In which case, I’ve fully ignored it.
That’s not embarrassing at all.
The sun gleams over the ocean, shining brightly despite my black shades. Benny pulls into a small lot next to a faded red shack with picnic tables haphazardly lining the long sea grass.
“Best fish and chips around,” he calls over his shoulder.
I can feel his voice vibrating through his chest, which is weird. I need to put distance between us, stat. Letting go, I swing my leg over the bike and stand up, feeling my purse to make sure nothing fell out, but it’s still zipped.
“Hold on,” Benny says, removing his helmet. He runs his fingers through his hair, then reaches for mine. His hands pause, bracketing my head. His blue eyes pierce me, holding my feet in place. “Want to, uh, hold down your hair?”
He means my wig. Here I am getting a dry mouth over the way his eyes soak me in, but he’s only trying to make sure I don’t reveal my identity on my first outing in town.
“Yeah, thanks.” My chuckle is awkward as I get a good grip on the wavy blonde hair while he gently pulls the helmet free. My wigs are solid movie quality, so it stays put. Mostly. A little adjustment in his tiny side-view mirror and I’m good to go.
There are a handful of groups eating at the tables, which spikes my heart rate a notch. This will be the real test. If I can pull this off, I’m safe for the month to move at will in this town. I’m in yoga pants and a pink tank with wavy blonde hair cascading down my back, so I feel like I blend in. There will be no reason to remove my sunglasses, because the order window for the shack is outside.
We’ll sit. We’ll eat. We’ll leave.
“Ben!” a guy calls from the tables, lifting a hand in a wave.
Great.
Benny waves back, then faces me. “Should we order?”
We place separate orders—leaving both under Ben’s name—drawing a clear delineation between us. This is not a date. I brought cash with me when I left Florida—a lot of cash—incase someone thinks to check my card activity to track me down.
I’ve watched too many Tom Cruise movies.
The only charge they’ll see is for the Airbnb, which won’t give my location away, just that I’m not staying in a hotel.
It would be a good idea to send Noah a text, but I’ve been putting it off. Once I pop that bubble and connect with the outside world, there’s no going back. I left a note when I ran away so he’d know how much to feed Peanut and understand that I’d be coming back for her. I’m sure he isn’t too worried. He and Cat have a newborn taking up all their focus, anyway.
We step beneath the awning to gather napkins and vinegar while we wait.
“I’ll probably have to say hi to that group, but we don’t need to sit with them.” Benny rubs the back of his neck. “If you don’t want anyone to know you’re here, it’s probably best if you don’t talk at all.”
Wait. What?
“Why?” I ask.
Ben narrows his eyes, which I can faintly see behind his sunglasses. “Your voice is pretty easy to recognize. Youarefamous for it, you know.”
“I can disguise my tone.” Which I had just demonstrated, bringing it up an octave. A little more Barbie, a little less me.
He laughs, but quickly smothers it. His ocean eyes are glittering. “Seriously?”
“If you think it’s necessary, I’ll do it,” I say, keeping up the Barbie. “I’d rather not leave when I only just got here.”
Benny goes still. “Leave the beach, or leave Bodega Bay?”
“Leave California.” If I’m discovered, I’ll go home and hole up with my comforter and my dog. I really should call Noah and check on her, but I can’t face him yet. I can’t face anyone.
I set my phone toDoNot Disturbmode when I left Florida, and since I changed the settings to approve Benny andonlyBenny, I haven’t had to face anyone else yet. All the notifications piling up don’t alert me, and I can clear them with a simple swipe of my finger, allowing me to prolong my ignorant bliss. I’m sure my agent and my momager and probably my brother are all wondering where I am.
Logically, I recognize I should at least inform them I’ve made it to my destination. But the song releases in two days, and then everyone will know exactly why I ran and hid. They’ll understand that I’m safely cowering and not kidnapped.
Besides, my note covered that.
