Page 20 of Hello Darling

“Does that usually work?”

“Does what usually work?”

I wave my hand around him. “This. Whole. Thing.”

He starts laughing and shaking his head again. He looks so tired. But still pretty. And confident. Which means it’s okay for me to talk to him like this. Because pretty, confident British movie stars can handle this, and if they can’t then they don’t deserve to be worshipped.

“I mean, I’ll admit that I did feel the stomach butterflies when I first met you. The voice. The eyes. The glow.”

“The glow?”

“Yeah. Your famous rich person glow.”

He runs his fingers through his hair, messing it up. “I didn’t realize I did that.”

“Well I doubt that youdoit. It’s something you either have or you don’t.”

“Right. And what do you call this thing that you have?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Sass?”

“Definitely. If we’re being polite. I meant your glow. Are you also famous and rich?”

“I don’t have a glow.”

“Oh, but you do.”

“Okay. You’re doing it again.”

He arches an eyebrow. “Am I?”

“Seriously, you don’t have to do this. With me, I mean. You can drop the act. The cameras are not rolling. There’s no audience. Look around. We’re the only ones on the sidewalk. Take a break.”

“Why don’t you givemea break?”

I sigh. “Sure.”

“Really?”

“You want me to?”

He twists his lips to one side. “Not really.”

I stop in front of my car. “Well, this is me.”

I may be imagining this, but he looks a little disappointed. Not by my car, but by the end of our walk. “You’re heading home?”

“Yes.”

“You live nearby?”

“Yes.”

He nods. “So do I. For now.” He does seem very, very tired.

“I know. I hope you don’t fall asleep before you get to your room.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”