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My phone buzzes again.
Lacey: ‘Rachel just sent over the coming schedule. Is she trying to kill us?’
Me: ‘Pretty sure that’s her goal. You okay with it all?’
Lacey: ‘As long as there’s coffee. Lots of coffee.’
Me: ‘I’ll stock up.’
I can picture her smile as she types, and I can hear her voice in my head. It’s becoming harder to remember why we need to keep our distance and why we can’t explore whatever this is between us.
But then I remember: Six months. That’s all this is supposed to be. Six months of carefully orchestrated appearances, of playing the perfect couple, of ensuring her company image. And by now, it’s really only five more months and then...
Cass claps his hands together. “Alright, let’s run that bridge again before we call it. Nate, give us something bigger on the roll into the chorus.”
I grip my sticks tighter and nod. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
The arrivals terminal at JIA is crowded, even for a Thursday afternoon. I adjust my baseball cap lower, grateful for the dark sunglasses that help me blend in with the other people waiting. The last thing we need is to cause a scene.
My phone vibrates.
Lacey:‘Just landed. Getting my bag now.’
Me: ‘Near the coffee shop. Baseball cap, black jacket.’
Lacey: ‘Very incognito. Should I pretend not to know you?’
I smile to myself, scanning the crowd. She spots me and changes direction, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of her. Even in simple clothes, hair messy from the flight, she’s dangerous to my peace of mind. The oversized sweater slips off one shoulder, revealing a strip of skin that I force myself not to stare at. She looks nothing like a glamorous actress from Hollywood, but somehow, this version of her is even more dangerous to my peace of mind.
“Hey, stranger,” she softly says when she reaches me, and my heart does that familiar rapid beat.
“Hey, yourself.” I take her bag, letting my hand brush hers. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
We make our way to the parking garage, maintaining a careful distance. A few people glance our way, but no one seems to recognize us. It’s not until we’re in my Audi RS7 that we both relax.
“That wasn’t so bad,” she says, sinking into the passenger seat.
“Emily says the movie premier photos are still going strong. Fans are getting curious.”
She turns to look at me. “Are you okay with that? The attention’s only going to get worse.”
I pull out of the parking spot, considering. “I signed up for this, didn’t I? Just five more months of being America’s favorite new couple.”
Something flickers across her face, but it’s gone before I can identify it. “Right.”
The drive back is quiet at first, comfortable in a way that makes my chest tighten. Lacey sits quietly beside me, watching the scenery. It’s so domestic, so natural, I almost want to lean over and pull her closer.
“Rachel wants us to practice for the interviews,” she says eventually. “She wants us to make sure our story is consistent.”
“It sounds like everyone is curious about our love story. The speculation doesn’t seem to be slowing.” The words taste bitter.
“Yeah.” She looks out the window. “They’re all caught up in the romance. You know—boy meets girl. Instant connection. Whirlwind romance.”
“Right.” I change lanes, maybe a little too aggressively. “Much better than couples’ managers arranging fake engagement to save their reputations.’
She’s quiet for a long moment. “Nate...”