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Drew's eyes wandered to the basket hanging on my arm. "Got a cold, I'm guessing."
I quickly covered my left hand with my right when I realized I’d forgotten to wear my fake wedding ring to the store. Even though we hadn't seen each other in years, I was pretty sure my mom had sent Drew a wedding announcement.
"No…I'm undercover, too." I laughed awkwardly but had to stop because I felt another coughing fit coming on. Once it passed, I said, "Okay, so maybe I have a cold."
"I thought so." He glanced around, and I couldn't tell if he was looking for his stalkers, or if he really just wanted to get away from me. But I needed to try to fix what happened between us. I hated the way we'd left things all those years ago. Aiden would want us to make things better.
"What's with the get-up anyway?" I asked. The Drew I knew from years ago would never dream of leaving the house without making sure each hair was in its perfect spot. Plus, didn’t he have a housekeeper or personal assistant to run his errands for him?
"It's the only way I can go out in public these days. Ever since I signed on to be the bachelor forFinding Your Soulmate, I haven't been able to go anywhere without having at least one girl freaking out on me. I really just wanted to grab a carton of milk without being mobbed."
Of course,I realized. Drew was the Billionaire Bachelor; it was a given that he'd have flocks of girls stampeding after him everywhere he went.
"Did you just get back from filming then?" I asked, hoping he'd continue our conversation. "Here, let's go down that way. Sorority girls are probably less likely to be searching for you in there." I nodded toward the feminine hygiene aisle.
Drew made a face like it was the last place he wanted to go, but when a chorus of high-pitched squeals sounded from nearby, he rushed forward.
"We got back last month. Right before Thanksgiving," he said, answering my question.
"We? As in you and your fiancée?" I prodded.
He shook his head with a smile that said he knew I was trying to get him to slip up on his secret. "I meant,weas in me and the rest of production."
"They trained you well." I grinned. "Did you have to practice that with the producers before they allowed you back in public again?"
"That, and the fact that they could sue me if I spoiled the ending is helping me keep tight-lipped."
"Which would set you back so far," I joked. Even though we hadn't seen each other in person for years, it was hard to miss seeing him in the media. He had done very well for himself. What was a hundred-thousand-dollar lawsuit when you had billions of dollars to your name?
He shook his head and gave me a humble smile.
Maybe all the fame and money hadn't gone to his head like I'd assumed when I saw the promo for this show’s season. "I guess I'm still not used to that. And even if I didn't mind being sued, I'd hate to spoil the show for you. I remember how much you used to love watching it."
"How thoughtful of you." I smiled. "Can you sayanythingabout your time as the bachelor?"
Drew pursed his lips as he was thinking…which looked ridiculous what with his fake shaggy mustache poking out on the sides.
"I'll just say this, it was a lot harder to be the bachelor than I thought."
“Yeah.” I almost snorted. "Dating twenty-five beautiful women is so hard. I bet all the guys who watch the show feel so bad for you."
"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively, tucking some loose strands from his frizzy wig behind his ears. At least it better be a wig. "Anyway, what have you been up to? I got your announcement. Sorry I wasn't able to make it to your wedding last summer."
I tightened my grip on my left hand and gave him the answer I'd given all of my old friends over the past few months.
"Things are great!" I pumped enthusiasm into my voice. "I'm working part-time for a newspaper and still working on my screenplays when I get the chance."
He didn't seem to notice I'd left out anything regarding Nolan.
Which was good.
I really didn't want to go into the fact that I'd been blind enough not to see the warning signs before jumping into a marriage that only lasted a couple of months.
"Good for you." Drew's grin broadened. "That's awesome you're still writing screenplays. Have you tried getting one of them out there yet?"
I shrugged. I’d probably sound like such a failure in his eyes. While he'd found more success than anyone ever dreamed of, I'd never even gotten anyone to take a look at my work. "I tried shopping one really hard last year, but I didn't have any bites. I guess it helps if you actually have a connection in the business." Yet another thing I'd failed at.
My old roommate, Ivy Evans, had been friends with the famous actor, Justin Banks, in high school. But since Ivy hated him after he’d stood her up on prom night, I didn’t exactly feel comfortable trying to get Ivy to pass my screenplays along to Justin.
