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Have fun with your friends, my Wren. Stay with Jules.
My heart sings at the way he calls mehisWren as I type my reply.
ME
I won’t be late. It’s just me and Matt now.
“We’re here.”
Jules pulls up at Cherry Blossom, and I drop my cell into my bag as he rounds the car to open the rear driver-side door for me. A handful of paparazzi are by the door, rushing to snap my picture as Jules escorts me inside.
“Can you pose for us, Wren?”
“Where’s Vaughn?”
“Over here, Miss Caputo!”
Jules pushes past them, shielding me with his body until we make it safely inside the door of the restaurant.
“What the hell was that about?”
Jules shrugs with a smirk. “That was your first social outing since announcing your relationship with one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.”
I frown heavily. “But we’re notina relationship.”
His face freezes before he throws his head back, laughter erupting from his mouth and making more than a handful of eyes shoot us a look.
“Oh, come on, kid. You hardly thought the media crawling at your exhibit last week were there for anything other than to show the world that you belong to Vaughn Burton. Even if the man himself wouldneveradmit that.”
A thrill of hope zaps through me, and I open my mouth to ask if he truly believes that, when Matt calls my name from a table toward the back of the space.
“Wren!”
Jules escorts me with his hand hovering over my lower back protectively. One of the diners proclaims the salmon is the best she’s ever tasted, and I’m instantly hungry, knowing exactly what I’m having now.
Once I’m seated, he moves away to take a seat by the bar as I smile broadly for my friend. “Long time no see, Matty. What gives?”
His smile mirrors mine as warmth fills his familiar features. “Been busy with family stuff and the gallery. Mom’s been ill, so I’ve—”
“Oh my God, I didn’t know. Is she okay? What’s wrong?”
My voice is filled with concern as guilt roils in my stomach. I would have gone back to South Brook and been able to help had I not explicitly promised Mom that I’d stay in the city with Vaughn.
But even so, that feels like an excuse cause the simple truth is I never want to leave. My life in South Brook feels like a million years ago.
I don’t know who that sheltered girl was, but I’m not her anymore.
“She’s been struggling with some stuff. Mostly to do with Marcus.”
His forehead creases for a moment before he shakes his head.
“Enough about that.” His smile returns. “I saw your exhibit all over the internet. Wren Caputo is the new hot commodity in the art world.”
My cheeks heat, and I shrug. “It’s all still so surreal.”
“In all the years I’ve known you, you kept your talent under lock and key. I knew you liked to sketch, but you never said how good you were.”
Matt shakes his head in amazement. “Seriously, I hadnoidea. And I thought I knew everything there was to know about the girl at the end of the bay.”
