And then I hear my name.
“Christine? Christine Evansworth? Oh my god, itisyou!”
Oh, for the love of… Please, not now…
I muster a smile and turn toward the sound. A young woman rises from her chair out front of a little cafe and hurries over to me. Her American accent pegs her as a tourist.
“Oh my god, I’m such a big fan!”
“Well, thank you. I appreciate the support.”
“Are you okay? You don’t seem… y’know.Christine.” She makes a gesture like jazz hands.
I don’t seem exactly like my stage persona? Weird. Super weird.
But this fan isn’t the reason for my mood, so I choke it down.
“Sorry, you caught me working out. And I haven’t had my morning coffee yet.”
“Oh my god, that’sso relatable.Wait, can I get you some coffee? Mom, Mom! Go order Christine Evansworth coffee! Double shot and double sugar, soy milk, extra hot!”
Oh god, what movie is that from…I’m allergic to soy milk.
“You really don’t need to do that?—”
“Are you kidding? Please, it would make my absolute month! I got coffee for Christine Evansworth!”
Truth be told, that’s when I leave my body. I let ‘Christine’ take over. She’s all easy smiles and fast friends, ever gracious, ever humble. ‘Christine’ makes every fan feel special, and whenthe entire coffee shop gets up thanks to that girl yelling my name, ‘Christine’ blushes and smoothly asks the barista for a marker, then signs everyone’s coffee cups. ‘Christine’ warmly apologizes for not being able to stay longer, checks the clock and winces that she’s alreadysuper late, thanks everyone for a fourth time on the way out of the cafe, poses for three more selfies, and waves all the way up the block.
There’s a reason I ask the people I actually know to call me ‘Tee.’
When I turn the corner, I come hurtling back into my skin. I toss the full to-go cup in the nearest trash can, then spit what’s left in my mouth after it. My tongue and throat already itch. If I’m lucky, that’ll be the worst of it. If I’m not, I have some hives to look forward to.
Hives that could interfere with shooting.
Fuck.
I duck into a corner store, quickly grabbing an antihistamine and an obnoxiously green baseball cap with a silhouette of a kiwi bird. Combined with the sunglasses from my bag, I might be able to finish my run unassailed. But plenty of people know I’m filming here right now, and there are only so many tall, silver-blonde female alphas…
The cashier does a double-take, then clutches the receipt a little too tightly when I say I don’t need it.
The walls seem to close in around me, and I tug the brim of my cap down as I push outside. Fuck, I feel like an idiot. Still, nothing to do but keep moving.
I should really call a car, but I trulycannotwith the claustrophobia right now. Fine. Guess I’m gonna get quite the run in today. Down goes the antihistamine with a gulp of water as I prepare a lie for Lana as to why I’m late. Today and tomorrow are the last two days of filming, and we’re going to need every minute.
I pause at a crosswalk, glancing up from under the brim of my hat.
And then I see my salvation: a sleek, low garage-like building with a red-on-black sign readingMotormania.
When life gives you lemons, you make fucking lemonade.
I stride across the street, absently raising a hand at a car that slams on its brakes and honks. As I push into the store, I take my hat off, ready to throw it away within five minutes of buying it.
Leather and oil hit my nose in an intoxicating combination that promises burnt rubber and adrenaline.
“Kia ora,” calls a Maori local, looking up from where he sits behind the counter. He’s probably about my age, deep tan skin, dark curly hair, high cheekbones. Full sleeves of bold black Moko tattoos flow out from under a white muscle tee.
“Kia ora,” I reply, scanning the store. There’s an entire aisle of motorcycle helmets, another wall of leather jackets and pants, rack after rack of boots and gloves… and right at the center, up on a pedestal, is a gorgeous little bike in matte black metal and shiny red accents. I don’t need to see the sign to know it’s a Triumph—their newest model, actually—and it’s going to have exactly the speed and power I’m looking for.
