I blinked at him. "I don't. Do you need something?"
"Yes," he said, "I would prefer to have the conversation in private."
"Well, I'm sorry that won't work, I—"
"Hey, Juniper, why don't you head on break while it's slow," Jay said, cutting me off.
I turned back to them, eyes wide. They gave me a wink. I knew they thought they were helping, but they were being the worst right now.
"Sounds like you have time after all," Ellery said with a smirk.
I grimaced, but what was I supposed to do now?
"Fine," I took my apron off and came around the counter. When I got close, I was reminded how much shorter I was than him, but I refused to be intimidated. I left from behind the counter and followed him out to the alley beside the shop.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
He crossed his arms, leaning against the brick wall of the building. "You're kinda cute when you're all fired up."
My face was ablaze. "If I'm just out here so you can harass me, forget it."
I began to walk away but he sidestepped me, blocking my path. "Listen, I'm sorry, there is something I need to discuss."
"Then spit it out."
"I'm assuming you haven't seen the photo of us floating around?"
I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "What are you talking about?"
Ellery pulled out his phone and poked around before turning the screen around. To my horror, it was us the night of the gala, lookingwaytoo close for comfort. It was obvious what we were on our way to do, even through the closing elevator doors.
Child-star Ellery Scott caught with the latest fling?the headline read.
"Are you famous or something?" I asked him.
"Childhood star, a brief stint in modeling in my teens and early twenties."
"So the paparazzi just follow you around?"
"Not usually," he said, scratching his head. "Mostly people who recognize me take them, then sell them to these sleazy sites."
I shook my head. "Okay, there's a… photo of us. So what?"
"My parents saw it."
I stared, hoping for more, to no avail. "I'm going to need you to be more direct, or I can't help you. Do you need me to have it taken down or something?"
"I need you to come to dinner on Sunday."
My eyes widened. For the first time since I'd met Emery, he looked uncomfortable. Nervous even. "Why would I come to dinner with you?"
"Listen, my parents have been on me about settling down, and I need to show them I am. When this photo came up I sort of... told my mom we were dating."
I gasped. "Why would you do that?"
"I thought it would make them stop, but she insisted she meet you over dinner."
I couldn't help it. I started laughing. And then I laughed harder. I laughed so hard tears streamed down my face and I snorted, which I hadn't done since I was a child.
