Page 153 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“Wait.” He snagged her by the arm. “Hold up.”

She whirled. “Do you really think posting No Trespassing signs means a thing to those people? They just got their biggest story of the year. Callie Davis—world-famous artist who also happens to be Little Girl Lost.” Her eyes filled as she turned for the closet.

He clenched and unclenched his jaw, trying his damnedest not to lose his cool while the world went to shit around him. “So you’re just going to leave?”

“Yes.” She hurried over to the bed, flinging her luggage on the mattress as tears poured down her cheeks. “I’m doing this for you.”

His eyes went huge. “For me? I didn’t ask you to.”

“That’s because you have no idea what’s in store.” She walked over to the chest of drawers, scooped up the majority of her socks, panties, and bras, and dumped them in. “Your privacy’s gone. Molly’s and Gwen’s. Everyone’s on this island.” She dashed at her cheeks and went back for another armload.

“Stop.” He grabbed her by the wrist, then settled his hands on her shoulders to keep her in place. “Stop,” he said more gently.

“They’ll leave faster if they know I’m not here.”

“I want you to stay.”

She shook her head. “The photographers who followed us outside my building this last weekend—that’s not even close to what this is going to be like.”

“I don’t care.”

“You’re linked to me—personally and professionally.” She sucked in an unsteady breath. “They’re going to be after you as much as they are me.”

“Callie—”

“They’ll dig into your past,” she stopped when her voice broke. “They’ll talk about your divorce and speculate about whether or not you and I are going to get married. They’ll make comments about my weight and the clothes I wear, constantly hinting that I’m pregnant with your baby simply because you’re the first man I’ve dated since Josh Moore. They’re going to pester you about what you know about my case—about our romantic relationship. Anything that was yours or ours is fair game.”

“I get that, but I thought you and I were in this thing for the long haul. I thought that’s where we were heading.”

“So did I. But today has reminded me that I was being foolish.” She let loose a trembling breath. “I’m not a normal person. Nothing about my situation is fair to you.”

“But taking my choices away from me is?”

She turned away and started crying.

“Come here.” He pulled her around and wrapped her up.

She held him tight, pressing her face to his chest. “You don’t deserve this, Nate,” she said, her voice muffled by his shirt.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “Neither do you.”

She lifted her head, her face tear-stained. “When my career took off, I knew this was one of the risks. I didn’t actually think anyone would ever find out I was Little Girl Lost. I could barely bring myself to think about it, but that’s not the point. I knew.”

“And I knew your life came with trappings. A couple of them really suck, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything because they’re part of who you are.”

“I can’t do this to you.”

“As far as I can tell, it’s already done.” He wiped her cheeks. “And it’s not your fault.”

She lost her composure again. “What are we going to do?”

“Get through it. Together.”

“If it gets to be too much—”

He shook his head, pressing his finger to her lips.

She pulled his finger away. “If it gets to be too much, I want you to tell me. That’s our deal.”