirts, random slips of paper, CD inserts, and anything else shoved at him until his hand cramped. The crowd never lessened, they never went away.
“That’s enough folks,” a familiar voice called. “Noah must be leaving.”
Noah turned to Mr. Snyder, the man he hadn’t seen since he was standing in Melanie’s apartment.
Mr. Snyder walked toward him. “I have a car. Come.” He didn’t leave room for argument. The security team formed up around Noah as they ushered him to a black town car.
Once inside, Noah shut out the sounds of his fans and leaned his head back on the leather seat. That had been more exhausting than the show. “How did you know I might need help?”
Mr. Snyder laughed from his spot next to Noah. “It’s all over the news. With Melanie being out of town, I didn’t want to send her assistant to help. He wouldn’t have known what to do.”
Noah pictured the meek Henry facing the crowd and shook his head. “Yes. But, sir, you’re the studio head. You could have just called the security team and told them to get me out.”
Mr. Snyder was quiet for a long moment. “Noah, you don’t think I like you.”
“I know you don’t.”
He sighed. “I did not come here as the head of the label, I came as Melanie’s father. You needed help, and she’d have wanted you to have it.”
The same Melanie who hadn’t come to see him in a week? That woman? The one who wouldn’t let herself give in to what they both wanted.
He was so angry with her.
And he wanted her
“Sir.” Noah sucked in a breath. “I think it might be best for all of us if you switched me to one of the other publicists at the label.”
Mr. Snyder didn’t answer for a long moment as the car pulled on to the freeway.
Noah didn’t want to do anything that would take him away from Melanie, from Rockstars Anonymous, but he couldn’t handle staring at each email that came in from her, wanting them to contain a single shred of hope. He couldn’t talk to her about business, pretending he didn’t miss her.
He couldn’t act as if France didn’t happen.
As if he wasn’t glad she was his wife.
His wife.
In name only.
Finally, Mr. Snyder looked at him. “I think that is a wise decision.”
And that was how Noah cut the last remaining thread connecting him to Melanie.
Jo wouldn’t be happy Noah did this without talking to her, but in the end, she’d understand. That was why she was his best friend.
The rest of the car ride proceeded in silence until they pulled up outside Noah’s lonely house. Just months ago, he’d been happy living there as a bachelor with few responsibilities.
