Did they like what they read too?
I take a fortifying sip of wine. It leaves a film that has me smacking my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “How’d you find the account?” I ask, trying not to sound as eager as I feel.
“I don’t even remember. Do you?” Elyse asks Eric. “Was it Sharon?”
“I think so,” Eric says. “We have some friends who are obsessed with the latest social media and they’re always unearthing these amazing sites. How’d you get started with that, Finn?”
It’s making me nervous that I can’t see Finn. It could be my imagination—it must be—but I think tension is rolling off his body. “It just kind of happened,” he says.
“And how involved is the model, really?” he asks. “She can’t really be that hotandarticulate.”
Elyse reaches across me to slap Eric’s arm. “Hey.”
“I just know what a rare combo it is,” he backtracks, “since I’m lucky enough to have found it in you. Clearly.”
I want to squeal. Kick up my feet. Invite the whole dinner table into our conversation. He’s talking about me.Me. I’m sitting right in front of them, and they have no idea.
“She’s very involved,” Finn says. “All the writing is hers.”
“Can you give us a hint?” Eric asks. “Is she famous?”
I swipe my clammy palms down the front of my dress, then pick up my wine glass. I can’t not speak up. This is a sign—I was right earlier. It’s time for me to come out. I stop trying to suppress my smile. “It’s me,” I blurt. “I’m her.”
Both pairs of eyes turn to me. Probably Finn’s as well. “Halston,” he says under his breath. His hands return to the top of my chair, but I don’t look up. I don’t care if he’s mad. This is my moment. My heart might be racing a mile a minute, the inside of my elbow might be burning, but it’s liberating to say the words to someone other than Finn.
“I’m Anonymous,” I say.
“No shit?” Eric asks with an open-mouthed laugh. “Seriously?Anonymousis coming to our wedding?”
“Well, no,” I say. “I wasn’t planning—”
“Youhaveto come,” Elyse says. “My girlfriends will die. They’re huge fans of you guys.”
“As are my friends,” Eric adds with a snicker, then seems to remember Finn is there. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—are you two a couple?”
“They’ll go ape shit, my friends,” Elyse continues, ignoring her fiancé. “They’ll probably want your autograph. Unless—oh, shit. We can’t tell them who you are, can we?”
Finally, I turn in my chair to check with Finn. He doesn’t look happy. “Unfortunately, no,” he says. “And Halston actually can’t make it tomorrow night.”
My excitement falls. After all the ways I’ve supported him, and even all the ways he’s encouraged me, he’s taking this away from me. I turn back to a crestfallen Elyse. “I think I can get out of my plans,” I say. “What would it hurt for a few people to know?”
“Halston,” Finn says through his teeth. “I need to get some shots of the décor in the front room. Can you help me set them up?”
“She’s really your assistant?” Eric asks.
“I admire your willpower,” Elyse says. “If I were Instagram famous, I’d be blasting that shit everywhere.”
My body thrills from fingertips to toes.Famous. Us. Are we? I hadn’t even considered we might be, but then again, we’re going to hit ahundred-thousandfollowers tomorrow. Last I checked, we were only five hundred away. I’ve been keeping the sexiest photo we have as our ace in the hole. My pink lips, wrapped around Ken’s thumb while his other hand fists my hair. Once I post it, I know we’ll hit our goal. We have to.
“Hals? Need your help.” Finn puts a hand on my shoulder. “And yes, we’re together. She’s my girlfriend.”
It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to Eric.
“Oh.” Eric nods. “I figured.”
Elyse claps her hands in the following silence. “Go get your shot, then we’ll do dessert. The bakery made us something special for tonight, so I want to get a few pictures of it.”
“Of course,” Finn says. “We’ll only be a minute.”
