Summary: Celia can’t stop thinking about Raleigh.
Author’s note: This takes place during chapter 3 of Platinum, just before Avery arrives at the door.
After a long day preparing for her audition, Celia was exhausted. She took out her contact lenses, put on her glasses, and collapsed onto her bed. Although she tried to rest, thoughts kept racing through her mind. Do I really have a chance? Why should I get my hopes up?
Sometimes it still felt like a dream. She never imagined that Avery Wilshere would be mentoring her. Her favorite singer actually thought she had talent. She had a chance at a record contract. She could have everything she ever wanted. And maybe something she hadn’t known she wanted.
She was completely starstruck when she met Avery, and now they were spending time together. Surely she’d only have eyes for him, right?
Wrong.
Ever since she met Raleigh Carrera, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. There was something about him that was just so damn sexy. She’d never been so instantly attracted to anyone in her life. With Avery, she was awestruck, but with Raleigh, she felt like she was on fire. When she danced with him at the pizza party, it was as if they were the only two people in the world. She wanted to melt into him. As they held each other close, she had been overwhelmed with a desire to grab his ass, but the presence of the cameras deterred her. She didn’t want a moment like that captured on film.
She couldn’t believe that he had given her his guitar. A guitar that Prince had given him, no less! A gift like that was priceless. His generosity had only fueled her attraction to him.
Still, he didn’t seem like the best prospect for a relationship. The guy had a whole movement against him: Mothers Against Raleigh Carrera. Her heart would probably end up as broken as the yacht he’d crashed. She should probably stay away from him…but she knew she couldn’t. She was powerless against the magnetic pull he had on her.
And Fiona had told her that she needed to have a story. Work hard, play hard. Raleigh certainly played hard. They could play hard together.
Maybe she should buy condoms, just in case. Even if it were nothing more than a one-night stand, she knew she couldn’t say no to him. He might carry his own, though. He probably slept around. Then again, maybe he was the type that hated condoms. She’d better get some. Better safe than sorry.
She remembered how she felt when he pulled him to her, and the words he’d said to her:
“Think you can handle this?”
“As if you have to ask,” she’d replied.
She picked up the guitar he’d given her and began to strum. She poured her emotions into words, and started to sing:
Now I’m drawn to you
Like a moth is to a flame
You’ve set my heart ablaze
And I’ll never be the same
By getting close to you
I play a dangerous game
But if the fire consumes me
I’ll be screaming out your name
Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Maybe someone was delivering takeout to the wrong address. Food sounded good right about now. She set the guitar down and went to see who was there.