Page 74

“You good?” he asks.

“Yup,” I reply, and we continue on our journey.

The city slides past the windows, the heating is on, and the music’s playing low— something instrumental I don’t recognize.

“Is this you?” I ask.

He glances at the speaker. “Yeah, just some old stuff. I use it as a reference track.” He shuts it down. Riiight then.

There’s something I’ve been wondering since we left, but asking it feels embarrassingly self-important.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Always dangerous when you start like that.”

I hesitate.

“Do I need to worry about…paparazzi?”

Cal turns his head and laughs.

Heat climbs my neck. “Forget I asked.”

“No, sorry.” He reaches across and briefly squeezes my knee. “I’m not laughing at you.”

“You very clearly are.”

“I’m laughing because you looked distressed saying the word paparazzi.”

“I’ve never had to factor photographers into an outfit before. Plus being news isn’t something I really want.”

“You don’t need to tonight.”

“Really?”

“In LA? Yeah. They’re everywhere.” He rests one hand loosely on the wheel. “Half the reason people go to those events is to be photographed going into them. The arrival is basically part of the job.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It is.”

“And Denver?”

“Denver doesn’t give a shit.”

I relax back into the seat. “Good.”

“Disappointed?”

“Deeply. I was hoping to make the front page.”

“You still could.”

“How?”

His eyes move over me once before returning to the road. Slow enough that I feel it everywhere.

“Walk in wearing that dress.”