London’s heart fell ten stories. “You invitedme.”
She moved forward at a steady pace. “No, I didn’t.” She tugged at his arm. “Keepsmiling.”
London did—though he felt like doing anything but smiling at the moment. He’d been played by that sneaky little assistant—and possibly his agent—and he didn’t like that feeling at all. They marched on. Since when did the red carpet grow thislong?
“Maia, when did you start dating football players?” called aphotographer.
Maia ignored the question, her eyes constantly traveling. “People are going to think we’retogether.”
That wasn’t his fault. In fact, none of this was his fault. He’d followed his heart and it got him in a pickle. Fine. If April and Jay wanted a spectacle, he could give them one. “We are together,” he said out of the corner of his mouth. “You’re holding myarm.”
“That’s not what Imeant.”
“I know!” Hewinked.
She whipped her head around and wouldn’t look at him for the rest of the walk. Near the front doors was a section of children all dressed to the nines and all holding small autograph books. It was obviously a marketing ploy for pictures of the latest princess with her adoring fans. Maia stopped there and removed her hand from hisarm.
London stood back, clasping his hands in front of him like some bodyguard. A little boy raced around Maia and slammed into his legs. “You’re London Wilder!” His blue eyes were huge as he looked London up anddown.
London laughed, feeling some of his tension slip away. Let the world love Maia; he could hang with this kid all night long. “What’s yourname?”
“Keeton.”
Maia hugged several little girls in princess dresses and posed for pictures. She was poised and perfect. London dragged his eyes off of her and back to Keeton. “I take it you likefootball.”
“Ilovefootball,” hecorrected.
His mom came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry. I know he’s supposed to stay behind the line.” She gave him atug.
“Mom! I gotta get his autograph.” He held out his book and pen even as she dragged himaway.
“Wait—it’s okay.” London got down on one knee and motioned Keeton closer. He complied, and his mom watched them with an indulgent smile. Keeton wasn’t shy at all. He came right over and sat on London’s knee. That wasn’t what London had in mind, but when the kid put his arm around London’s neck and held on, stretching his many freckles with his smile, London didn’t have the heart to make himmove.
“Can you say: To Keeton, my bestfriend?”
London laughed because of his bravado. “You bet.” He wrote out a note, drew a block T for Titans, and signed his name. All the while, cameras clicked and photographers swarmed them like bees on nectar. “Here you go.” He snapped the book shut and handed it and the pen back toKeeton.
“You’ve made his year,” gushed Keeton’s mom. Keeton nodded, clutching the book to hischest.
London ruffled Keeton’s stick-straight red hair. “Stay out oftrouble.”
“Iwill.”
His mom sighed. “He won’t.” She hurried after him in the crowd, probably worried he’ddisappear.
London signed a few more autographs, but mostly he hung back, letting the spotlight shine on Maia. April appeared as if out of thin air, her gray hair only adding to the image that she was some sort of magical creature. As small as she was, she was probably made of thinair.
“You!” London whisperedmenacingly.
April turned her nose up and stepped past him to Maia’sside.
“You!” he heard Maia whisper, making him burst out alaugh.
They both faced him and he wagged a finger at Maia’s assistant. “You’ve got a lot of explaining todo.”
April lifted her palms. She spoke fast and below earshot of anyone but the three of them. “You needed a date. You were so lost that night at the auction. And the two of youhaveto talk thingsout.”
Maia closed and then opened her eyes again. “We are going to have a very long talk about professionalboundaries.”
