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I rose to my feet in a dazed stupor, hardly focusing on following Flynn. We walked until we reached the library, the unofficial meeting ground lately.
He waved his hand at the cameras. “Go away. Get out.”
“We’re supposed to film everyth—”
“Does it look like I care? Leave. Now.”
They ducked out of our immediate vision as he shoved the wooden doors closed behind them.
“They’re probably just around the corner,” I muttered.
“As long as I can’t see them. We have to make this quick. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Who is she, Flynn?” I tried to keep the question as calm as possible.
“When I got to the airport the night of the welcome home party, she was being trampled by the crowd waiting for me outside baggage claim. I yanked her up off the floor and gave her a ride to her hotel. That’s it. End of story.” His words tumbled out in a rush, and he peered around as though he worried someone would burst in at any moment.
“Then why is she here?” I hissed.
“I don’t know.” He covered his face with his hands. “It’s a media spin, Harper. This is what I was telling you about. They take any story they want and tell a new one. I don’t get the angle, though. The longest we were together was in the car. And nothing happened.”
One giant leap forward, two steps back. Ever since this show began, there’d been a never-ending process of bobbing and weaving obstacles standing in the way of us. Which, I’m sure was the point, but it was exhausting.
How were relationships supposed to withstand this constant onslaught of negativity? Even with the upper hand of alone time in the café at night, it seemed like we were fighting a losing battle.
“You said you’d tell me everything. This isn’t telling me everything. You could have told me about Amber last night…”
“I didn’t tell you because there was nothing to tell.” Frustration flying off him, he turned to pace the small space, clenching and unclenching his hands. “I should’ve known. Charles was suspicious, but—”
“Charles?”
“My driver. He’s been with me for a long time, and he’s seen quite a bit. He worried it could be bad press, and I brushed him off.” He shook his head. “This is why I can’t trust anyone. Everyone has an agenda.”
“We’ll figure this out,” I replied, stepping forward to stop his pacing. I rested my hands on his biceps for just a moment. Then I ran my fingers down his arms until I found his hands and wove our fingers together. Touching him grounded me, and I could tell it helped him too.
“She’s not anyone to worry about. Not if we don’t let her be.”
The pleading in his eyes gutted me. I wanted to believe him. After all, Laurel had turned the tables on me more than once. There wasn’t much I’d put past her, and I felt sure she was behind this. Though I had no idea why.
“One thing at a time.”
He nodded, then lowered his head to touch mine. “If I didn’t have a signed contract with this show, I’d run away with you. Right this minute.”
“That’s not the solution, Flynn.”
He raised his head just enough to focus on my eyes. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, buttercup. No matter how messy this gets, I trust no one outside this room.” He paused, pointing to the door. “It’s you and me. I’ve meant every word I’ve said to you while we’ve been here.”
“I know you have, and I have too. I believe you.”
Even as wonderful as running away sounded, this had to play out. We just had to fight through it together. As long as we were a united front, we could withstand just about anything.
