“Geez, give a girl a warning,” she says, adjusting her seatbelt.
“The warning was when I left and saidbe right back.”
No wonder Gustav follows her everywhere. This girl has gotten so used to it, she’s almost forgotten she’s sitting in a strange vehicle in a not-so-great part of town. I’m surprised he let her go along with me so easily.
I plop the bags in her lap and buckle up. “We’re eating at my place.”
“Better than the car, I guess.” She leans forward, nodding toward Niko’s Deli as I throw the car into reverse. “Or in there.”
“It’s not so bad.”
She stares at me incredulously. “One of the windows is duct taped.”
I follow her sightline and realize she isn’t wrong, but that doesn’t compromise the quality of Niko’s food. Everything I’ve ever had there is worth the drive, the duct tape, the extra layer of dust coating the fake grapes hanging from the ceiling of the waiting area. Not even the grease-coated floor could deter me after what I’ve tasted.
“If I weren’t starving, we’d be going somewhere else.” She huffs and sits back, checking her watch. It’s endearing that she’s holding her phone, yet for some reason, she still refers to her watch. “Plus, I need to get back soon.”
I nod. “Work waits for no one.”
A knock on the passenger window nearly sends Lena scrambling over the center console. I press the lock button just as some wild-haired and wilder-eyed woman reaches for the handle, crying and begging for a photo with Lena. A few others join in the frenzy at the mention of Lena’s name, and soon there are people tugging at both our doors. Lena gasps, squeezing my hand until reality slugs me across the face. My pulse ratchets up like I’m in the middle of a big game. Without another thought, I throw the car into reverse. The growing horde chases us across the parking lot until I peel onto the main road and weave back into traffic.
“You should get your money back for that window tint,” Lena quips, letting out an unsteady breath.
From my peripheral, I can’t help but notice how her eyes dart from the passenger mirror to the rearview. She may be making jokes, but it’s clear she’s shaken. Case in point, her hand is still firmly locked around mine, fingers cinched tighter than a jockstrap. A small part of me wants to make some snide remark just like I know she would, but instead, I stay completely silent. I don’t draw attention to her iron grip. I don’t let go, no matter how numb my fingers may be. I let her hold on, not just because it’s the anchor I know she needs, but because I think I need it too.
Guilt slices through the unexpected warmth budding in my chest as I consider all of the other—much worse—scenarios. Seeing her this way now—frightened, vulnerable, her composure shattered—it makes my stomach churn. I did this to her. The seemingly unflappable Lena Lux has been thoroughly rocked,and it’s my fault. As I speed down the road, not sure where I’m going, I know one thing for certain. I never want to see her this way again.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone,” I say.
“I was fine when I was alone. It’s when you showed up that everything took a nosedive.” Lena turns to face me at the exact moment she must realize she’s still holding my hand. Jerking free, she busies herself with smoothing her dark hair. “Can’t wait to see how everyone spins that little fiasco online. I wonder if they’ll solely focus on the fact that I ignored my fans or that I was with a new guy.”
I flex my hand to regain the feeling in it and turn toward Lena. Her empty stare pierces the windshield.
I clutch the steering wheel tighter. “Are you okay?”
Another breath quivers from her lips. “I shouldn’t have told Gustav to hang back. People like the ones we just saw are literally the reason I hired him.”
“So why didn’t you bring him?”
She sighs, her facade of composure restoring itself one snarky word at a time. “Because it’s awkward enough spending time with you one-on-one, but it’s painful when there’s a third wheel."
“Painful? Ouch.”
Her lips twitch into a smile. “Thanks, though.”
“For what?”
“For getting us out of there. I froze up.”
I don’t admit to her that for a split second, I did too. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t protect my woman?”
Lena rolls her eyes.
Flipping on the blinker, I careen into the turning lane.
“This isn’t the way to the studio,” she says.
“We’re still doing lunch at my place.” I glance over at her, hoping for some kind of response, but her lips are pressed intoa tight line. “If that’s okay. I can take you back. I understand if you’re too?—”
