I agreed to make videos talking about my favorite products and brands, and companies sent me boxes of things to try in hopes I’d like those too.
Men got endorsements for sports drinks and women got endorsements for makeup and hair products. It wasn’t my favorite, but it more than paid the bills and allowed me to share my passion for causes that otherwise wouldn’t have my level of exposure.
I lived for the good and tried my best to ignore the bad, ugly, and downright insane things that landed in my comments and messages.
So, like it or not, I did my job and went out for the night.
Normally, I could handle it—smile and laugh and then immediately take a shower the moment I returned home. But the picture had been too much.
It feltpersonal.
Which would make sense considering Scott just couldn’t get over the fact that our relationship had been fleeting—superficial at best—and he needed to let it go.
I want to kick myself for not telling Nessa, for letting it go on this long, but when it had started, Nessa had inherited a baby from her cousin who had tragically passed away.
We’d dropped everything we could to focus on Remi—to give her all the love we could when we could barely love ourselves. It had been all-consuming and Iliked it.It made everything easierin a lot of ways. Nessa was taking care of a baby while trying to find the father, and I was supporting her the best that I could.
But with everything settled with the court, Remi could finally be with her father while Nessa was sequestered to Blackstone Falls until the start of the season.
It’d felt like the crash after an adrenaline high, which is how I’d ended up at this little coffee shop a couple of blocks from our apartment.
I take another sip of my coffee and scrunch up my nose at the almondsomethinglatte I’d mistakenly wanted to try. I’d broken my cardinal rule and stepped out of my coffee comfort zone consisting of pumpkin, gingerbread, or caramel and had instantly been reminded why I never do that.
Needing to commiserate, I pick up my phone and send a quick text.
KINSLEY: I tried a new coffee
NESSA: How bad is it?
KINSLEY: Terrible
NESSA: Why would you do that?
KINSLEY: I was trying to be spontaneous
NESSA: Then order new shoes online
I snortbecause Idolove a new pair of shoes. We talk a while longer as she drives to Blackstone Falls, her voice to text surprisingly accurate today. I miss them already—her and Remi—but the simple exchange is enough to settle me and enough to finally admit defeat with the almond atrocity in front of me.
I’m about to leave when a small commotion by the counter catches my eye. The man’s back is to me, but the way his posture is equal parts tension and defeat is unmistakable.
He’s trying to move through the crowd toward the door, and I can picture the way his face is probably flushed adorably as he tries—and fails—to make his escape.
“Roy!” I yell loud enough to be heard over all the side conversations while still keeping my head ducked enough to hopefully preserve a sliver of anonymity. I don’t anticipate being mobbed in the middle of the coffee house, but there’s not a lot of places I can go anymore withoutsomeonerecognizing me.
Someday it will be because of soccer andnotthe other stuff.
But today’s not that day, and my agent and bodyguard will bepissedif something happens to me just because I wanted a latte.
I’d never take Zander for something like this, only when I’m going somewhere that Ineedto be seen. I hate the thought of needing a bodyguard, but it’s my reality. I feel better having him around in the places that are crowded and loud. Luckily my everyday life hasn’t required his constant presence, and I hope to keep it that way.
In the meantime, I keep my focus on Royce. He’s adorably startled and now, I’m all in, waving and smiling as his face heats like he can’t believe his day can get any worse, but I like a challenge, so I add, “Come here. I saved you a seat!”
2
ROYCE
The coffee shop is packed, and all I want to do is get my coffee and get out of here. Coming here was a last-minute decision, a decision I’m regretting with every ounce of my being.
