“My eyes were closed.”
“Not then. Now. Tonight.”
“He’s looking at me the same way—it’s calledacting.”
Sean smirked. “Well, only one of you is a professional.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means he’s using you, that’s what it means, and I don’t like it.”
“It’s a trade. I’m getting something I want too. My followers are growing by leaps and bounds, and he’s going to rock the part of Ledger and make this movie awesome!”
“That’s hisjob. Meanwhile, strangers are posting things about you online for the whole world to see.”
“What kinds of— Never mind, I don’t want to know. Besides, Liam says it’s mostly positive.”
Sean huffed.
What if Liam wasn’t shooting straight with her? What if people were making her out to be an attention seeker? Or worse, just pathetic? But no, Liam said with time his fans would see she was someone he cared about.
At least, until he didn’t anymore.
“You practically invited those tabloid leeches into your life—intoourlives—and I don’t like what I’m seeing. Liam’s image is coming up roses, and all you’re going to get out of this is a broken heart.”
She snorted. “That’s ridiculous. We’ve known each otherseven days.”
“I see what I see. Don’t come crying to me when this movie ends and he leaves you here in a soggy puddle.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t!”
Liam stopped on the threshold of the room. His gaze toggled between them. “Uh... your mom shooed me out of the kitchen.”
Had he heard their conversation? Chloe pasted on a smile and tried for a casual tone. “Come sit down. The Braves are winning.” Okay, she had no clue what the score was, but the Braves always seemed to be winning this season.
She’d sat close to her brother on the sofa so they could talk quietly, and now Liam sat on her other side, and they were wedged together like an awkward sandwich.
And she knew her brother. He was too stubborn to leave even if tension practically vibrated off the walls.
“So your brother hates me.” Liam was first to speak once they were in his car and on the drive back to her place.
The trio had sat in silence ten interminable minutes, until Mom and Dad joined them. Then it was another long forty minutes of pretending to enjoy the game while Sean said little to nothing.
“He doesn’t hate you. He doesn’t even know you. And he’s normally not so surly. It’s just that the paparazzi showed up at work last night and made a nuisance of themselves.”Andalsohe thinks I’m in love with you.She rolled her eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
“I don’t want them bothering any of you. Maybe it’s time we make a statement. Give them enough of a story that they give us some space.”
“Will that work?”
“Probably.” He gave her a sheepish look. “This is kind of uncharted territory for me.”
By which he meant, of course, that actual relationships were new to him. For some reason the thought pinched at her chest. “How do we go about that? I wouldn’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange it and do the talking. For now, let’s focus on tomorrow. It’s a big day.” His eyes smiled at her. “And in just one week we’ll begin filming your book-to-movie adaptation.”
