Page 85 of Dream On, Ramona Riley

“I’m sorry,” Ramona said, then covered her mouth with her hand, talking through her fingers. “I know you wouldn’t.”

April smoothed her hand down Ramona’s hair, squeezed the back of her neck. Leigh just stood there quietly, eyes soft, didn’t ask what was happening, didn’t take out their own phone to find out.

“I just don’t understand,” Ramona said.

April sighed. “There is another person who knows that story.”

Ramona shook her head. “I know, but why would she…”

She trailed off. She couldn’t even begin to imagine why Dylanwould share the tender details of their first meeting with the media. Didn’twantto imagine. But Dylan was the only explanation. Dylan, whom Ramona liked. Dylan, whom Ramona had really wanted to kiss last night. Dylan, who researched a mushroom museum for her.

Dylan, whom Ramona really didn’t know at all.

Chapter

Twenty-One

They were takinga break between filming café scenes when Dylan heard a strange hush descend over the dining room.

The crew was still busy, but the Clover Lake locals who were playing extras and seated at the tables had gone eerily still, and when Dylan looked up from her place behind the counter, most of them were looking right at her.

“What did you do now?” Blair asked. She was sitting at the bar, scrolling through her phone in a white eyelet blouse and tailored denim shorts. Dylan, as usual for the Clover Moon scenes, was unkempt with straggly hair and a greasy apron.

“Nothing,” Dylan said. “Well, I took one of their own on a date last night, so I assume it’s about that.” She breathed through the unease in her gut, theknowingthat there would be photos of her and Ramona on the internet and the guilt that came with it.

But she liked Ramona.

She’d had an amazing time with Ramona. She’d learned about mushrooms while also realizing she might have a touch of trypophobia, as the more porous fungi really freaked her out, but it was still one of the best nights she’d had in a long time.

Maybe ever.

And god, she’d wanted to kiss Ramona last night. She’d cursed the heavens when Mr. Riley interrupted their good night, but she’d smiled and all but skipped to her car afterward, because she was happy.

She was on fucking cloud nine.

And none of that had to do with the fact that she knew pictures of the two of them would be good for her career, or that the whole dating idea had come from her publicist for image reasons.

She was simply happy to know and be with Ramona Riley.

“Well, aren’t you the secret romantic,” Blair said, still looking down at her phone.

“What?” Dylan asked. She grabbed a towel and started wiping down the counter, a habit by this point.

“Not that I usually put much stock in these gossip sites, but this is a good story. If it’s true, of course,” Blair said.

“I can’t believe you read that shit,” Dylan said.

Blair laughed. “Like I said. I don’t, but my partner sent this to me. Thought it was interesting.”

Dylan put down her rag. “Wait. You have a partner?”

Blair gave her a look. “Yes.”

“How did I not know this?”

Blair went back to her phone. “Because I practice a little something called privacy.”

Dylan sighed. “Okay, fine. I give. What did yourpartnersend you about me?”