Page 87 of The Right Sign


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I ignore all of them and make a walking away gesture to Yaya. She signs her response—which I don’t understand and then waves goodbye—a gesture which I do understand.

Mosely walks with me, knowing what I want to ask before I ask it. “It worked, sir,” he says in a low voice. “The interview is trending online, and it buried our PR statement regarding Lucy’s… current activities.”

“And Lucy’s video?”

“Nothing can be truly scrubbed from the internet,” Mosely whispers, “but I can assure you that everyone is more interested in your mysterious girlfriend than in your sister’s rocky path to sobriety.” He shows me his phone. “And on that note, I’ve just received an invitation from the Social Hum Magazine.”

“They want a spread?” My eyebrows arch.

“Yes, I was surprised as well. I believe whoever they had scheduled was kicked off to accommodate a much bigger story. Do you want to take it? Photoshoot only. Their photographer is in the city. The PR team can type up an approved information packet. You wouldn’t need to do a personal interview.”

It won’t hurt to hammer in our story with a magazine shoot.

I check my watch. “When’s my meeting with Cullen Tech?”

“They’re… uh… flexible.”

There’s a small beat of discomfort for both of us.

“Can we move it to this afternoon?”

“I’ll see it done.” Mosely walks off.

When I turn around, Yaya and Patel are gone, but Athena is waiting for me.

“Well done, Dare,” she says, a twinkle in her eye. “I think you made her waver.”

“Not enough that she’ll admit it.”

“Be patient.” She pats my shoulder in a motherly fashion. “Pushing too hard might cause more damage than help.”

“It’s hard to be patient when she’s kissing me on national television,” I murmur.

“Take it as a good sign.”

Laughter rings out. Yaya and Patel are in the hallway that leads to the bathrooms. She’s smiling at him and, even if I know it’s harmless, I still feel jealous.

Athena’s voice pierces my focus. “Dare?”

“You have any more advice for me?”

“Don’t over-coddle her. She’s a normal person. Treat her like one.”

“She’s more than just a ‘normal’ person to me. I want to spoil her.”

“Not yet,” Athena says firmly. “No matter how strong she is, she’s still sensitive about the differences between you. It won’t take much to step on a nerve and you don’t know her well enough to avoid those triggers yet.”

“Got anything more concrete? Something I can actuallydo?”

Yaya and Patel walk in our direction.

“I think you’re already doing that. Learning sign language was the right call.” Athena tilts her head up at me and smirks. “It doesn’t hurt that you’re rich and handsome.”

Patel and Yaya arrive, cutting our conversation short.

“What are you two whispering about?” Patel signs as he speaks.

“The weather,” I sign.

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