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“Serena said she came over and met you. How did that go?”
I lie so easily to him, and if he can tell, he doesn’t let on. “Oh, that was fine. Yeah, Serena’s great.” There is only a touch of sarcasm in my voice.
Aiden picks up on it and laughs. “She’s quite full of herself.”
I nod in agreement. Clearly, he thinks our exchange was about something entirely different than it was. I don’t want to burst his bubble, so I let him go on thinking that. “She certainly is.”
“How was the merch she brought in for you?” Emma asks him.
His eyes light up and he goes into a whole description of all of it. Apparently there are T-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers—all with the likeness of Crave on them. There are even some pieces with Serena and Crave.
“It looks so awesome. You should run out there and check it out. But don’t worry about buying anything. I’m having a few pieces brought back with us. Something for both of you plus Mom and Dad.”
“Thanks,” I say, hoping my smile meets my eyes.
“That’s amazing,” Emma says. “Thank you. I need a new Crave hoodie. My old one has been getting a lot of use.”
“I’m sure it has,” Aiden teases. Brent calls him over and Aiden tells us, “I’ve gotta run, ladies. But hey, make sure you get some food or something. We’ll be heading out of here in a bit.”
Emma makes her way over to the food and starts piling some on a plate. I just push my food around and wait for it to be time to leave.
Derek makes his way over once Serena leaves for a bathroom break.
“Hey,” he says, dropping down beside me. “How are you holding up?”
I roll my eyes and reply, “Peachy.”
“She said she talked to you. Was she friendly?”
“Sure,” I tell him, the irritation seeping in. “You two seem to be getting along pretty well. She doesn’t seem to be annoying you too much.”
“It’s called acting, Aud,” he reminds me.
“Then you deserve an Oscar.”
“Come on, Audrey,” he says, leaning into me. “You know it’s just an act.”
“You guys did great tonight,” I tell him, trying to change the subject.
“Are you okay?”
“You looked great, and I hear the merchandise she’s providing fans is great too. Will that be at all her tour stops?”
“I think so. But what’s going on? Why won’t you let me check on you?”
“You did. I said I was fine. Now can we drop it?”
“I just get the feeling that you’re not,” he tells me.
“Well, that’s your issue, not mine,” I spit at him.
“Fine. If this is the way you want to play it, go for it.”
“I will,” I reply.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No one said you did.”
