HARLEY

A ce Novak had just called me! The Ace Novak! The one and only!

This entire situation was certifiably insane. The fan girl inside me was literally screaming. Of course, I’d hoped that it was for a job like Aria, but apparently, it was a date. A date? With the Ace Novak? Fuck. Everything inside me felt twisted up. Rock stars didn’t date strippers. Fuck them? Sure, but not a date.

The thought stung, but he also could have asked me to go to the moon and I would’ve said yes. I wanted an autograph and hopefully a backstage pass or tickets to the next concert. Aria might have landed a job, but I landed a private one on one with Ace Novak and nothing was going to take that from me. Besides, maybe he’d like me so much it would be a proper date. Ha! A girl can wish. I mused.

I put on the band’s latest CD and began singing at the top of my lungs as I danced around my apartment.

Okay, fine.

After jumping around aimlessly, I realized Aria was right. You couldn’t really dance to their music, but damn, it was the perfect soundtrack to light up a spiff and just groove.

I needed to talk to my girl. I couldn’t wait to both thank her and tell her that he’d actually called and asked me out. However, once again it rang and rang and she didn’t pick up. But it didn’t matter, I’d thank her later, I had a shit ton of stuff to do before the follow morning. Somehow, the need to clean up became super important. Not that I had any intention of letting him come upstairs, but still… the need was there and I couldn’t ignore it. It didn’t come often. Besides, it would it easier to find an outfit if I cleaned up a bit.

I blitzed the place, throwing things in closets, clearing off counters and stuffing drawers. Ace had always been my favorite guy in the band. Every girl had a favourite, and he was mine. How was it possible that my dreams of meeting him were coming true? I looked longingly at the band’s poster that had graced my walls for years. My mind felt hazy and my body tingled just staring at him in the poster. How the hell was I supposed to act normal with him in person?

He was probably just looking for a good time. A fun night with girl who would do anything. I needed to come down off the ledge. I was just a stripper that he’d seen in a club and my stupid ass was getting ahead of itself. There was no way he actually wanted to go on a date. This was probably all just a setup to get laid. After Aria said I was a fan of the band, he probably thought this would be a fun way to get with some girl who was going to drool all over him. Musicians were known for their big egos. What the hell had I been thinking? I was making a fool out of myself and this stupid date hadn’t even started yet. I needed to regain some control.

Slumped down on the couch, I tried to think clearly. If Ace Novak wanted to pretend to take me out on a date, I’d play along. I just had to remember that it was all a game. Getting so caught up in the excitement was making me crazy. I needed to talk to Aria… but what would she say? Shit. Probably the same thing I had said to her.

Of course, I’d told her to just go for it and see what happens. Granted, this wasn’t a career move for me like it had been for her, but maybe it could be something else? That damn brief flicker of hope that I wanted to bury deep jumped back up again. Rearing her stupid little head and hoping to be loved.

Ugh. The inability to keep my thoughts in check for more than a minute frustrated me. My cleaning motivation had vanished as quickly as it arrived, leaving my apartment half-cleaned. I shrugged as I surveyed the chaos. Better than nothing.

Grabbing the phone from its receiver and pulling the long cord with it, I snuggled into the couch and pulled a blanket over me before trying Aria’s line again. But once again, her answering machine was the only response. Where was that girl?

She would have left the music video shoot hours ago by now. Maybe she’d gone to work for a rehearsal or something… so annoying. I wish she’d carry a beeper with her, then at least she’d know that I was trying to reach her. Unfortunately, she wasn’t into new technology. I’d considered getting her one for her birthday. It would be more like a gift for me, though. Plus, it didn’t help me now.

I left her yet another message, this time a little more forceful. “Aria! Where the hell are you? Call me! I have news and I need advice!” I paused for a moment, about to hang up, but then continued. “You won’t believe who just called me! Actually, you will because you gave HIM my number!! Yeah, that’s right bitch… HE CALLED!”

And then I let out a little squeal before hanging up. Once a fan girl, forever a fan girl, I suppose. Tomorrow was going to be epic, regardless of Ace’s intentions or my stupid thoughts.

***

The sound of my alarm clock sent me flying out of bed at high-speed. And for the first time, I actually got up on the first ring. Clearly, every day should start with a date with Ace Novak.

It was already noon, which was early for me, and the need for caffeine was strong. Making my way to the kitchen, I hugged myself and smiled. I was meeting Ace Novak in the flesh today!

Although I wasn’t typically a breakfast person, today was different. I pulled a bagel out of the freezer and popped it in the microwave before flicking the switch on the coffee pot. Setting up my coffee machine the night before was the only organizational technique that I ever put into regular practice.

The smell of coffee dripping into the carafe soothed my senses, and I inhaled deeply. Today was going to be a good day. No, today was going to be a great day. An Ace Novak kind of day.

I kept trying to convince myself that everything would be all right, but I also couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe I was about to get used. These feelings weren’t typical for me, but also, this was no ordinary date. What if he didn’t show up? What if he didn’t like me when he saw me in the daytime? What if…

My mind kept on spinning, taking me further and further into a very dark place. I was nothing, just a stripper that he’d seen in a club. How on earth did that make me good enough to want to take out on a date? Men… I guess they were just all the same. See a sexy woman dancing around half naked and they could only think with their dick. That’s all this was. I couldn’t make the mistake of thinking it might be something more because I’d only end up disappointed. No, I needed to enjoy today like it was my own private backstage pass, but never lose sight of the fact that it would end as soon as he realized what the hell he was doing with a stripper. He was a world famous rock star who played in the band of the century. Desolation Sound had just come off a world tour and had just graced the cover of Rolling Stone, for fuck’s sake. There was no way I stood a real chance with him. Not for more than one night of fucking, anyway.

I shrugged to myself. It was fine. I’d take what I could get, and it would be a great story to tell later on.

I took the time to flat iron my hair as my mind swirled around with possibility. One minute allowing excitement to overtake me and the next my rational conscious brain pulled me back down to earth again. A constant dance of indecision and confusion. What did Ace Novak really want with me, anyway? He could have easily found me at the club if he kept trying. But asking Aria for my number? Or had she volunteered it? That was possible, too. I needed to talk to that girl, but she still wasn’t picking up. We were going to have words about this later.

Two o’clock came faster than I expected, and I paced up and down the sidewalk outside my building. Cracking my knuckles and muttering to myself. I needed to get my act together. At the very least, I needed to look more together than I felt.

The sound of a car approaching behind me made me take one last deep breath before turning around. My smile faded a bit when I saw the black limo parked behind me.

Oh, fuck, this was real….

I don’t know why, but I just hadn’t expected a limo. Maybe a cab or him driving his own car, but why the limo? My heart sank. He wanted to impress me with his money. No fucking different from any other asshole I’d met at the club. Tossing around their cash and hoping I’d react like a fly to honey. Why on earth had I let myself believe this would be any different?

Whatever, I’d get through today and move forward. Hopefully get an autograph out of it at least. But if he thought he was getting laid in the back seat of his limo, Ace Novak had another thing coming.

I watched as the driver stepped out and opened the door, nodded in my direction, then proceeded to open the door for him.

Ace stepped out into the sunlight and my breath hitched as I took him in. Nothing could have prepared me for seeing him in the flesh.

I’d chosen low cut flared jeans, a black tank top, my Doc Martens and a leather jacket.

“Hey Harley, how’s it going?” he drawled, his Canadian accent coming through as he stared me down. He was even more gorgeous in person than I’d ever seen onstage or on the screen. His black hair was ruffled and messy; his onyx eyes slowly perused my body from head to toe. Dressed in black jeans and a grey t-shirt with shades propped up on his head, his arms all muscle and sinew… his entire appearance made my mouth run dry.

“Hey…” I answered softly. My heart was beating so hard, I was sure he could hear it. I needed to break the tension before I self-combusted.

I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t sure about the plan, so I might not be dressed appropriately.”

“You look beautiful. Ready to head out?” He asked, motioning for me to join him in the car.

I raised an eyebrow. “Where to?”

“It’s a surprise.” He grinned.

Both excitement and panic raged through my veins, but I ignored it all. You’re only young once, and this was Ace Novak, who I’d coveted for ages.

It was time to make some new mistakes.

“Let’s do this.”