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“You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“I’m fine honestly,” I lie.

“Sweetheart, you need a break.” He nods towards the stack of books in front of me. “Sign them quickly and then go, I’ve got this for a bit. Take as long as you need.”

“Lennie, you don’t have to—”

“I know,” his smile is gentle. “But friends help each other.”

My vision blurs. I don't think I've ever known people who show up like this—not for each other, and certainly never for me. I didn't know this was something you could just... Have.

I quickly sign the stack as Lennie turns to the queue. “Right, everyone! Our wonderful author is taking a very well-earned break. Nobody panic, nobody riot.” He laughs. “I promise she’ll be back shortly. In the meantime, you have me, not as pretty but I can work a till.”

A few people laugh, nobody complains. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“Go.” He shoos me, before turning to serve the first customer.

My heart pounds in my ears as I hurry away. I need air, space, a minute to breathe. But the corner I turn brings me face to face with the one person I'm least ready to see—Jax—walking straight towards me. Panic grips me before I've even fully processed it's him and I bolt in the opposite direction, with no idea where I'm going. I duck past stalls and startled cosplayers, muttering apologies and dodging bodies without really seeing them. I just need to get away, get somewhere safe. Saint's stall peeks through the crowd and I angle straight for it, dropping beneath the table without a second thought. It's dark, quiet, safe—the first still moment I've had all day. The tablecloth lifts, and Saint's face appears in the gap. We just stare at each other for a moment, neither of us saying a word.

“Bri?”

I hug my knees to my chest. “I am hiding.”

“I can see that. Would you like to tell me why you’re hiding under my table?”

Taking a shaky breath, it all tumbles out. “It was all a lie, all of it. Jax’s agent came to my table this morning and made me sign an NDA. An NDA, Saint!” The tears I’ve been holding back all morning finally start to fall. “I’ve been so stupid, he used me.”

Saint’s face softens. “Oh, sweetheart.”

Chapter 43

Jax

I’ve got exactly thirty minutes. Thirty glorious minutes between lunch and the group photoshoot to find Bri. She’d left early this morning after breakfast, kissing me softly before heading off to set up her stall. I’d gone for a run, had a shower, called Jason to sort out a few bits and pieces I’d been putting off, and then thrown myself into the madness that is the last day of the convention.

Sneaking through the halls is impossible, every few feet brings another flash of a camera and another scream of my name.

“Jackson!” — “Can we get a selfie?” — “Jackson! Over here!” — “I loved season three!” — “Can you sign this?”

My security team gently encourage people to keep moving with practiced patience, but the bottleneck still holds us in a stifling forward crawl. The hands on my watch tick down too quickly, thirty minutes drop to twenty, fifteen, ten.

A wall of overlapping voices and music hits me the second I step into the trader hall and a sea of shoulders blocks my immediate view. A queue stretching from the doors, snakes past several other stalls leading to Bri’s table.

Bloody hell, that can’t all be for her, can it? It is. She actually did it. Of course she did, she’s brilliant. A proud smile splits my face.

Lennie stands behind her table, commanding the queue with the ease of a man who’s used to directing an army. Where is Bri? A familiar flash of red hair weaves through the crowd, heading straight for me. My heart does a little flip and my smile widens. Raising my arm I wave. “Bri!”

She doesn’t hear me. I wave again, and this time her eyes find mine, except instead of the smile I’m expecting, her eyes widen in sheer panic. She freezes for one tiny second, before spinning on her heel and vanishing into the crowd, in the opposite direction. What the hell?

“Bri?” I shout, but she doesn’t stop.

Confusion crashes over me as my feet move trying to close the distance opening between us. I manage a whole two steps before a heavy hand clamps onto my shoulder, anchoring me in place. I twist quickly, trying to shake it off, but Jason's grip is too strong.

“There you are. We’ve been looking everywhere.”

“Not now Jason. I’ve got to—”

“Now Jax, the group photoshoot. They’re waiting for you.”