Chapter Text
Chapter 3
Lexi was on her way to her first date with Fezco and she still had no idea where it was, what they’d eat, or how it would turn out.
After weeks of texting daily, FaceTiming occasionally, and seeing his face on TV from time to time, it was the first time the pop star was about to see the tennis player in person again. The first time after their brief encounter at the tennis match he invited her to attend. She felt both overjoyed and anxious at the thought of it.
What if the two of them didn’t vibe in real life as much as they had through texts so far? The nagging concern wouldn’t leave Lexi’s mind as she was getting closer to her destination. The young woman kept smoothing her skirt as if it hadn’t already been perfectly ironed. She had decided to wear one of her favorites, a box-pleated skirt in a hue of red that matched her lipstick to perfection. Maybe it was to bring herself luck, maybe it was to feel more confident – she didn’t really know. She hadn’t been apprehensive like that in a while.
When her driver parked the car in a quiet street, Lexi took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She realized it was her first date since Tucker. Then, she realized she didn’t want to think about Tucker tonight. That ship had sailed. She had moved on. And she was about to spend the evening with a kind, funny, and handsome man who could turn everybody’s heads with a self-effacing smile. No room left for a neglectful ex.
As Lexi stepped out of the car, she peeked at her surroundings before security escorted her inside the building. She could tell she was somewhere in Manhattan, but that specific area was unknown to her. She appreciated that she could only hear car engines and bystanders’ conversations muffled in the distance. It was nice, feeling cut out from the world for a little while.
“Miss Howard?” One of her security guards addressed Lexi. “Are you ready to go?”
Lexi smiled. “I am.”
The building they entered seemed to have a restaurant on the first floor and offices on the upper ones. Yet, security took her straight to the stairs. Lexi frowned, wondering how they were planning on getting her inside the restaurant as they kept going up and up the flight of steps. She was aware she had to be discreet to avoid a crowd gathering around her, but still, she was no Beyoncé or Madonna – the effort seemed a bit excessive.
Security guards finally stopped on the last floor with an overly curious Lexi on their heels. It appeared she wasn’t about to eat in a 5-star establishment, after all.
The singer found herself in front of a door leading to the building’s rooftop. She looked at the men who escorted her there with an inquisitive frown. They nodded, giving her the confirmation she was right where she was supposed to be without a word. Therefore, Lexi rested a hand on the handle and pushed the door open as confidently as she could.
The scenery then lying before Lexi took her breath away. She was on a typical rooftop, only it had been adorned with a table for two on which lay carnation petals, lit candles, and a bottle of champagne. Some music was playing at a low volume, and there was the most stunning view of New York City the young woman had ever seen, a spectacle of city lights in the skyline. She could even see the Manhattan Bridge from afar standing proudly on the East River, the reflection of the lights shimmering in its dark waters.
Lexi gaped in admiration at the sight before her eyes, awestricken. She covered her mouth with her hand, taking it all in as the charming young man she was about to spend the evening with made his way to her, arms crossed behind his back and a shy smile barely lifting the corners of his mouth.
“I figured, y’know, you could be living in The City for years and never really have the opportunity to see something like that,” Fezco explained, evidently pleased with Lexi’s reaction.
“This is… Yeah, I’ve been to rooftop parties since I moved here, but you’re right, I guess I never really took the time to… look,” Lexi concurred, slowly looking all around her to take a mental photograph and remember it all.
“Yeah, The Big Apple does that to you.”
Lexi laughed at Fezco’s comment and eventually focused her attention on him. He wore a buttoned-up midnight blue shirt, denim jeans, and white sneakers, an overall simple, but efficient outfit that looked way too good on him.
“Hey,” Lexi greeted him with a bashful smile.
“Hey,” Fezco said back to her, cheeks lightly blushed. “How’ve you been?”
“Good,” Lexi breathed out. “You?”
“Terrific. It’s real nice to see you.”
Lexi nodded to agree, rocking slowly like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself. She had forgotten how handsome Fezco looked up close, eyes blue as the summer sky, freckles scattered on his face like a constellation. He was already a sight for sore eyes in his tennis clothes, but seeing him in daily apparel, possibly discovering him in his everyday life – it made him even more enticing for Lexi.
“Hope you hungry,” Fezco then said, putting a hand on her back willing her to head towards the table. No matter how light it was, the physical touch sent shivers down her spine. “Since I didn’t really know what you liked, I, uh, kind of planned of having a lil’ bit of everything the restaurant has.”
Lexi looked at him with an amused smile as he pulled the chair for her to sit on. She sat down and thanked him in the process. The mild September breeze gave her a hint of Fezco’s cologne as he moved to the other side of the table and sat down in front of her, a woody fragrance with a note of plum that spread warmth to her chest. That was the precise moment she felt a little less nervous at the prospect of spending time with him.
“So, technically, we are having dinner from the downstairs restaurant, then? I wasn’t sure,” Lexi admitted as a waiter poured water into her glass. She briefly checked where her security was positioned and saw two of them by the door. She assumed the third one was waiting on the other side, in the building, just in case. So much for having a casual date with a cute guy when you’re famous, she thought to herself.
“For sure,” Fezco confirmed. “Just assumed you’d enjoy the peace.”
“I do,” Lexi assured right away, eliciting a smile from Fezco. “You must enjoy it too.”
“Eh,” he shrugged. “I’m just some guy playing tennis, people ain’t really paying much attention to us.”
“Some guy who happened to win the Grand Slam, like, a week ago, last I’ve heard,” Lexi corrected playfully as Fezco took a sip of water, hiding a winning smile behind the glass. “I’m pretty sure you’re the big talk of the town these days.”
“You been reading those tabloid shits lately?” Fezco asked her with a hint of amusement, but she could tell there was some genuine curiosity underneath that question.
“Only a couple of them,” Lexi answered, skin heating under the young man’s attention. “They’re singing your praises – which is cool. You deserve it! You worked hard to get there.”
“Thanks,” Fezco said with sincerity. “Noticed how both our names seem to come up together a lot?”
“Oh, yeah,” Lexi chuckled. “My friends would never let me miss out on it.”
“It’s crazy, man. All started because I went to your concert.”
“And talked about me in a podcast, maybe?”
Maybe it was too early to be teasing, Lexi feared for a moment. Maybe she should keep the flirting for later, after a few glasses of champagne. Or maybe she shouldn’t flirt at all. She’d never been really good at it, fame or not.
“Sorry,” Lexi winced before Fez had any chance to retort.
“Why you apologize?” he asked at once. “I already know you seen the podcast – and to be real with you, I’m kinda glad you have.”
Lexi blinked, absentmindedly toying with her glass between her fingers. “Really?”
“Hell yeah,” Fez said without any hesitation. “We probably wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t. It’d be a fucking shame.”
Lexi lowered her eyes, unable to refrain from smiling. She’d never been good at flirting, but so what? A few years back, the younger version of her would’ve never imagined that one day, she’d perform for sold-out venues all over the world. She shouldn’t shy away from experiencing life differently. She might be pleasantly surprised.
“I’m pretty sure my manager would’ve put in her two cents anyway,” Lexi said in jest. “She never wanted me to lose myself in work and she was very adamant about it.”
“I’m sure she was. Your manager scares the shit out of me, not gonna lie,” Fez admitted with a laugh.
“Bobbi??” Lexi exclaimed, widened-eyed. “She’s, like, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met!”
“I’on doubt it, she seems very nice, but she’s not somebody you wanna mess with, that’s for sure.”
Lexi joined in the laughter with Fez as she settled more comfortably on the chair. All the built-up anticipation and nervousness that was overtaking her earlier finally seemed to have evened out and left room for excitement. The tension in her shoulders relaxed as the waiter standing nearby came closer to pour some champagne into both their flutes.
The evening went by rather smoothly – and, unfortunately, a little too quickly to Lexi’s liking. She enjoyed the food, she wasn’t getting tired of that mind-blowing view of the city, her chest was warm due to the delectable champagne she’d been drinking alongside her meal, and most of all, Fezco O’Neill was a truly delightful company to have. She had that latest thought just as they abandoned the table they’d just eaten at to settle next to one another on an outdoor sofa that offered the most detailed view of Manhattan Bridge ahead of them.
“Gosh, I’m so full,” Lexi moaned without thinking, abruptly leaning back on the sofa to find a comfortable position.
“Me too,” Fez cackled, mimicking her in the process.
Lexi turned her head to be able to look at Fez. He was staring absentmindedly in the distance like he was relaxing after a stressful event. Perhaps he had experienced the same edginess as her regarding their date night, she wondered. Perhaps he, too, felt like he needed to put on a show like he did every time he was out in public, even though there were only the two of them – plus Lexi’s security. Perhaps he was lost in thoughts, wondering whether he succeeded in enthralling her. Or maybe Lexi was only projecting her uncertainties on him.
“How you feelin’ about your international tour coming soon?”
Fezco’s question pulled Lexi out of her cogitation, and she noticed he was no longer looking at the horizon since his focus was now steadily on her. She shivered, even though there hadn’t been any gust of wind in a while.
“I’m… looking forward to it,” Lexi answered his question, trying to hold his gaze as confidently as she could.
“Yeah, that’s what you said to Jimmy Fallon,” Fez said with an amused twitch of his lips. “What you really feelin’, though?”
Lexi chuckled nervously. Was she that transparent?
“I’m nervous as fuck”, Lexi breathed out like she was unburdening herself of a secret long held.
“There she is,” Fez commented, turning sideways on the sofa so he could properly face her. “What you nervous about?”
Lexi sighed, settling differently with her legs curled up under her so she could face Fez as well. “It’s the first time I’m touring for this long abroad. And in so many different cities. Usually, I’m hitting Australia, the U.K., occasionally France, and Germany, because that’s where my main fanbase is located. But now, I’m going to be pretty much everywhere.”
“That’s dope,” Fez simply said like he couldn’t figure out what the issue was.
“It is,” Lexi concurred. “I’m super grateful, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I know it’s going to be amazing. But… I also know this tour has been long-awaited in Europe, Asia, and South America. I don’t want to let people down, you know.”
Lexi had failed to notice when Fez had moved closer to her. But he had, and as their knees brushed, she could study the subtle golden trace amidst the blue in his eyes, like a ray of sun shining its light on a calm sea. It made her forget how to breathe momentarily.
“I’on got any social media, y’know, because I’ve never been into that kind of shit,” Fez confided in a low drawl that mesmerized Lexi like it never had before. “My manager, Ash, he runs an account for me, just for, like, marketing and shit. But sometimes, I check it to see what’s up. And I’on do it a lot, but, shawty, whenever I do, I swear you’re everywhere. People fucking love you. Like, you’re the definition of why we call famous people ‘stars’. I’m gonna sound corny as shit but when you’re singing on a stage, you shine. And it don’t matter if that stage is in Seattle, Rome, or the middle of the fucking desert. You’d be a star anywhere.”
Before Lexi could think it through, her lips crashed against Fez’s in the heat of the action. It was merely a peck, truthfully, seeing as she swiftly got a hold of herself and stepped back, face on fire and heart beating frenetically. She lowered her gaze, anticipating his reaction.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what got into me,” Lexi apologized as she met Fez’s eyes again. “I should’ve asked if it was okay f –“
The end of her apology died on her lips when Fez kissed her, this time – really kissed her, not just a chaste brushing of lips. As he put one of his hands at her waist to firmly hold her and his other hand cupped her face in the most tender gesture, Lexi kissed him back, eyes closed and head reeling at the prospect of what it all entailed.
When Fezco O’Neill kissed her, he tasted like cold tobacco and mint-flavored gum. His hand was calloused on her face, and Lexi could easily guess it was a legacy of all those years spent holding a tennis racket daily. But it didn’t bother her in the slightest, because his touch was so gentle she could hardly feel it.
Lexi broke away first – not because she didn’t like kissing Fez. In fact, she really, really liked kissing him. She broke away first because her lungs begged for air, and she needed to keep a clear mind on the situation, no matter how that kiss made her feel.
“Shit, I got carried away. Hope you was okay with it,” Fez whispered, cheeks blushed, and lips parted.
“I mean, I kissed you first, so evidently, I was more than okay with it,” Lexi laughed, adjusting her hair in a nervous gesture.
Fez chuckled as he ran a hand on his stubble. She noticed the shakiness in his fingers as he did so. He looked as overwhelmed as she did in the instant – even though neither of them was eager to admit it.
“I kinda feel like a jerk, though,” Fez confessed bashfully.
“Why’s that?” Lexi asked, genuinely surprised.
“I had this whole thing figured out, y’know. Like, seeing where it went between us by taking you out on a few dates, making sure you felt okay before making a move. I wanted to be, like, romantic and shit, ‘cause I gathered from your songs that’s how you like it. But it’s only our first date and I already couldn’t keep my hands off you. Fucked the romantic shit right up.”
Lexi could swoon, right there and then, because no guy she dated in the past had ever acted like this around her. The few she’d been with were usually tormented artists acting too cool for school, wanting to preserve a mystery around them, never truly letting her in, keeping her guessing their true thoughts. It was almost intoxicating, being with someone who wasn’t ashamed to say things as they were, even when it meant being vulnerable. Someone who wasn’t afraid to tell her, to show her they desired her.
“You haven’t fucked anything up,” Lexi affirmed, feeling brave enough to maintain the proximity between them and willing his eyes to keep a steady gaze on hers. “If anything, I have. I’m the one who threw myself into your arms, ever the romantic, huh? Clearly, you haven’t listened closely to my song Only at Night.”
Lexi’s light sarcasm elicited a small smile from Fez, who seemed to unwind as he allowed the physical touch between them to resume, fingers shyly running along her forearm.
“Is that the song you performed at your show with the little pink dress?” Fez asked innocently, but the glint in his eyes didn’t fool Lexi.
Lexi simply nodded to concur, well aware of the effect that outfit tended to have on the audience.
“Yeah, no, shawty, Imma be for real wit’ you, I was definitely not paying any attention to the lyrics while you were wearing that.”
Lexi briefly bit her lip, trying not to giggle like an impressionable young girl, because she was approaching her mid-twenties, and she was way past that kind of behavior. But with Fezco’s cheeky grin and piercing look, it was difficult to have proper self-control.
“I’m sure you’ve heard it on the radio, they’re only airing that one these days because it’s a TikTok trend now or something,” Lexi explained before remembering what he’d told him before they kissed. “Which you probably wouldn’t know since you don’t use social media,” she added with an embarrassed wince.
“Why don’t you sing the chorus, then?” Fez suggested while resting his arm on top of the sofa, fingers now brushing her shoulder. “Refresh my memory.”
Lexi hesitated at first. She usually didn’t sing on command because she made a case of saying she was no jukebox and, most of all, she avoided mixing her professional and private life as much as she could. Being a pop star already meant your professional life was bound to invade your personal one without you being able to have real control over it. Even though she was in the top ten of most-listened-to artists throughout various online music platforms, she still wished to entertain the fantasy of a normal enough life away from the camera flashes and the public’s euphoria when she could.
But nothing about her and Fezco O’Neill had been mundane ever since the media started pairing the two of them together. They had to hide on a rooftop to have a date, for crying out loud. Surely, it wouldn’t hurt to bend the rules and break her status quo just this once.
So, Lexi cleared her throat to prepare her vocal cords to perform just for a little while, just so she could humor the guy she wanted nothing more than to impress.
When I think about you,
I think about your pressing touch,
About the ache in your eyes, and the crimson in my blush,
I think about the rainy days entwined in your sheets,
And the way you would hold my hand walking down the streets,
I think about Radiohead blasting in your car,
And the cherry cocktail I loved at your favorite bar,
But thinking about you like this is no longer right,
Or I guess it is, but only at night.
Lexi took a deep breath once she was done singing, waiting for Fez’s reaction. Only at Night was one of her favorite songs she’d written – it was a perfect mix of yearning and nostalgia sung to a lively pop rhythm that her fans loved to sing along to. It was a very intimate glimpse into her last relationship, but that’s what critics acclaimed the most about her work. That’s what made her songs relatable to a lot of people in the whole world.
Fezco reacted with a slight shake of his head like he couldn’t believe what he’d just seen and heard, like it was too good to be true.
“Lexi Howard, that only makes me want to kiss you some more,” Fez confessed before putting a hand on her lower back and bringing her closer to him so he could do as he said while Lexi wrapped her hands behind his neck and indulged happily.
And as Lexi settled in the backseat of her driver’s car later that evening, still flushed and giddy, she knew the minute she’d be home, she’d sit down at her desk to write a song about how she felt around Fezco O’Neill – a song she would entitle New York City Lights.
***
“You asked and we shall deliver; remember where we left off with cherished pop star Lexi Howard and Grand Slam winner Fezco O’Neill? Well, a little birdie told us they were spotted together in Soho last night – and it probably wasn’t the first time they were seeing each other, considering how casual and touchy-feely they were 👀 (find out more by reading our article with photographs for 2$!)” – US Weekly’s Verified Account on X
***
“New York City is all about golden leaves, autumn air, and new romance these days! It seems that Lexi Howard and Fezco O’Neill are no longer hiding from the cameras when they hang out together – yes, that’s what Golden Racket told us when he was last here, they’re just ‘hanging out’. Yeah, right, Fezco, we all look at our pals the way you look at Lexi! Right, folks? Check out this picture of the two of them from last weekend at the NFL’s Giants vs. Chiefs game. Do they look platonic to you? Yeah, that’s what I thought!” – Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
***
Comments on a TikTok video showing edited clips of Lexi during her latest show:
@OnlyAtNightStan: omg the banquet theme tour is officially coming to europe in a month!! ✨ whos going to London N2? so excited to meet other Brits lexisters!!! 💓
@lexisamotherfckinG: I am!!! I have floor seat tickets, so I’ll be there early in the morning 😭😭
@ChelseaCake: same here 🙃 I asked for a day’s leave so I can queue as early as possible, I want to be right in front of the stage!!
@CatsAbove: do you guys think Fezco O’Neill will attend? That’d be fun 👀
@ChelseaCake: I have a feeling he’ll be there! They’ve been spotted together a lot lately, I’m 100000% sure they’re a thing
@OnlyAtNightStan: tbh i hope not, i dont want him to steal her thunder. if hes there, its all anyone will talk about 🙄
@RainCottage: bestie, it’s Lexi Howard we’re talkin about. I’m pretty sure she’ll be just fine even if her man’s there 😅
***
“What do you think about me asking Fez to come with me to the UK next week?”
The question was out of Lexi’s lips before she could assess the technicalities of the situation, something Bobbi never failed to do and was probably doing right the instant she lifted her head to look curiously at Lexi, perched on her desk at the record label studio while they were going over a few things before they’d fly to Europe in a few days.
“I think you’re a grown woman and you’re allowed to invite your boyfriend over without my permission,” Bobbi answered in her signature honest tone. “I’m your manager, not your mother.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Lexi corrected, cheeks slightly blushed while Bobbi rolled her eyes. “We’re not labeling… us.”
“Please, you’ve been sleeping at his place more than your own for the last month, I think it’s safe to say you guys are more than good buddies,” Bobbi pointed out sarcastically.
“Yeah, I know that. But we’re not public yet,” Lexi reminded Bobbi, and the way her voice wavered made her manager listen to her more seriously. “Remember how it went with Tucker the minute we went public? Suddenly, I was no longer a rising star who made a promising debut but a slut who took advantage of his career to advertise mine. I don’t want to go through that again. And I really, really, really like Fez,” Lexi emphasized. “I don’t want to ruin what we have.”
“Okay,” Bobbi chimed in, taking Lexi’s hands in hers to soothe her. “I’m switching from your manager to your friend for this conversation. Honey, this is not going to be like Tucker. Want to know why? Because Fez isn’t Tucker. And, most of all, you don’t have anything to prove anymore today. You are no longer a rising star; you are a star. If people are going to call somebody a slut taking advantage of the other one’s career, it’s going to be Fez, because, honestly, who gives a shit about tennis?”
Lexi let out choked laughter, knowing Bobbi didn’t mean that last part and only said so to alleviate her anxiety. She was glad to see it worked a little, at least.
“I will tell him you think he’s a slut,” Lexi joked, blinking a tear away.
“Oh, I’m sure he knows it already,” Bobbi retorted, smiling slightly. “Seriously, though, if you want him to come with you, I’m giving you the green light. We’ll make some arrangements to make sure you’re not seen arriving at the same time together and we’ll get him a VIP pass for whichever show of your choosing. But, honey, if you really like this guy, you’re not going to be able to hide him forever. You’re a public figure – living your life means sharing some of it with the world. It sucks, but you know the rules.”
Lexi breathed out slowly, mulling Bobbi’s statement over. As always, she was undeniably right and there was no point in trying to refute it. Lexi did know the rules. She just wished they were simpler at times.
“Okay,” Lexi eventually sighed. “I’ll ask him. He may not even agree to come, you know.”
Bobbi snorted unceremoniously. “Babe, please. The second you’ll hang up the phone, his suitcase will be ready.”
***
Lexi left the stage under a roar of applause and cheers when she wrapped up her first show of the international tour. She jogged with her dancers, grinning as she was used to after her final performance of the evening, confetti still stuck in her messy hair and her heartbeat throbbing.
Her dancers headed straight backstage to have a well-deserved break. As for Lexi, she hovered at the bottom of the stage, exhilarated by the chants of her fans still standing in the bleachers, lingering on to get so much as a glimpse of her before she left the venue. She smiled and waved at them, causing even more excited screams.
Then, Lexi focused her attention on the VIP tent ahead of her. When she saw who was standing in front of it, looking attentively at her, her heart leaped in her chest.
Suddenly, nothing made sense anymore. Suddenly, she didn’t care about the rumors, the headlines, the assumptions. She was still in the concert rush, overwhelmed by her fans’ unconditional support, and suddenly, all she cared about was the way Fez was standing proudly a few feet from her, in the open, hands crossed in front of him and smiling at her.
So, Lexi put her worries and good sense aside and started running. Even though she looked like a mess, even though she was still wearing her performance outfit, even though her feet hurt like hell, she ran towards Fez.
She could hear people screaming excitedly in the bleachers. She could see the frown on Fez’s face, silently asking her if she was sure about it. She could feel the hundreds of phones filming her right this instant, probably live on social media.
But she didn’t care about that. All she cared about was reuniting with Fez.
Once she made her way to him, Lexi didn’t hesitate for a second and jumped in his arms, putting her hands behind his neck. He caught her immediately, wrapping his arms around her waist. The roaring in the bleachers had reached a whole new level, but the moment her lips met Fez’s, it was like the world had gone perfectly quiet around her and it was just the two of them left, standing there in the stadium.
Fez locked her in a tight embrace, kissing her like he was desperate for it. They hadn’t had a chance to see each other when he had landed in London the day before, so they were basically reuniting in front of the whole world to see. But Lexi was too happy to see him to weigh in on what it would mean going forward.
Soon, they were swaying together, still holding each other and kissing. Lexi smiled against his mouth, ecstatic and thrilled. It felt exceptional, to kiss Fez out in the open without fearing the consequences of it. Even if it was temporary, she could get drunk on that feeling.
When they parted and locked eyes with each other, Lexi hadn’t stopped smiling whatsoever, and Fez couldn’t refrain from grinning as well.
“Well, I guess that’s one way of telling the world we’re a couple, shawty,” Fez teased her before putting an arm around her shoulders to walk her to a more private place.
A couple. Lexi would’ve never thought she’d like the sound of that coming from Fezco O’Neill. But she did, and thankfully so, because the designation and the video of their kiss would soon be all over the news and the media, marking a significant change in their lives.