AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Vespas are very trendy on the West Coast.”
“Hawaii, too, I guess,” I said, remembering how many times I’d wished I had one while navigating the streets of Honolulu during recruiting duty. But it would probably look pretty ridiculous for me to cruise around in my delta uniform on a Vespa. Not sure how many guys would wanna be a lean, mean Marine after seeing me roll up like that. “Anyway, go on.”
“So, your video inspired the idea, which prompted some social media stalking, where she discovered you were a Marine. So she asked her assistant to look into the flash mob company, and apparently, her assistant moonlights for the CIA because she figured out you fell in love with your flash mob choreographer.”
I felt my face contort into a twisted grimace. “What? That is so creepy.”
“I think it’s funny.”
“You wouldn’t think it was funny if they were random old dudes Internet stalking you and not a movie star and her assistant.”
Shelby looked at the ceiling. “Yeah, okay. Valid point.”
“So, what does all of this have to do with next weekend?”
“Oh, right. Okay, so Paige loved our story, and since she’s a Marine wife herself, she wanted to reach out and offer me a job choreographing the scene. So I’m flying out to LA on Monday to do it, and she even invited you if you’re able to take leave. But she totally knows how it is if you can’t, so no pressure.”
Slowly, I set down my coffee mug and leaned back in the booth. “Wait, hang on. So, you’re saying you already agreed to take the job?”
A little crease appeared between Shelby’s brows as she stared at me. “What was I supposed to do, tell her I’d get back to her? It’s Paige Walker, Paul.”
“Uh, yeah.That’s exactly what you were supposed to do. Do you even know how long the hours are that you’d have to work? I’m sure it’s like twelve-hour days and a grueling schedule.”
“It’ll be fine. I told her I had a heart condition and would need to take breaks and stuff, and she said she’d already seen my video on my channel, so she knew about it before she asked me.”
I swallowed, nodding. “Okay, well, that’s cool, I guess. But I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Her back straightened then, making me gulp. That was a bad sign. “Okay, well, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. Besides, if you’re worried about it, come with me so you can keep an eye on me.”
“Shel, I can’t come with you. I just went back to work after taking emergency leave to help you with your recovery. I’m lucky they let me do that since we’re not married. I had to tell them we’re basically engaged, just hadn’t made anything official yet, for them to agree to let me do it.”
A small smile tugged the corner of her mouth up. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really. Because to me, that’s what we are. That’s where we’re headed, right?”
“Right.”
“Okay, cool. But listen, there’s no way they’ll let me go with you to LA so you can choreograph a TV show. No matter how much I want to go with you, I can’t.”
Shelby pursed her lips. “I mean, that stinks, and I really wish you could come, but I understand why you can’t, and I’m glad you were able to take off so you could help me.”
“Wait, you’re still going to go? Even though I can’t come to make sure you’re okay?”
“Of course I am.”
I blew air out my nostrils as we locked gazes in a standoff. “Of courseyou are?”
“Yes. I’ve been pretty short on dreams coming true lately and being able to choreograph a flash mob for a TV show with a famous actress seems like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. So yeah, I’m still going to go.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, not caring at all that I was acting like a guard dog, exactly like her girlfriends accused me of. “Well, I don’t think you should.”
“Well, I appreciate your opinion, but I’m going.”
I gaped at her. “Myopinion? Really?”
“What?”
“Don’t you think it should be more than just anopinionat this point?”
