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Trevor is still clutching his leg when I take his hand. “Can you walk?”
“What?” he croaks. He’s staring at our linked hands like he didn’t hear me the first time.
I lead him towards the door, and everyone makes room for us to pass. He limps quietly by my side until we make it out of the café.
“Hand me your keys. I’ll drive,” I say as I scan the curbs for the fancy car he’ll obviously drive.
“You sure about that?” Trevor asks as he reaches into his pocket for his key. He hands them over and chuckles as I press the button to unlock his car.
The car’s beep draws my attention. I turn to spot the black Ford truck parked on the other side of the street and scoff.
“Surprising,” I say, then take his hand again to lead the way. “I was expecting a convertible.”
“You think I’d let you drive my baby? And risk you ramming into a fence with it? No way. You have a terrible sense of direction.”
He’s laughing, and I can’t help but chuckle too because Trevor isn’t wrong. “That was a long time ago. I’ve learned how to drive.”
“And how many cars did you ruin while practicing?” he teases again as I open the front passenger seat door for him.
Trevor’s teasing laugh continues as I get in the driver’s seat and start the engine. “Better hold on for your dear life,” I threaten jokingly.
Chapter 4
Trevor
We spend over an hour in the hospital’s outpatient center as a nurse attends to me in a private room. Gracie is pacing as she watches them apply a burn ointment to my thigh.
I keep staring at her, admiring every expression on her face while my heart does a speedy dive and threatens to burst out of my ribcage.
Gracie’s obvious worry for me is touching. It makes me melt inside and soothes me. I crave feeling her hand over mine again.
“He’ll be fine,” the nurse says to her once she’s done. “It’s a good thing you poured cool water over the spot first, Mrs. Hawkins. That’s always the perfect first-aid for a burn.”
Gracie flushes instantly. “We’re not …”
“Thank you,” I interrupt, knowing she’s about to correct the nurse. I smile when Gracie glares at me before she rolls her eyes. “I’ll keep applying the ointment.”
The nurse smiles at me and is about to leave the room when she turns around again and takes a notepad out of her pocket. “Do you mind signing this for me? My son loves you!”
“Sure.” I scribble my signature over the notepad, and then she takes out her phone and hands it to Gracie for a picture.
Gracie takes the photo, and once we’re alone, she sighs and asks with a lovely crimson flush on her cheeks, “Why would you let her think we’re married?”
“Who cares what she thinks?” I reply cheerily, then rise to my feet and gently lower my scalded leg. “No one knows we are here, anyway. Besides, a little role-play wouldn’t hurt, you know?”
My teasing doesn’t make her laugh, but I muffle a chuckle when she reddens further.
Gracie’s still frowning when I extend a hand to her, wanting to hold her close,when I notice two girls recording usfrom a corner. “Do you mind?”
She looks at me, and I let my eyes linger over hers for a moment before I smile.
She takes my hand, and we head out of the room together. When I notice that the same girls who were recording inside the hospital are following us, I link our fingers before Gracie can object, and we successfully exit the hospital.
I’ve been in the spotlight long enough to notice when I’m being watched or followed. It’s also easy to spot a real paparazzi versus some hopeless fans.They are definitely not paparazzi.
My first thought is to protect Gracie’s privacy and identity. She glances at me and asks, “Do you mind if we make a quick stop? I was supposed to pick up some supplies today from the local market near the beach and the first order of books in six months.”
“I don’t mind at all,” I say with a smile, holding her gaze for a moment longer.