“No, she’s helping Gigi at the community center.”
“Then I passed her twin in the hallway.”
I freeze. And freezing isn’t good for my blood pressure when I haven’t eaten enough, especially after my ten-mile run to start the day, and I sway again.
“And you’re getting downnow.” He grabs me by the hips, and the next thing I know, I’m on the floor, my body lined up with his, while he scans my face as thoughthat’swhat’s wrong with me.
I’m clinging to his shoulders, and my gaze keeps drifting to his lips.Run away with me to Costa Rica, Dylan. Show me how to be a normal woman. Save me from myself.
Why?
Why ishethe first man I’ve had a crush on since high school?
Is this a crush? Do grown women get crushes?
He’s right. I should eat something.
Instead, I’m standing here clinging to him while we both stare at each other like we have no idea why we’re not doing something about this already.
“A friend would answer my question about navigating the dating world as a famous person,” he murmurs.
I lick my lips.
I can’t help it.
Just like he probably can’t help that his eyes go even darker as he tracks the path of my tongue.
“You don’tdate,” I whisper. “You put on a show for the world to get better ratings or a bigger role or more publicity for your album launch or a better negotiation stance for your next sports contract. And then, if you’re lucky, you find someone who’s tolerable instead of just ruthless.”
That’s not the full truth.
Celebrities are people too.
I know plenty—I mean, I knowofplenty of celebrities who actually fall in love.
But me?
I don’t let people in. It’s all surface level. I know better than to trust my world. And I don’t know a single person in my world who would trust me enough to let me into theirs.
I let Naomi in more than I’ve ever let anyone in, because time and again, she’s proved that I can trust her. She doesn’t want my fame. She refused any more of a salary than she needed to live when she moved to Costa Rica to run the farm, so I know she doesn’t want my money.
She lets me be asmeas I’m comfortable being around her.
And I feel like Dylan would do the same, but I don’t trustfeel.
No matter how much I want to.
“Who did this to you?” he asks quietly.
I grimace. My family’s been in town for two months, and he has to ask? “No one. It’s just how I am.”
He studies me for another long moment.
And now I’m squirming. “If you don’t want to do the social media thing for Tickled Pink anymore, I get it. Just let me know. One viralvideo is like a bugbite. It’s annoying for a couple days, and then it’s, like, all better, and you barely even remember. But if you go big, it’s a harder fall when it’s done.”
“I don’t know what you’re used to, but I’d hope you would’ve realized by now that I’m not out to hurt you. Some people care about their friends and neighbors, Tavi. It’s what we do here. Pretend all you want with your family and with people like Lola, but I like my friends to at least be honest.”
“I don’t know how to have friends.”
