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“I know it’s up to you,” Eric said, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not trying to pressure you or anything like that—especially not after what happened. But that’s one reason I keep having this thought. I think every woman should have basic self-defense training. Under the circumstances, something like that might help you. You’ve got that bodyguard, but he wasn’t around when you were attacked, you know?”
He flicked a glare in Hunter’s direction. Fortunately, Hunter was rifling through his bag and didn’t notice.
Snow grimaced. She didn’t like Eric’s condemnation, but he had a point. Hunter couldn’t possibly be with her every second of the day. What would happen when the show ended? Would whoever this threatener was come after her once she’d gone home? Lily’s psychotic ex-boyfriend had followed her all the way from Vermont to Florida just so he could continue to hound her for money after they’d broken up.
“We could take a class,” Eric said. “Practice on each other.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“That is an amazing idea,” Snow said, letting Eric’s behavior and comment about Hunter slide. She had taken self-defense before, but it’d been a few years ago—long enough that when her attacker hit, any thoughts of techniques or strategies had fled her mind. “I could use a brush-up.”
“That’s great.”
She had intended to invite Clayton on her next date, but a date with Eric would work just as well. “I’ll text Eloise and have her make the arrangements.”
Eric beamed, and before Snow knew what was happening, he darted in to kiss her cheek.
“Oh.” Snow brought a hand to where his kiss had landed.
“I saw that,” one of the others called out. Carter punched Eric’s shoulder as he landed back into his made-up bed, still beaming.
“You better watch it tomorrow,” Snow said, keeping her attention on Eric. “I’ll be more prepared for unexpected attacks.”
“Looking forward to it.” Eric flashed her another grin and received outspoken chastisement from the others.
15
Footage from the attack and the resulting sleepover aired days later. Snow loved seeing replays of the amazing night, but she couldn’t relive the recording of the assault. Seeing it made her that much more eager for her date with Eric. Self-defense would help—and the thought reassured not only her but her parents when they called about what had aired.
“We heard what happened,” Mom had said over the phone. “We’re taking the first flight there.”
Snow had planted her face in her palm. “You don’t have to do that.”
“We are anyway. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“I won’t be,” Snow assured them.
“You’ve got someone staying with you until we get there?”
Snow’s high school best friend, Juliet Gaines, had flown in the day after the sleepover.
“Juliet came. She’ll be with me every second she can.”
She’d looked at Juliet, who’d been sitting on Snow’s couch and swiping through social media on her phone. Juliet’s long brown curls had been piled on her head in a messy bun. She’d flicked a glance toward Snow at the mention of her name and had given her a thumbs up.
“And I’ve got a bodyguard, Mom.” Snow had eyed Hunter as he maneuvered around the room. Even though Juliet was there, Hunter had insisted on being with her too. They hadn’t spoken much by way of serious topics since their dance, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of practically every move he made.
He was always watching her every time she looked in his direction, a fact that made the butterflies in her stomach flurry.
“Can you trust this person?” Daddy had asked. Apparently, they’d been on speaker.
“He saved my life. I’d be an idiot not to.” Hunter had paused then, narrowing his eyes in her direction. He’d lowered his chin and had leveled her with a look so penetrating she’d nearly forgotten she was on the phone until Mom had asked another question.
“And the show?” Mom had demanded. “What are they doing about this?”
“They’re looking into the threats,” Snow had assured them. “The police were just here, and they’re going to have people on hand too. Whoever is doing this is clumsy,” Snow had added. “They made the mistake of attacking me when I’m under such a microscope. They won’t get away with what they’re doing.”
The resulting silence had lasted a beat longer. “And you have no idea who it could be?” Mom had asked.
“I don’t,” Snow had said. She’d thought this over, and she hadn’t been able to pinpoint a single person who might hate her enough to want to do her harm. She’d always been a nice person. Even in grade school the only reason people wanted to get back at her was for being so annoyingly happy and upbeat. But her happiness had always been to her advantage. And she would make sure it was now.
