‘How famous are you?’
‘Very.’ He turns to take one more look at the flower wall behind us.
‘What’s it like, being famous?’
He goes silent which makes me steal a glance at him. His head is once again bowed and he’s staring blankly at something on the floor. ‘My girlfriend and I are not really a couple. It’s fake. My team have told me my career needs this high-profile engagement as fans will love it. Soon everyone will rush in here and film my big proposal.’
‘I am sensing you’re not fully embracing this fake relationship?’
He lets out a heavy sigh. ‘I just want to be me. Not Rocco Reid. Even that’s made up. My real name is Rob Smith. Years ago, I was in love with this girl from my hometown. She was everything to me. I was going to ask her to marry me and then I got a decent part in a film and my life went in another direction. I’ve never met anyone like her.’
‘What’s she doing now?’
He shrugs. ‘Divorced with a little girl. I often check on her. You see I broke her heart before I left for my big acting career. I ended our relationship, and she was upset.’
This is sounding familiar, and I can feel Noah related irritation bubbling up inside of me. ‘Rocco… sorry… Rob, do me a favour and don’t go back to your hometown, get a job in a romance-themed café, and start working alongside her. Trust me it doesn’t work.’
He’s grinning at me. ‘Ah, I see. Did that guy out there break your heart? Do you want me to set my minder on him?’
The urge to sayyes pleaseis strong but I refrain.
Rocco looks at me. ‘I am jealous of you two.’
I laugh. ‘Jealous?’
‘You’ve been given a second chance. I’d bite someone’s hand off for a second chance with Freya. You’re very lucky to be in this position.’ He looks at me. ‘You remind me a lot of Freya: plucky, strong willed and you don’t pay much attention to my celebrity status. Those qualities are refreshing. He’s a lucky guy out there.’
I shake my head. ‘He’s annoying.’
Rocco grins and takes out his phone. ‘Alice, you have saved me in more ways than one today.’
Before I have a chance to reply we’re surrounded by his team and an attractive blonde-haired woman who wants everyone to call her Lil Tia and who won’t stop talking about her next album which will be a celebration of her love for Rocco Reid.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
@NaomiTheTiredMummyBlogger: As you can see from my pic of Rocco Reid striding out of the #LittleLoveCafé by himself, he and Lil Tia have SPLIT up – OMG I am in shock!
@Crazyfakebakeanna: WTF? Rocco Reid has SPLIT from his popstar girlfriend at the #LittleLoveCafé – my heart is broken. He and Lil Tia were everything. Will she scrap her new material and do a break-up album?’
@JennyCranon123 posts: I now agree with @JeremyLightYear – that place should be renamed #HeartBreakCafé
It’s the day after my drama with Rocco Reid. I needed a crane to lift me out of bed and Dad and Lucas had laughed at me as I hobbled down to breakfast. Saving Rocco’s life in the rough sea has strained every muscle in my entire body.
I walk into work with aching legs and arms. At the café, I am met by Noah giving me an uncomfortable look. ‘Rocco Reid and his girlfriend have split up, Alice.’
‘Oh God, really? How do you know that?’
‘It’s plastered across social media. What exactly did you say to him in the Snug?’ His voice has an edge to it.
Staring at him I can feel a red filter sliding over my eyes. ‘What do you mean by that? Noah – I don’t like your accusatory tone.’
Noah’s face tenses. ‘You wrestle him out of the sea and then he splits up with his girlfriend after a lengthy chat with you in the Snug.’
‘I saved him from drowning, Noah.’ In a huff, I storm off to the counter.
Noah follows. ‘You kicked him, Alice.’
I spin round to face Noah. ‘Rocco Reid was pulling us both under the water. I kicked him to save our lives.’
