Page 30 of Can’t Say No

Mrs. Crane taps loudly with her baton, spittle flying for emphasis. The alto section blinks back at her wide-eyed, but their volume increases and the melody sounds infinitely better.

Small-town choir teacher or not, she just might be a musical genius. I still can’t decide if I’m obsessed with her or terrified of her.

Our incognito selfies the other day were a hit. Internet sleuths got to work quickly and almost immediately Connor’s identity was leaked. Two major tabloids picked up the story last week and now it’s been spreading like wildfire.

Delaney James Returns Home to Rekindle a Long-Lost Romance.

Honestly? It has a great ring to it. A hell of a lot better than the headlines all summer:

Delaney James Falling from Grace?

Is This Starlet Burning Out?

A Drunk Delaney Seen Stumbling During Recent Performance.

To my credit, I wasn’t all that drunk. Mostly just exhausted. Mostly.

The bell rings and the senior choir files out, with a few students wishing Mrs. Crane and I a good weekend. I’m about to leave too when the choir director catches my arm.

“I forgot to mention,” she says slowly, looking me up and down over the rims of her glasses, “you’ll be chaperoning the senior choir trip next week. We stay in a cabin for a long weekend, perform at a local school and a nursing home. Go to a local theme park. It’s a blast.” Her deadpan expression makes me think otherwise. She narrows her eyes at me, analyzing.

“Maybe you can, I don’t know, tone down the whole famous look.” Her voice drips with condescension and it’s almost laughable how serious she is.

I narrow my eyes right back.

“Not much I can do to change one of the most recognizable faces in America… but I’ll see what I can do.”

I flash her a disingenuous smile.

I bend to grab my bag when she adds, “Mr. Majors will be on the trip as well. I hear from the students you two are going together. No funny business, or this little gig is up.”

And there it is. A threat from yet another puppet master. Play the game, and play it right, or you’re out. And damn it, I was just starting to warm up to Mrs. Crane.

I straighten slowly, locking eyes with her. Can’t let her win.

Megawatt smile, sweet Southern accent, girl-next-door Delaney James vibes fully in place.

“Yes, ma’am, no funny business, I promise.”

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, she lets me walk out the door. I never thought I’d be adding chaperone to my list of skills, but I determine right then and there to be the best damn chaperone she’s ever had.

At least it will break up the monotony.

Early mornings, errands around the school all day, a run when I get home. A big, boring salad for supper and a glass of wine afterward.

Okay… two glasses minimum, but there’s no amount of wine to make these days more exciting.

Chaperoning a group of high school seniors for a weekend doesn’t sound all that thrilling either, but I’ll take what I can at this point. And a long weekend with Connor means a lot of opportunities to sell our relationship.

My traitorous heart beats a little faster at that thought. A whole weekend of sharing a cabin with Connor. I try to shake off the thrill. This is strictly business, just work, fake.

My head understands it, but my heart hasn’t quite seem to get the memo.

“You’re really gonna pack those?” Matty’s mouth on my phone screen is wide open in mock horror as I hold up a pair of bedazzled jeans that are, okay, a little ridiculous, but make my ass look incredible. “I thought the plan was for you to lay low and blend in on this trip.”

“Yes, that’s the goal, but let’s be real,” I say, pulling out another pair of pants, some tight-fitting black denim, “How realistic is that gonna be? I haven’t been able to go anywhere without getting recognized since I was seventeen. Besides, I really only have stuff like this.” Glancing around my closet, there’s an inordinate amount of sequins and glitter and crop tops. Nothing that really screams responsible adult chaperone.

“I think you need to call… what’s her name? Catherine? Candice? And go on a little emergency shopping trip.” Matty suggests through the phone.