We both take off running to the car. I don’t let go of her hand as I jog with her to the passenger side and open the door.
“Cas, go!” she laughs. “Let’s make like bananas and split.”
I’m still laughing when I slide into the driver’s seat. A girl who likes shenanigans—I could get used to this.
Chapter sixteen
Cas parks, and we run all the way inside the theater. The teenage boys at the front desk recognize him instantly.
“No way. It’s Cas Wilder.”
“Hey, so we’re trying to ditch the paparazzi and eat our dinner in peace. Are there any theaters with all the seats open starting soon. I’ll make it worth your help.” He winks.
“Heck yeah.” The kid at the computer says, typing into the kiosk. “I just reserved every seat in theater thirteen. The movie starts inten minutes. It’s the last weekend this one is playing, and it’s a kids’ movie, so everyone’s already watched it at least once.”
“Perfect,” Cas says, whipping out his card to pay without even asking how much.
“That’s four hundred and—“ Cas cuts the kid off.
“It doesn’t matter.” He taps the card reader. “This is our little secret. You haven’t seen us. After the movie, I’ll do autographs and photos.”
“Deal. We got you, bro.” They hand Cas all thirty-five ticket stubs, then wave us down the hallway.
We stroll hand in hand to the theater. Cas only lets go to open the door. He’s sweeter than I expected him to be. I cast him a sideways glance. He’s watching me. When our eyes meet, he flashes that shit-eating grin. Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and a soft tingle runs down my spine. Damn him for being irresistibly hot. Something about all those tattoos and the way he just knows he can do whatever he wants.
“Where do you want to sit?” I ask, walking into the theater. “Do you have a weird must-sit spot?”
“I like sitting in the very back row,” he answers. “What about you?”
“Same. I like the back. It’s iconic.”
“Oh man, I just realized we forgot drinks,” Cas says, turning to head back out.
“Wait. I can go get drinks. No one’s going to recognize me like they will you.” I turn to leave, not expecting him to follow me.
“Wait. I don’t want you to just go alone. What if something happens?”
I give him a funny look. “Nothing’s going to happen to me, Cas. I’ve been coming to this theater since it was built.”
I try to explain away my possessiveness. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want the paparazzi to do anything. They can get crazy. Sometimes bad people pose as paparazzi, and I don’t trust them.”
I can’t imagine living like he does and not having a security team around when he’s probably used to having at least a bodyguard. I cock my head to one side. “Cas, why don’t you have a bodyguard?”
He laughs. “Darling, I’m fine. I don’t need a security team for stuff like this. No one knew I was here until a little while ago, and I fly out tomorrow morning. It’s not that serious. I can take care of myself. I promise.”
I shrug him off. “Roxy can still kick your ass.”
Cas laughs and hands me his card. “If I find out you paid—double trouble, and I’ll punish you later.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I make my way to the concession counter. There’s not a line. At the counter, I order two sodas. Everything’s fine. The paparazzi probably has no idea we’re even here. I’m halfway down the hall when I hear them.
“Hey, kids, have you seen anyone famous come in here?” one of them asks.
“Um no,” one of the kids replies. “If someone famous was here, do you think we’d just be standing around bored?”
“Security!” another kid at the front shouts. “We have some weirdos looking for famous people again. They’re disturbing the lobby.”
I laugh quietly to myself as security escorts them out and tells them not to come back or they’ll call the police.
