Page 74 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

You’re okay, right? You haven’t been kidnapped?

Fine. I know you haven’t been kidnapped because I’ve been checking in with Sarah and Henry. You’re at the Met

They sent me pictures

You and Lana laughing. You and Lana admiring a beautiful piece of art. You smiling at your phone. I know you’re getting my texts!

I react with double exclamation points. He sends an eye roll emoji.

Hot British Guy

What’s with the reactions but no responses?

Oh, I see what you’re doing

You having a laugh?

I giggle.

Hot British Guy

Just you wait until I get home tonight

I respond with an angel emoji, and he sends back a devil.

“You two are so smitten with each other,” Lana says and pops a bite of donut in her mouth.

“It doesn’t seem real.”

Lana’s smile softens. “I still pinch myself, thinking I’m dreaming. A celebrity was the last person I imagined myself falling in love with.”

“I haven’t really experienced the fame part of his life yet. Not going to lie, I’m terrified.”

Lana swallows her last bite of donut and washes it down with her iced coffee. She stands and I follow her to toss our trash before we make our way back to the front of the museum to exit.

“It’s annoying as hell, but I’ve been dealing with it ever since Rebecca wroteTyler’s Teamand it was picked up by a celebrity book club.”

I didn’t know Lana when that happened, but I remember the chaos that followed. Strangers would come into the coffee shop I worked at and ask where to find Lana Young, the woman from the book. The fans weren’t far behind. The world became obsessed with Lana and Tyler’s love story. It got so bad; she had to sell her house and shut down her social media presence. As far as I know, she still doesn’t have online accounts.

Mylan does, though, and he chronicles their life together frequently. I giggle every time he posts a picture of Lana flipping off the camera.

Reynold has social media accounts, but he hasn’t posted on them in years. My stomach flutters with the thought of a picture of me and him being the first he posts upon his return. That would make ‘us’ official. People would find my pages. I only have a couple dozen followers—all family and friends. I’ve been quiet online the past few months, making my big move to escape small town life.

I’m sure by now everyone in Silo Springs knows I live in New York City. They’re probably taking bets on how long I’ll last because everyone who moves away always finds their way back.

Not me. There’s no way. If I leave New York, it’d be to move to Georgia with my parents.

Besides, I don’t plan to leave NYC now that Reynold and I are… together? Fucking? Whatever we’re doing, I want to see it through.

Chapter 17 - Reynold

Gigglespourintotheapartment as the elevator down the hall opens. Adeline’s tiny feet pitter patter as she runs down the hallway.

“Dad! You’re home,” she says, spotting me stretched out on the couch in the living area, reading a script.

“I sure am Poppy.” I sit up, set the script on the coffee table, and stand. “Did you have fun at school today?”

“Of course, I had fun, Dad. I love school.”