Marianne eyed me as if I’d grown a second head. “Right… Well. I’ll email you the details. Wear something hot. Try not to fall in love on the carpet, yeah?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there.”
She stopped mid-scroll and looked up at me. “Bring Juniper.”
That yanked me out of my haze. “What?”
“You know. Yourgirlfriend? The one half of the internet’sobsessed with? It’ll be good press — soften your image. Fanslovea date-night moment.”
My mouth went dry.
Because the idea of her in some ridiculous, perfect dress — on my arm, under all those flashing lights — made my chest ache in a way I didn’t want to think too hard about.
“Uh — yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I’ll ask her.”
Marianne grinned. “Great. We’ll arrange travel and accommodations. I’ll text them to you in an hour or so. And for God’s sake, Barlowe, try not to look so… whatever this is. People will start thinking you actually like her.”
Whoops.
Too late.
Because the whole way back to my trailer, all I could think about was her hand on the back of my neck. Her lips on mine. And how badly I wanted to do it again.
CHAPTER 34
The knock came just past eleven.
I was curled up on the couch, half-asleep, a dog-eared copy of ‘The Way We Move’in my lap. Dad was already in bed — he had an early morning tomorrow — and the house was quiet except for the hum of the heater.
When I opened the door, Ansel stood there, hands in his pockets, looking unfairly good in jeans and a worn baseball cap.
“It’s late,” I whispered.
“I know.” His grin was sheepish, crooked. “Can you come outside?”
My brows lifted. “Why?”
“Because your dad likes me too much for me to ruin it by sneaking through his house like a teenager.”
I rolled my eyes but stepped out anyway, closing the door behind me. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Correct.”
It was cold. He must’ve noticed the way I shivered, because without a word he tugged me into his jacket, his arm wrapping around me like it was the easiest thing in the world.
God, the way I melted against his chest, the way his arms curled around me… it felt real. It felt just adjacent toforever. If I weren’t careful, I could catch myself making a really stupid mistake.
And yet… we wandered down the street like that — quiet, aimless, laughing under our breath at nothing at all. It felt…young.Careless in a way I hadn’t felt in years.
Somewhere between the corner and the park, he stopped walking. “Are you cold?” He turned, eyes studying my face with great scrutiny.
“Maybe a little? Itisalmost midnight in Seattle.”
“Let’s get you home.” He looped his arm through mine and turned us back to my house.
I tried — failed — to tamper down the grin that I felt tugging at the corner of my lips. “Did you come all this way just for a walk?”
He shook his head, sandy curls falling into his eyes. “No, it’s okay. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
