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My phone dings, grabbing my attention. When I look, I see it’s Andrew. I forgot to text him.
Andrew: You said you’d text…and you haven’t.
The little devil emoji at the end of his message makes me laugh…but also makes my heart rate spike. Andrew showed me a glimpse of another side of him, but I know there’s more. I want to see it, experience it. I tell myself I won’t question where things between us are going, and I’ll just enjoy it.
Me: Sorry… I got distracted.
I add the angel emoji at the end, biting my lip as I press send. I imagine the mood is heavy at Jack and Andrea’s. Hopefully, our banter will give him a moment of reprieve from the stress of the situation.
Andrew: I’m planning your punishment for lying and disobeying.
Three devil emojis this time. Whew. I press my thighs together, knowing his punishment will hurt in the best way. Before I can respond, he messages me again.
Andrew: Reporters are here. They were already camped out when we got back from the café. They’re unrelenting.
What the fuck? It’s already worse than I thought.
Me: What should I do? You can all come and stay here. My apartment is small, but we can make do. Should I come pick you three up? Do you think you guys could sneak out the back? I can park on the next street over and bring you back here.
I get up and walk into my bedroom, taking my phone with me. I decide to prepare and put some jeans and a T-shirt on so I’m ready if they want me to come get them. My phone rings, and I see it’s Andrew.
“Hey,” I say, a little breathless from tugging my jeans up my legs when I answer.
“Why are you breathing like that?” His voice is deep and low. It sends a tingling sensation to my core.
I giggle. “I was putting my jeans on.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Why don’t you have pants on?” His voice is stern now.
I hear Andrea giggle in the background, and I realize he must have me on speakerphone. I’m glad I didn’t blurt out anything inappropriate. Andrew no doubt has a murderous look on his face. I can almost picture it.
I shake my head. “I’m getting dressed to come rescue the three of you.”
He releases a sigh of relief. What the hell did he think I was doing?
“Oh, well don’t do that just yet. We’re going to stay here, at least for tonight. SJ is coming here from the airport. We need to come up with a plan to be able to move around town. We won’t be held captive by these damn reporters,” Andrew states.
Fine. A small part of me is filled with sadness because he isn’t coming over. Even if we couldn’t have wild, kinky sex because Andrea and Jack would be here, too, at least we could be close to each other. Who is this clingy chick he’s bringing out in me?
“Okay, what can I do to help?”
They better not say “nothing” again. Every time anything happens, they leave me on the sidelines. I’m capable of helping, dammit.
“I’m glad you asked. How would you feel about being a decoy for the engagement party?” he asks, rushing out his words.
“Wait. What are you talking about, Andrew?” Andrea’s voice gets closer to the phone. He clearly hasn’t discussed his idea with her.
“Hear me out,” he says to Andrea. I hear her huff, but she doesn’t argue. “If Charlie will wear a wig—maybe a hat and sunglasses, too—we can likely pass her off as you. If the reporters follow her, you and Jack can go to Adalyn’s for your engagement party.”
“No, Charlie has to be there, too. She’s my best friend.” Andrea’s protest is stern.
My heart swells at her words. She’s been my best friend since the first day she came into the café looking for a job. We clicked immediately.
“No, I know. I’m not saying that at all,” Andrew explains. “We send Charlie the opposite direction of Addy’s house. Maybe even to the café. When the press realizes she’s not you, they’ll leave. When they do, she can come straight to the party.”
“Who’s here now?” Andrea asks. “I see headlights.”
Moments later, I hear a knock at the door over the phone.
