The room temperature dropped at least twenty degrees. What had she just said?
“Adrienne, what do you want?” David said under his breath, again not replying to her complaints.
Stella’s head snapped around. Adrienne? This was the Adrienne?
Okay, call her slow, but it was no wonder Stella didn’t recognize her right away. The new hairdo...and additional enhancements...had changed her appearance dramatically compared to the photos Naomi found of her when she and Nam were on the plane. Too bad she hadn’t paid much attention.
“I’m in town for a friend’s concert tomorrow. Did you hear they’re auditioning for Love Never Dies soon? I was thinking we could try to get in together. Just imagine the attention we’d create if we were an item again! Maybe onstage and offstage… Tell Aaron to get on it!” She patted his shoulder.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it’s not happening. How dare you even try to get information about me from Aaron? And what the hell makes you think I’d ever want to be together with you again? How twisted is your mind?”
David seemed as surprised as everyone else at their table at Adrienne’s appearance, but why didn’t he just send her back to where she came from? Or get up and walk away from her? This wasn’t some pushy fan who didn’t respect his privacy. This was the woman responsible for his insecurities—and, indirectly, Stella’s hellish twelve months.
She looked at Naomi for help, but her friend’s eyes were glued to the scene at their table. She could almost see Naomi’s wheels turning, and tried kicking her under the table to do something, but Frank’s legs were in the way.
She had to get out before she did something she might regret later. Without looking at anybody, Stella got up and left.
Once outside, she paced the street in front of the restaurant. It was cold, but she didn’t mind the bite in the air. It was nothing compared to the icy fingers holding her heart in a tight fist.
“What are you doing out here?” Naomi demanded, and handed her a warm scarf.
“What’s going on in there?”
“You’ll find out when you move your ass back in there. Don’t you think David could use your support right now? You know he loves you.”
“Then why are you out here and not him?” Stella cried out and wrapped the scarf around her shoulders.
“Like it or not, he’s trying to avoid a big public showdown. People in there are starting to take photos. This will be all over the tabloids tomorrow.”
“She said she wants to perform together with him again. Hasn’t she done enough to hurt him? What if he has no say in who his counterpart in a show is?” she asked, but she also cringed to hear how lame she sounded.
“Bullshit! Do you know if it’s even true?” Naomi threw her hands in the air. “You know he’s a celebrity, and he’ll have something to say about who’s performing with him. But you better get used to the idea of people trying to claim him or frame him.”
“What do you want me to do? I can’t go in there and cause a scene.”
“No, because wacko Adrienne took care of it all by herself. But you can put on your big-girl pants and stand up for him. Go send the floozy packing.” Naomi nudged Stella toward the door. “In with you.”
“But all those people…”
“Ignore them. Are you going to live with those people, or do you want to live with the man you love? You’ve got to step it up, missy. Go after what’s yours.”
Stella looked from the tavern to Naomi, squared her shoulders and said, “You’re right. Enough is enough. He’s mine!” She started walking, then stopped and hugged Naomi. “Thank you for helping me focus.”
“Don’t you worry, I’ll be happy to hold the lantern to help you see better. And I’m right behind you if you need reinforcement.” Naomi flexed a muscle.
Stella didn’t pay attention to the other guests, most of whom were watching David and Adrienne. She ignored the flashes going off where people took photos of the spectacle.
Approaching their table with unflinching determination, she stopped behind David and placed both hands on his shoulders. Adding some venom to her voice she said, “We’ve never met, but this is enough. I want you to leave David alone.”
“Who are you?” Adrienne snarled.
“His girlfriend.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Naomi walking closer with a full wine glass in her hand.
“You? Are you serious? You’re nothing,” Adrienne spat out.
“You’re wrong,” David stood up and wrapped Stella in his arms. “This is the woman I love. She’s my everything. Now do yourself a favor and go back to your table. This scene doesn’t help you or me.”
“But… After all we’ve…” she stuttered.
“Goodbye, Adrienne.” He looked around the restaurant. “I apologize for this unexpected show. I’ll gladly pay a round of drinks for all, but please finish your meals and enjoy your own company.”
Then he turned to Stella. “You scared me when you walked out. I was afraid I’d lost you again.”
She snuggled into his arm and replied, “I didn’t mean to scare you, and I’m not going anywhere. I only needed to take a few deep breaths. And now I am hungry.”
Naomi raised her wine and said, “Glad I didn’t have to waste this incredibly good pinot noir on Fakerella. I almost tripped there on a loose floorboard…”
Frank laughed and said, “Sit down, woman. This isn’t your battle to fight.”
“Oh, you! And don’t kiss me again. What’s up with you men?” Naomi rolled her eyes while she sat down.
CHAPTER 42
David—November 2018
“W
hat are you doing down here so early? It’s not even five o’clock.” Stella wandered down the stairs and joined David on the sofa. Her hair was tousled, and she wore one of his T-shirts. What is it about seeing your woman in your shirt?
“Must be the jet lag. I wanted to make
