Singer - 9. New York Times

“One Splenda, soy latte with two extra shots of espresso.” Chipper smiled at the tattooed barista and tapped his phone against the small device on the counter.

Sipping his coffee, Chipper reflected on the server’s flirting. He was not oblivious to how he looked. His dark hair and eyes attracted attention, and his body clinched the deal. Working out would continue to be part of his daily routine.

“Good morning. I’d like a day pass.” Chipper slid his ID and debit card across the counter. Equinox was convenient to the apartment; he would probably join the fitness center when he returned to New York.

“Sean’s gonna be pissed you cheated on him.” Ethan broke the bro hug as they stepped inside the restaurant. Sean was his boyfriend and worked as a manager and personal trainer at a fitness center in Chelsea.

“He’ll get over it. I didn’t feel like carrying a garment bag on the train. Equinox’s closer to the apartment. Hell of a lot more convenient.”

Chipper and Ethan had been friends for a while. Both belonged to The Squad—the group of friends immortalized with the shoulder tattoo they sported. After attending law school in Washington, Ethan joined the law firm in which his father was a partner.

“Dude, I gotta thank you again for helping my sister.” Chipper took the menu their server proffered. “She’s still mourning the end of her marriage, but she’s satisfied with the settlement you worked out.”

“My pleasure, bud. You know we all have each other’s backs. And let’s be honest, since her douchebag ex-husband’s paying the legal fees, it’s not like I’m suffering.”

“I’m glad she decided to take a cash settlement instead of keeping their apartment. She can buy something smaller. The alimony and child support will help her get back on her feet.”

“Okay, enough about your sister. Let’s talk about you.” The two men had been together in Washington over the weekend but had forgone discussing business. “I looked over the contract you signed, and it’s fairly standard. Of course, if you’d rejected it you wouldn’t be on the show.”

“Yeah… That’s what the professor at the University of Miami who reviewed it said. The producers have you by the balls. But I want to talk about the future.”

“I always knew you were smart.” Ethan grinned when Chipper appeared embarrassed. “So, the firm has a Sports and Entertainment Division like I mentioned. “When we get done eating, we’ll walk back to my office. Dad wants to say hi, and I want to introduce you to some of the others. The head of SE agreed to meet with us, we’ll sign you up as a client, and we’ll call our LA office. They’ll be your go-to people when you’re on the West Coast.”

“What about billings?” Chipper knew there was no way he could afford legal fees from a high-end law firm right now.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m still fairly new and building my clientele. I get a lot of leeway in billing.” Ethan’s comment relaxed his friend. “Dad will vouch for you too. He knows you can’t afford us right now, but we both know you’re talented and will be successful.”

“Thanks. Is there anything else I need to do?”

“Yeah, don’t sign anything before someone at the firm says it’s okay to do so. One other thing we’ll talk about with the SE crowd is agents, managers, and publicists. Bud, you’re gonna have a lot of people wanting a piece of you.”

Bliss called Chipper on her way from Philadelphia to Manhattan. Since her intention was to spend a girl’s day with her coach, Chipper made plans to meet her for cocktails.

“Oh, my god! The view’s incredible.” Bliss turned and rested her back against the glass railing. “You been here before?”

“Once. Last summer.” Chipper had met her at the William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn. Westlight, their rooftop bar offering sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, was a hot spot with Millennials. “It was at night, and the view of the lit up city was amazing. Been wanting to get back here to catch the sunset. People say the show’s incredible.”

“Did you get everything done?”

Chipper waited until the server delivered their cocktails before replying. “Met with my lawyer and set all that up. Tomorrow I’m gonna try to line up a gig or two for the summer. What about you? How was your day?”

“Great! Had a good time with Alicia. We talked about you, and she raised an eyebrow when I mentioned I was staying with you.”

“Damn! I hope she doesn’t start any rumors when we’re back in LA.”

“She likes you, you know? We talked about the other contestants and she thinks you’ll be in the finals.”

“Really?”

“And she thinks Adam feels the same way. We agreed that’s why he singled you out to join him on stage at Coachella.”

“Hey! That was an accident. We bumped into each other in front of the bathrooms. Honest.”

“I believe you. But the fact he did means he trusts you and thought you wouldn’t embarrass him in front of Kendrick.”

It was dark when they caught a cab back to Manhattan, and neither one was sober. The taxi driver smirked when he dropped them off; he had watched them making out in the backseat during the entire ride.

Inside the apartment, clothes flew in every direction while Chipper steered Bliss into a bedroom. There was barely any foreplay. She felt ready when his fingers stroked her. Slipping on a condom, he entered her as soon as they jumped in bed.

His lips wrapped around one of her nipples, Chipper didn’t realize how fast they had approached the end until he heard her scream.

“Oh, god! Don’t stop, Chipper! Don’t fucking stop!”

Chipper was close. When her moaning became a continuous, orgasmic cry, he lifted himself on his arms, stabbed Bliss one final time, and filled the condom.