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“I understand.” I finger the pendant around my neck.
He doesn’t believe me. “Laurel—”
“What? We’ve only gone on one date.” Officially. “How invested do you think I am?”
He doesn’t answer, but he must recognize that I’m so in love, I don’t even care that the media is already shipping us as the hottest couple of the year. Because we are. Why fight it?
Thinking about the few (hundred) social media posts I scrolled through this morning and all the comments that ignored the music and focused on how good Jace and I look together plants a smile onto my face.
Dad grumbles, “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I’d like to sleep a while. Last night wasn’t great.”
“Rest well. And think about what I told you.”
“I will.” I take my moaning skeleton to my room. “What were we just talking about?”
Dadtsks behind me.
Track 30
Same Old Story
Laurel
The media siege continues a week after my date with Jace. I get tired of their never-ceasing presence, so I sneak out, with the help of Hal. He drives to work, I hide in the back seat of his car, and nobody follows us. Woot!
“Would you get me a green smoothie with extra protein?” Hal asks as he gets out of his car. “I didn’t have time to eat breakfast.”
“Where from?” I stretch my hand out for his car keys.
“Just down the street.” He points at a tiny cafe next to the bookshop and drops his credit card into my hand. “Green. Don’t get me any others. They sound good, but they’re disgusting.”
“Okay.” I can definitely handle a quick trip to get him some food.
The morning is nice and cool. I text Jace and don’t even fidget while I wait in line at the cafe. The cashier must think I’m crazy because I smile the whole time. My anxiety is trying to break though, but I keep it at bay.
Smoothie acquired, I hurry back to Hal to brag how I’m winning life again. He’ll be so proud of me—
A guy dressed in all gray jumps out of the tiny business next to Hal’s shop. “Miss Halifax! What a coincidence!”
Coincidence. Right. I clutch Hal’s smoothie to my chest. “You are…” Trespassing? No. Technically, the sidewalk is a public space.
“My name is Roy Wentworth. I’m with theAll Truemagazine. Could you, please, spare a couple minutes?”
“No.” I attempt to sidestep him, but he blocks my way. Persistent. The more professional paparazzi always are. But this one is also lucky. I’m not a frequent visitor to Hal’s shop. He couldn’t bank on me eventually showing up here.
“Are you in a relationship with Jace Blackmore? When did you start dating? Is it serious?” The questions fly out of his mouth with such impressive speed that I forget to be angry, but only for a moment.
“You are being rude.” My voice is stronger than usual and stern.
“Who initiated it, you or him?” He steps even closer, shoving his tiny recorder almost up into my nostrils.
“My guard is in that shop,” I lie, anxiety shifting from a tender, manageable simmer into full panic. “Leave!” I push past him and run into Guardian of Rock, where I cross the main floor and thrust the smoothie into Hal’s hands with so much force, the lid pops open.
“You okay?” Hal asks, licking green splashes off his hands.
“Yeah.” Glancing over my shoulder, I catch the figure clad in gray approaching the door. He presses both hands to the glass to peer in, his face set in a deep scowl, then steps away and studies the shop’s sign. He doesn’t come in, though, and I breathe out, safe.
