Page 34 of The Temptation of Truth

“What is?”

“Apologizing.”

Her mouth pops open, and I wait as she visibly struggles for a response. When her mouth closes again, I take it she’s decided not to respond at all. I also take it that I was correct, so I change the subject.

“Yes, Sav was talking about my girlfriend. You’ll meet her in Auckland.” I pause as something dawns on me. “Actually, have you signed an NDA? Most everyone has to, but I don’t know if you’re exempt since you’re related to the boss.”

“Oh, no. I mean, yes. I mean, Ihavesigned the non-disclosure. No way Uncle Wade would break protocol on my account. He’s far too professional. Everything by the book and all that.”

“True. But Ham’s been known to bend a few rules from time to time.”

She smiles knowingly, and it makes me wonder what rules he’s bent for her. I almost ask, but she speaks up, and I file the question away for a later conversation.

“I’d never share anything with the tabloids or anything like that. I respect the band’s privacy. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Good to know.”

Aurora’s brow furrows. Her next statement comes out slow and curious, prodding for information. She’d make a terrible spy.

“I actually had no idea you were dating anyone.”

“It’s not public knowledge.”

“Why not?”

“My girlfriend’s a very private person. She prefers that we keep our relationship out of the public eye.”

“Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“You said that’s whatsheprefers. Do you prefer it also?”

I’m taken aback for a moment, and I almost deflect again, but something about the genuine interest in those wide eyes pulls an answer from me instead.

“It’s not what I prefer, actually. I like privacy, yeah, but I don’t like having to hide my relationship from everyone.”

“So why do you do it?”

I break our eye contact, fixing my attention over her shoulder on the cinderblock wall across the wide hallway. I sigh and shrug.

“Relationships require compromise.”

My gaze returns to her when she gives me a quiet, almost sad laugh.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess sometimes they do.”

When she looks at me again, those hazel green irises penetrate in a way that makes me feel exposed, but not in a bad way. In a way that almost resembles relief. I hear the understanding in her voice, see it in the crease of her brow and the slight downturn of her pouty lips. I see sorrow there, too.

I want to askhowshe understands. Why? I want to ask her about her own love life, about who she’s compromised for, but I bite my tongue. I want to ask, but I don’t think I want to know. Not yet.

“Well, I agree with Sav.”

Aurora’s words come out hushed, so I keep my voice low when I respond.

“About what?”

She sucks her lower lip between her teeth, then releases it slowly, turning it a darker pink and glistening with her saliva. On impulse, I wet my own lower lip, then lock my eyes with hers again.